Difference between mind and brain?

 Mind and Brain !!

Mind and brain are two words used interchangeably. But, they are different. If I ask you, “what is on your mind?”. Your answer might be your thoughts. Are your thoughts Physical? Ah! No. They are abstract. Your brain is physical. If I ask you, “Where is your brain?” Defiantly, You will point towards your forehead like a toddler. I am not getting into your thoughtful mind and neurons of the brain. Let's keep things simple.
So one thing is clear, Mind and Brain, are different. For more familiarity, I consider the mind as the software, and the brain as the hardware. Can you see the software, you can see code on the monitor, but not software? I hope you agree with me. 
Now considering this, to run a complex software, you need an advanced hardware. Something similar happened to us.
 

Growth of the Brain.

Let's use Stones  

2-3 million years back, humans started using stones as tools. At that time, humans were not on the top of the food pyramid. Humans were not significant in that era.

The most important thing to know about prehistoric humans is that they were insignificant animals with no more impact on their environment than gorillas, fireflies, or jellyfish

— Yuval Noah Harari in “Sapiens:Brief history of humankind.”

It started with a bang, not a big bang. But small but significant bang of stone. When humans started using stones as tools. In that era, the humans could hunt small animals and eat the available fruits, nuts tubers. They also used to eat the leftovers of big animals left by lions and jackals. With the stones available, they could break the bones and eat nutritional rich bone marrow. The new-found source was high in calories and nutrients. This eventually led to an increase in brain size.

The large brain needed more energy, which was compensated by the muscles. We will discuss this in my later post,“ Let's use Stones”. So an upgraded brain could process more data quickly. 

In all the paradigms, we will see how minds and humans changed over the years. 

Discovery of Fire (Approx. 1 million years ago)

Control of fire allowed early humans to cook food, stay warm, and protect themselves, supporting brain development and migration.

Result: Improved diet, brain growth, social bonding, and expanded territories. It will be discussed at large in Let's control fire. 

Domestication of Animals and Agricultural Revolution  (Approx. 10,000 BC)

Impact: Humans transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming, leading to food surpluses, population growth, and the rise of permanent settlements. Domestication of animals, such as sheep, goats, and cattle, played a crucial role in food production, providing not only meat but also milk, wool, and labor for farming.
Result: Growth of cities, complex societies, social hierarchies, and governments. Domesticated animals became central to food production and agricultural economies.

The Rise of Civilizations (Approx. 4,000 BC)

Impact: Early civilizations developed in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, and China, creating writing systems, laws, and trade networks. Domesticated animals like horses and oxen were used for plowing and transportation, boosting agricultural productivity and trade.
Result: Structured societies with centralized governments and formal religious systems. Domesticated animals became integral to farming, trade, and military conquests.

The Invention of Money (Approx. 3,000 BC)

Impact: The introduction of money as a standardized medium of exchange, initially in the form of metal coins, revolutionized trade and commerce. Societies like the Mesopotamians and the Lydians were among the first to develop coins made from precious metals.
Result: Facilitated trade, commerce, and the growth of economies by replacing the barter system with a more efficient method of exchange.

The Bronze Age (Approx. 3,300–1,200 BC)

Impact: The development of bronze tools and weapons transformed agriculture, craftsmanship, and warfare, leading to the rise of powerful empires. Horses were increasingly used for transportation, plowing, and warfare, making them key assets for expanding territories and trade networks.
Result: Expanded trade, technological advancements, and stronger military forces.

The Iron Age (Approx. 1,200 BC)

The use of iron tools and weapons increased agricultural productivity and military efficiency, fuelling the growth of larger empires. Domesticated animals such as oxen, donkeys, and camels were used for heavy labor, transportation, and trade, enabling greater agricultural yields and long-distance commerce. Result: Agricultural surpluses, military dominance, technological progress, and increased trade routes, supported by animal labor and transportation.

The Classical Period (Approx. 500 BC – AD 500)

Impact: The rise of civilizations like Greece and Rome brought advancements in democracy, philosophy, science, and engineering, shaping Western civilization. Horses played a critical role in transportation, cavalry units in warfare, and in facilitating long-distance trade across vast empires.
Result: Development of political systems, philosophy, and infrastructure like roads and aqueducts. The use of horses and other animals for transport and military purposes contributed to the expansion of trade routes and imperial control.

The Axial Age (800–200 BCE)

A period when various thinkers and philosophers (e.g., Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, Zoroaster) across different regions of the world developed new ideas about ethics, spirituality, and the nature of human existence. This period laid the foundation for many of the world's major religions and philosophical traditions.
Impact: Profound changes in religious and philosophical thought, focusing on individual morality, ethics, and personal salvation.

The Fall of Rome and the Middle Ages (AD 476)

Impact: The collapse of the Roman Empire led to a fragmented Europe dominated by feudalism and the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, the Byzantine Empire and Islamic Caliphates preserved and expanded classical knowledge. During this period, horses and oxen were used extensively in agriculture and warfare. Animal labor, particularly for plowing and transportation, was central to feudal economies.

