Humanity on the Threshold of a New Era

Dear Readers: For the past 3-4 years, global problems (pandemics, wars, etc.) have been simultaneously making their presence felt, and a fear and pessimism of global collapse have negatively affected the spirit and mind of every individual. In such a period, where humanity is preparing itself for a worse scenario, or to put it plainly, a "nuclear apocalypse," you will probably laugh if I tell you that a new era full of rays of hope has begun. In previous centuries, people also laughed at similar statements, but they soon realized their mistake. THE STONE AGE When humanity embarked on the struggle to conquer nature, it first turned to stone. It carved stones to develop weapons for both attack and defense. By attaching sharp stones to the end of a stick to create the first spear prototype, humans learned to fight even the fiercest animals like lions and tigers, emerging from caves and expanding their sphere of freedom.

Cave life in the Paleolithic Age

Humans carving stone in the Paleolithic Age

Humans making spears in the Paleolithic Age It was during this period that the first settlements, small communities of houses and villages, were created.

First villages in the Paleolithic Age As the population grew, food resources became insufficient, and food shortages began. It was at such a time that humans mercilessly turned their spears against each other, thus sowing the first seeds of organized warfare.

Humans fighting a mammoth in the Paleolithic Age The question is: Why did humans use stone first, and not metals? I think you can easily guess the answer to this question. Stone was everywhere. The most important quest during this period, which we call the "Paleolithic Age," was to invent the sharpest, most durable, most pointed, and most lethal stones. For thousands of years, humanity exhausted its intelligence on this task. Thus, they learned the structure of stones and how to carve them best.

Sharp flints made from various stones in the Paleolithic Age As the population grew, stone craftsmanship gained importance. Soon, due to food shortages, humans used the weapons they had developed to protect themselves against wild animals to kill other humans whom they now saw as rivals. Thus, enemy groups began to clash. And one day, a fear arose in people's minds: "If stone craftsmanship and weapon making continue at this pace, this calamity will bring about the end of humanity."  

                    Wars in the Paleolithic Age

The reason for the wars was clear: Humans could not produce and store enough food because they could not live in places far from caves for security reasons. The population was increasing, but the amount of food remained the same. Rival human groups discovered new and more lethal stones every day, and other human groups panicked and despaired, thinking their end was near. In such a process, people who had perfectly learned stone carving due to continuous weapon production managed to use these skills to their advantage instead of making weapons. They built stone houses away from caves, in plains and by rivers, thus moving away from the caves and breaking free from the vicious cycle they had entered, expanding their areas of freedom. Later, they surrounded their houses with stone walls, taking control of the entire geography. Grain cultivation and the domestication of animals occurred during such a process. Stone craftsmanship was passed down from generation to generation, and in later centuries, they built pyramids and similar structures that still amaze and fascinate us today. In short, humanity, which carved stones to make weapons for thousands of years, used its "stone carving ability" to its own benefit. Let's not forget that today's stone buildings, bridges, walls, and other structures were built as a legacy of the experience gained by Paleolithic humans over hundreds of thousands of years.  THE THREE METAL AGES The population of humanity, living in stone buildings and securing their villages with stone walls, began to increase again. The same problem arose again: food shortages brought larger groups of people, tribes, and nations into conflict. For such a war, humanity needed new weapons and tools. It was in such a quest that humanity discovered metal, which was more durable than stone. Humanity has successively experienced three important metal ages from the past to the present: the Copper Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. THE COPPER AGE Why did humanity start using copper while the Stone Age was still ongoing? Why copper and not iron or another metal? To be honest, I remember discussing this question with my teacher during my years at Kabataş Erkek Lisesi, but I didn't get a satisfactory answer. It was certainly difficult for our history teacher to answer because he didn't know the melting points (degrees) of metals. He also had no knowledge of how metals existed in nature. While the Stone Age was still ongoing, humanity also managed to control fire and build high-temperature stone kilns. It was at such a time that they randomly melted stones and minerals they found in nature in these kilns. Copper is generally found in nature as pure pieces, while iron is found within minerals like hematite, magnetite, limonite, siderite, and pyrite, meaning it is mixed with other metals. The melting point of copper is 1085 °C, while the melting point of iron is 1538 °C. For these two reasons, humanity first encountered copper, melted it, and gave it the desired form. Thus, they obtained more useful tools than stone. Soon, the use of copper spread to all "cultures" (there were no concepts of tribes, clans, or nations in those ages). When humanity discovered bronze, it used pure copper for jewelry, decoration, and kitchen utensils, that is, to beautify and facilitate daily life. The experience of melting and using copper, which it had acquired for thousands of years to kill its rivals, now turned to its advantage.  THE BRONZE AGE Through trial and error, one day humanity mixed tin, which has a melting point of 231.9 °C, with copper and obtained bronze. Bronze is harder and more durable than copper. This time, they began to manufacture weapons and tools from bronze. However, there was a problem: tin is not a very abundant element in nature. Although bronze was stronger than iron, the lack of tin pushed humanity to search for a new metal. Because it does not rust and conducts heat easily, bronze found use in the manufacture of musical instruments, pots and pans, and also in furniture and decoration due to its impressive appearance. Humanity, which produced bronze to make weapons and tools, this time applied it to make its daily life easier and more beautiful.  THE IRON AGE Over time, humanity managed to build kilns with higher temperatures. It was during such a process that, while melting mineral ores containing iron, they discovered iron, which has a melting point of 1538 °C. Since iron ores are much more common than copper and tin, humanity now turned entirely to iron. This time, they manufactured weapons and tools from iron. (In short, the reason why humanity discovered iron last should be sought in the later construction of high-temperature kilns.)

