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Piaty začiatok: Čo nám šesť miliónov rokov ľudskej histórie môže povedať o našej budúcnosti
Nekonvenčný archeológ Robert Kelly pri pozorovaní evolúcie ľudstva počas 6 miliónov rokov našiel päť kľúčových „mutácií“ v ľudskej spoločnosti. Každá z nich znamenala zlomový bod, každý zlomový bod ohlasoval začiatok novej éry:
„Technológia“ umožnila ľudstvu prevládnuť nad živočíšnou ríšou, čím sa začal prvý zlomový bod;
„Kultúra“ nás urobila skutočne ľudskými a znamenala druhý zlomový bod;
„Poľnohospodárstvo“ premenilo ľudstvo z nomádskych lovcov na usadených ľudí a iniciovalo tretí zlomový bod;
„Národné štáty“ vtlačili civilizácii nerovnosť, násilie a vojny, čím znamenali štvrtý zlomový bod;
Dnes stojíme na prahu piateho zlomového bodu. Celé ľudstvo sa podieľa na bezprecedentnej globálnej transformácii. Ľudská spoločnosť prechádza hlbokými zmenami, začína nová éra a my všetci sme jej súčasťou – nikto jej nemôže uniknúť.
Prostredníctvom piatich začiatkov kniha osviežuje naše chápanie minulosti, prítomnosti a budúcnosti. Málokedy sa archeológ tak hlboko zaoberá budúcnosťou a ešte málokedy je vedec, ktorý sa tak hlboko zaoberá budúcnosťou, tak hlboko optimistický.
„Technológia“ umožnila ľudstvu prevládnuť nad živočíšnou ríšou, čím sa začal prvý zlomový bod;
„Kultúra“ nás urobila skutočne ľudskými a znamenala druhý zlomový bod;
„Poľnohospodárstvo“ premenilo ľudstvo z nomádskych lovcov na usadených ľudí a iniciovalo tretí zlomový bod;
„Národné štáty“ vtlačili civilizácii nerovnosť, násilie a vojny, čím znamenali štvrtý zlomový bod;
Dnes stojíme na prahu piateho zlomového bodu. Celé ľudstvo sa podieľa na bezprecedentnej globálnej transformácii. Ľudská spoločnosť prechádza hlbokými zmenami, začína nová éra a my všetci sme jej súčasťou – nikto jej nemôže uniknúť.
Prostredníctvom piatich začiatkov kniha osviežuje naše chápanie minulosti, prítomnosti a budúcnosti. Málokedy sa archeológ tak hlboko zaoberá budúcnosťou a ešte málokedy je vedec, ktorý sa tak hlboko zaoberá budúcnosťou, tak hlboko optimistický.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published October 20, 2025
44 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Robert L. Kelly
7 books1 followerRobert Laurens Kelly (born March 16, 1957) is an American anthropologist who is a professor at the University of Wyoming. As a professor, he has taught introductory Archaeology as well as upper-level courses focused in Hunter-Gathers, North American Archaeology, Lithic Analysis, and Human Behavioral Ecology. Kelly's interest in archaeology began when he was a sophomore in high school in 1973. His first experience in fieldwork was an excavation of Gatecliff Rockshelter, a prehistoric site in central Nevada. Since then, Kelly has been involved with archaeology and has dedicated the majority of his work to the ethnology, ethnography, and archaeology of foraging peoples, which include research on lithic technology, initial colonization of the New World, evolutionary ecology of hunter-gatherers, and archaeological method and theory. He has been involved in research projects throughout the United States and in Chile, where he studied the remains of the Inca as well as coastal shell middens, and Madagascar, where in order to learn about farmer-forager society, Kelly has participated in ethnoarchaeological research.A majority of his work has been carried out in the Great Basin, but after moving to Wyoming in 1997 he has shifted his research to the rockshelters in the southwest Wyoming and the Bighorn Mountains.
Outside of his research in archaeology, Bob Kelly also promotes tourism to historic and archaeological sites in Wyoming. In doing so, he has given many lectures around Wyoming and helped create a website to promote Wyoming’s heritage. The website, funded by the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and maintained by the University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology, acts as a directory for information about Wyoming Prehistoric and Historic Sites. Kelly also served as an Amicus Curiae in the Kennewick case.. He has served as President of the Society for American Archaeology from 2001 to 2003.
