I’d give laser pointers to Neanderthals. Even if they did figure out some useful application for them (maybe hunting?) they’d run out of batteries eventually.
I’d give laser pointers to Neanderthals. Even if they did figure out some useful application for them (maybe hunting?) they’d run out of batteries eventually.
You would probably be surprised at how quickly they would figure out how it worked, save maybe some things that have a ton of prerequisite knowledge. If they had the proper materials/tools, they might even be able to reproduce it.
The modern human brain evolved a long time ago, so on average they are just as intelligent as people today (more so in many respects due to necessity). The things that hold us back technologically are usually lack of resources and discovering/making new materials that unlock new categories of tools.
To answer the question: It really depends on how “ancient” we’re talking, but antibiotics have been invaluable to humanity. So literally just teaching early humans how to cultivate the molds that can kill bacteria would change the trajectory of human history.
Shit just teaching them the concepts behind science and (present day) basic stuff (“no the volcano is not erupting because the gods are angry”) could probably head off religion entirely…SOMEBODY GET ME A DAMN TIME MACHINE
There are always gaps in scientific knowledge, and religion is very eager to fill those gaps. I think religion is a human inevitability as it is a shortcut to feeling a sense of purpose and belonging, which humans will always seek.
I suppose it’s a matter of what the primary early driver of religion is. I think early on, that was moreso a way to explain the unknown and help quell fear and then came the purpose filling.
I think you may be right that it would develop no matter what, but if it truly does develop as a method primarily for purpose filing rather than as a method of control and fear soothing then maybe it wouldn’t have been so entrenched the way it is. This “Religion first” mindset and then later on “religion first, science second”. A simple change like “Science first, spirituality/religion second” would likely changed a LOT of things for the better in history.