Part 4/6:
The Impact of Living in Large, Divided Societies
The development of large, complex societies, division of labor, and improved food stability has changed human life in profound ways. Living in interconnected groups reduced some of the pressures of natural selection that once shaped our biology. Access to diverse foods, medical care, and sanitation means that survival is less dependent on certain genetic advantages.
This interconnectedness has a dual effect:
It reduces the selective pressures that could drive rapid biological evolution.
It accelerates cultural evolution, as ideas, technologies, and practices spread quickly across populations.