Iron Age weapons THE INVENTION OF THE CANNON (WEAPON) It is generally accepted that the cannon was first invented in China in the 12th century. A new era for humanity began when it was used in a battle in Yuan Province in the late 13th century. Just as the production of nuclear bombs means a great advantage for countries today, producing cannons from the 13th century onwards meant the same as producing nuclear weapons. When humanity obtained steel, which is more durable, by adding metals like chromium to iron, this time it continuously produced iron and steel, and made cannons and weapons with it. Until the 18th century, humanity did not know how to use iron and steel in building houses or bridges. It continuously produced weapons. Wars became increasingly terrifying. Many historians began to create "apocalypse" scenarios because of cannons and firearms. Warships were also equipped with cannons. Now, no coastal city or no city surrounded by walls was safe. Humanity asked itself: "What will be the end of this arms race? If it continues like this, humanity will end! It's best for countries to come together and stop producing iron and steel." Here, I want to open a parenthesis and continue my writing: Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmed the Conqueror) probably would not have been able to capture Istanbul without the "Şahi" cannon cast by the Hungarian master Urban. The strong and supposedly indestructible walls of Byzantium were battered and shattered by the "Şahi" cannons, which could fire 500 kg cannonballs, and Istanbul was conquered. From that day on, the Ottoman Empire rapidly expanded its imperial borders by skillfully using cannons both on ships (Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha, Piri Reis, etc.) and in attack (especially in the Battle of Çaldıran, a turning point) and defense.

The Şahi cannons used by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in the conquest of Istanbul While humanity focused on producing cannons and weapons, it unknowingly gained mastery and expertise in iron and steel. At such a time of extreme pessimism, a transformation occurred: humanity learned to build bridges and houses from iron and steel. It revolutionized transportation by building railways. With the invention of the automobile, the iron and steel industry suddenly transformed into a force beneficial to humanity. Using iron and steel, it built skyscrapers one after another. It contributed to the concentration of population. If there had been no structures we call "metropolises," humanity would not have been able to elevate the exchange of ideas to a high level. In short, thanks to iron and steel, humanity managed to raise its standard of living. NUCLEAR WEAPONS In the 1940s, humanity learned to split the atom and control the resulting energy. As always, humanity first considered every new discovery as a "weapon" and racked its brains over it. Indeed, the USA forced Japan, which continued to resist in World War II and seemed impossible to defeat, to surrender by dropping two atomic bombs. A new era had begun. Soon, the Soviet Union also included the atomic bomb in its arsenal as a weapon. Just as with cannons and rifles, other countries also began to produce atomic bombs to secure themselves. And so, the atomic bomb race continued unabated to this day. Humanity again asks with fear: "What will be the end of this nuclear arms race? If it continues like this, humanity will end! It's best for countries to come together and stop producing nuclear weapons." Some efforts were made in this direction. The SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) treaty was signed. However, enough nuclear bombs to destroy civilization several times over remain hidden in depots and arsenals. The danger is not yet over. THE UKRAINE-RUSSIA WAR Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The war, in which tens of thousands of people have died and over 8 million have been displaced, is still ongoing with full force. Russia, which annexed four regions of Ukraine after Crimea, is constantly confronting the USA and Europe, and they are mutually threatening each other with a "nuclear apocalypse." It seems that the world is entering a winter that will struggle with food shortages and energy problems.