Outside of his research in archaeology, Bob Kelly also promotes tourism to historic and archaeological sites in Wyoming. In doing so, he has given many lectures around Wyoming and helped create a website to promote Wyoming’s heritage. The website, funded by the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund and maintained by the University of Wyoming Department of Anthropology, acts as a directory for information about Wyoming Prehistoric and Historic Sites. Kelly also served as an Amicus Curiae in the Kennewick case.. He has served as President of the Society for American Archaeology from 2001 to 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 3, 2026
A thought-provoking book, rather short but to the point, by an archaeologist, Robert L. Kelly, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Wyoming. Looking over 6 million years of human/hominin history, he points out the four key pivot points of that history and, looking ahead, gives us the evidence for the "fifth beginning," actually beginning by 1500 AD. Each turning point represented a new way of organizing society.
The first beginning is evident--tool-making by a bipedal ape ( australopithecines in Africa), between 3 and 4 million years ago. This led to the development of technology, including the making of fire, perhaps as early as one million years ago (by Homo erectus).
The second beginning was, I think, a very mysterious one but, perhaps, the most significant, as it made us human. By 50,000 years ago, Homo sapiens created art, music, and religion, and became cultural beings. This was a raising of consciousness that enabled humans to make a symbolic construct of their world. This would be key to leading to the third beginning--agriculture. Around 10,000 years ago, most likely in the Middle East, some nomadic hunters were able to settle the land, raising plants and animals and forming villages. Populations would increase greatly.
And the fourth beginning would be happening around 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia and Egypt--the rise of states to organize the increasing populations--of course, mainly for the benefit of tiny elites who did the organizing ( but the hard-working peasants would hope some benefits would trickle-down to them. How much has changed?)
According to Kelly, the fifth beginning has started and this is "globalization," the full effects of which we have only begun to feel. As part of this he sees the end of nation-states ( the break-up of the USSR was an early sign of this) and increasing international cooperation, made possible by worldwide communications.
Is Kelly too optimistic? What he sees is that for the first time in millions of years, there is the possibility of humanity realizing its great potential.
The first beginning is evident--tool-making by a bipedal ape ( australopithecines in Africa), between 3 and 4 million years ago. This led to the development of technology, including the making of fire, perhaps as early as one million years ago (by Homo erectus).
The second beginning was, I think, a very mysterious one but, perhaps, the most significant, as it made us human. By 50,000 years ago, Homo sapiens created art, music, and religion, and became cultural beings. This was a raising of consciousness that enabled humans to make a symbolic construct of their world. This would be key to leading to the third beginning--agriculture. Around 10,000 years ago, most likely in the Middle East, some nomadic hunters were able to settle the land, raising plants and animals and forming villages. Populations would increase greatly.
And the fourth beginning would be happening around 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia and Egypt--the rise of states to organize the increasing populations--of course, mainly for the benefit of tiny elites who did the organizing ( but the hard-working peasants would hope some benefits would trickle-down to them. How much has changed?)
According to Kelly, the fifth beginning has started and this is "globalization," the full effects of which we have only begun to feel. As part of this he sees the end of nation-states ( the break-up of the USSR was an early sign of this) and increasing international cooperation, made possible by worldwide communications.
Is Kelly too optimistic? What he sees is that for the first time in millions of years, there is the possibility of humanity realizing its great potential.
December 31, 2024
A digestible, prudent reminder that the world has changed drastically since human-like beings came into existence and the oncoming change we’re facing won’t be the end of the world.
I had few issues with this book until the last section about the future and globalization. It was nothing crazy but I think his archaeologists take that looks at the world from a really macro lens at times doesn’t properly address the really negative aspects of today’s world. He mentions that capitalism can’t keep going for much longer but doesn’t really address the major issues that transitioning away from capitalism (to ??? who knows?) will likely have. He also says we’re approaching a time when war is no longer a valid way to solve disputes but I think we’re gonna have to go through a lottt more suffering and destruction before that happens. Clearly Israel hasn’t gotten that memo. Also I would’ve liked more on how the United States functions as a capitalist entity, not the very charitable view of it as a semi-altruistic cultural group.
So this is interesting to think about in a long term, macro view but he glosses over some real worries people have.
I had few issues with this book until the last section about the future and globalization. It was nothing crazy but I think his archaeologists take that looks at the world from a really macro lens at times doesn’t properly address the really negative aspects of today’s world. He mentions that capitalism can’t keep going for much longer but doesn’t really address the major issues that transitioning away from capitalism (to ??? who knows?) will likely have. He also says we’re approaching a time when war is no longer a valid way to solve disputes but I think we’re gonna have to go through a lottt more suffering and destruction before that happens. Clearly Israel hasn’t gotten that memo. Also I would’ve liked more on how the United States functions as a capitalist entity, not the very charitable view of it as a semi-altruistic cultural group.
