Part 3/11:
Long before the rise of Homo sapiens, early humans achieved one of the most pivotal breakthroughs: mastering fire. This innovation allowed humans to outsource energy needs to stored fuels like wood and later coal, fundamentally altering their daily lives.
The ability to make fire expanded dietary options, enabling the cooking of inedible raw foods such as tubers and grains. This not only improved nutrition but also catalyzed the development of leisure—an innovative concept in human history—by freeing up time previously spent on raw food processing.