Distribution of nuclear weapons by country as of 2021 The fear that a nuclear war could break out at any moment pushes humanity into deep pessimism every day. However, history, as I explained above, teaches us this: humanity undergoes transformation by using the weapon it fears most to its advantage. Pessimism gives way to optimism. Yes, humanity is currently on the verge of transitioning to a new era where it can use nuclear power to its advantage. Of course, until now, nuclear power has served humanity in terms of energy production and continues to do so. However, in the new era, nuclear power will take humanity to a new stage far beyond our predictions.  UNDERGROUND/UNDERWATER AND SPACE ECONOMY The name of the new era is the "space and underground/underwater" initiative. Until now, humanity has largely been limited to the Earth's surface (i.e., the surface of continents and oceans). Now, simultaneously, it is turning to the underground and underwater, and to space, with a different understanding. Of course, there have been studies related to underground/underwater and space until now, but these had no economic value. They went no further than hobbies or scientific curiosity. Humanity has begun to look at the underground/underwater and space in an "economic" sense, that is, with the aim of expanding its living space and raising its welfare level. For such a massive undertaking to succeed, humanity needs nuclear power. Very soon, nuclear bombs and nuclear power, which were against humanity, will become its greatest ally in this new endeavor. The harbinger of this era is the genius entrepreneur named Elon Musk. WHO IS ELON MUSK (ilan mask)?

Elon Musk Elon Musk was born in 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa, to a Canadian mother and a white South African father. He immigrated to the USA at the age of 20. Since his mother was Canadian, he became a citizen of three countries. He earned bachelor's degrees in Economics and Physics from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1995, he moved to California and completed his master's degree in Applied Physics and Materials Science at Stanford University. At the same time, he entered the business world. He founded Zip2. He sold it for 340 million dollars. He founded X.com, an online bank. He ranked first in the "World's Most Innovative People" list published by the famous Forbes magazine. In January 2021, Elon Musk became the richest person in the world. Elon Musk is the founder of the SpaceX space company and The Boring Company. He owns the electric car company Tesla and the solar energy company SolarCity. He is also the CEO of OpenAI and Neuralink, which work on artificial intelligence. Believe me, it is impossible to describe either Elon Musk's private life or the complexity of his business life. Who knows, as I write these lines, he may have found a new spouse or founded a new company. SPACEX AND THE BORING COMPANIES

Elon Musk is simultaneously moving the current economy, limited to the Earth's surface (sea and continental surface), into space and towards the underwater and underground. Elon Musk has manufactured the largest drilling machines in human history. His primary goal is to work on a plan to open tunnels under large cities (Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.) to transport passenger cars quickly from one point to another via a conveyor system. Elon Musk, who states that his main goal is to establish settlements and production centers underwater, has become the first person to use space in an "economic" sense with the satellite network he established. Elon Musk needs nuclear power to move both underground/underwater and into space. In an interview, he stated that he wants to buy all the atomic weapons in the world and use them for space travel and underground/underwater work, and that inventions that will "neutralize" harmful radiation could soon be put into practice. Elon Musk, who has knocked on Moscow's door many times to buy ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, is announcing the beginning of a new era for humanity with his work.

Global Internet service encircling the world with 4425 Starlink satellites

Very soon, ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, just as in the past, will cease to be a threat to humanity and will change hands to raise humanity's welfare level. This stands before us as an inevitable law of history. CONCLUSION We understand that the famous philosopher Thomas Hobbes's statement "Man is wolf to man" has a paradoxical (contradictory) essence within itself. While humanity invents weapons to destroy each other, it unknowingly also facilitates steps that transform the welfare level of humanity. Therefore, humanity is both "Devil" and "Angel" to itself. Historical dialectics continue their course on the basis of this contradiction.