Result: Feudal societies in Europe, with agricultural production dependent on animal labor, and preservation of classical learning in the East.

The Development of Banking (Approx. 12th Century)

Impact: The first modern banks began to emerge in medieval Italy, notably in cities like Florence and Venice. These institutions offered services like currency exchange, deposits, and loans. The Medici Bank became one of the most influential early financial institutions.
Result: Banking systems facilitated the growth of trade, commerce, and investment, helping to finance exploration, wars, and the growth of cities.

The Islamic Golden Age (8th — 13th Century AD)

Impact: Scholars in the Islamic world made significant contributions to science, mathematics, and medicine. Their preservation and expansion of classical Greek and Roman knowledge greatly influenced later European thought.
Result: Major scientific and cultural advancements, especially in algebra, astronomy, and medicine.

The Development of Banking (Approx. 12th Century)

Impact: The first modern banks began to emerge in medieval Italy, notably in cities like Florence and Venice. These institutions offered services like currency exchange, deposits, and loans. The Medici Bank became one of the most influential early financial institutions.
Result: Banking systems facilitated the growth of trade, commerce, and investment, helping to finance exploration, wars, and the growth of cities.

 

The Renaissance (14th — 17th Century)Impact: 

The Renaissance revived classical learning and spurred innovations in art, science, literature, and politics. Thinkers like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Galileo made groundbreaking contributions.
Result: Rebirth of classical knowledge, scientific exploration, and artistic achievement.

The Scientific Revolution (16th — 18th Century)

Impact: Groundbreaking discoveries in astronomy, physics, and biology led to the development of the scientific method. Figures like Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton transformed the understanding of the natural world.
Result: Emergence of modern science, technological advancements, and a more profound understanding of the universe.

The Enlightenment (17th — 19th Century)

Impact: Enlightenment thinkers promoted reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, laying the intellectual groundwork for democratic revolutions and reforms.
Result: Rise of democratic ideologies, human rights, and the separation of church and state.

The Industrial Revolution (18th — 19th Century)

Impact: The development of mechanized factories, steam engines, and mass production revolutionized industry, leading to urbanization, economic growth, and social changes. Horses and other draft animals were used extensively for transportation and labor before being replaced by mechanized forms of transport like trains.
Result: Urbanization, increased productivity, and global trade expansion. The role of animals in labor began to diminish as machines took over their functions.

The Invention of Electricity and Power Systems (19th Century)

Impact: The discovery of electricity and the development of power grids revolutionized daily life and industry. Electricity enabled new forms of communication, lighting, and mechanization, drastically improving the quality of life.
Result: Widespread use of electric power, enhanced industrial productivity, and modernization of society.

 The Invention of the Car (Late 19th — Early 20th Century)

Impact: The mass production of automobiles by pioneers like Henry Ford revolutionized transportation, making personal travel faster, more accessible, and fuelling suburban growth.
Result: Expanded transportation networks, suburbanization, and new industries like oil, steel, and rubber.

 The Invention of Air Conditioning (Early 20th Century)

Impact: Invented by Willis Carrier in 1902, air conditioning transformed living and working environments by controlling temperature and humidity. This enabled comfort in hot climates and improved productivity in industries like manufacturing and computing.
Result: Growth of industries in warmer climates, improved living standards, and enhanced workplace productivity.

 World War I (1914–1918)

Impact: World War I, triggered by complex alliances and national tensions, caused immense devastation in Europe and led to the downfall of empires like the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires. The war also introduced modern warfare technologies, including tanks, machine guns, and chemical weapons.
Result: Reshaped the political landscape of Europe, led to the League of Nations, and sowed the seeds for World War II due to the Treaty of Versailles and the economic impacts on Germany.

 World War II (1939–1945)

Impact: World War II was a global conflict sparked by the rise of fascism and expansionist policies in Germany, Italy, and Japan. The war resulted in the defeat of the Axis powers, the Holocaust, and the widespread devastation of Europe and Asia. It also led to the use of nuclear weapons by the U.S. on Japan and created the foundation for the Cold War.
Result: Establishment of the United Nations, the rise of the U.S. and Soviet Union as superpowers, the beginning of the Cold War, and major geopolitical changes in Europe and Asia.

The Invention of the Computer (Mid-20th Century)

Impact: The invention of the computer, with early machines like the ENIAC, transformed industries by automating complex calculations. Over time, personal computers revolutionized communication, commerce, and daily life.
Result: Rise of the digital economy, transformation of work and industries, and the beginning of the information age.

The Digital Revolution (Late 20th — 21st Century)

Impact: The development of the internet and digital technologies transformed global communication, information sharing, and industry. The digital revolution reshaped commerce, education, and social interactions.
Result: Global interconnectedness, the rise of the knowledge economy, and significant advancements in communication and information processing