So this is interesting to think about in a long term, macro view but he glosses over some real worries people have.
December 1, 2017
In less than 130 pp Kelly gives us a history of the development of humankind from his perspective as an archaeologist and anthropologist (U of WY - formerly from the U of Louisville). An excellent intro, and he does present "alternative theories" occasionally (usually in the footnotes). The U of CA Press, the footnotes are 'scholarly" - meaning he lists author and date only - and then you have to look for that work in the bibliography for greater details. Sadly, and oddly, there was nothing in the Notes or Bibliography that grabbed me to continue reading on this subject.
He has quite a positive spin on history - although he knows that civilization does not only go forward and progress. Written before the last US Presidential election, his concluding chapter sort of missed some trends. While he does warn us of Muslim radical sects, he did not see the rise in power of the racist Nationalist movements in the West. Or the power of the Evangelicals, and its connections and support to the radical Right movements in the US. I'd love to see if he has an update to that chapter since November 2016. I tend to give more attention to Capitalism as an oligarchy, both local, regional and worldwide, than he does. But the good point he makes is 100, 150, 500 years, is nothing in the life of the earth, and even in the life of the earth with Man upon it. Or, for that matter, civilized Man.
But yes, very informative and an interesting read. Nice update for those of us who have not done evolution/the formation of civilization in some time now. Highly recommended.
He has quite a positive spin on history - although he knows that civilization does not only go forward and progress. Written before the last US Presidential election, his concluding chapter sort of missed some trends. While he does warn us of Muslim radical sects, he did not see the rise in power of the racist Nationalist movements in the West. Or the power of the Evangelicals, and its connections and support to the radical Right movements in the US. I'd love to see if he has an update to that chapter since November 2016. I tend to give more attention to Capitalism as an oligarchy, both local, regional and worldwide, than he does. But the good point he makes is 100, 150, 500 years, is nothing in the life of the earth, and even in the life of the earth with Man upon it. Or, for that matter, civilized Man.
But yes, very informative and an interesting read. Nice update for those of us who have not done evolution/the formation of civilization in some time now. Highly recommended.
February 27, 2019
This is a great book for anyone wanting to understand the development of modern human society and culture. The author lays out millions of years of evolution in a very clear and easy to follow manner. The book isn't filled with fluff or extraneous details, and is a pretty quick read. He also puts forth a few arguments for what he thinks will be the legacy of the next--or rather, current--phase of human evolution, without being hyperbolic or sensational. I think this portion underwhelmed somewhat considering it was the main selling point of the book, but I appreciate that the author didn't attempt to overblow his theories for the purpose of finishing with a grand flourish. At any rate, this is a book dense with information that any human curious about their heritage should read. I would recommend buying your own copy for the purpose of annotating.
March 15, 2018
A fascinating, comprehensive yet concise history of humanity, with a tentative glimpse into what the future may hold, without too many outlandish predictions. It truly is remarkable how long humans were mere wanderers who had to hunt and forage to survive. Kelly logically describes the 4 major developments in our species that made us what we are today, and expertly forecasts what could be to come.
May 29, 2024
This is a book-length essay by anthropologist Robert Kelly. He proposes a metanarrative of a series of grand milestones in human history: technology, culture, agriculture, the state and... the fifth beginning (which is in the future).
As a writer, Kelly is pretty good. His grasp of the book-length narrative essay is solid, and he is funny, entertaining and easy to read. I found this enjoyable and easy to get into. At times it was kind of dumb, and there are absolutely some bruh moments which are great for critical reading and discussion. Discussing this with my friends who also read it (I read ahead of them), we had some laughs at Kelly's dumber moments, like the supersymboler theory, or claiming that people find bombing hospitals unacceptable (his faith in humanity is greater than mine).
His actual theory I'm not so sure about. This is a metanarrative and I don't much like metanarratives. The beginning of tool usage is absolutely a milestone, and one that predates Homo sapiens. The beginning of culture, which is even more nebulous, is still clearly a milestone even if the exact start is ambiguous. These two things being seperate milestones assumes that tools aren't culture, but lets not get into that now.
The beginning of agriculture and the state are much more proximal and have a causal relationship between eachother. There are exceptions like the Indus Valley Civilization which was apparently in between these two stages, but generally, agriculture, urbanism and monopolies on legitimized violence go together. I think this is a significant beginning, but also just one, and much less universal than tools and culture. There are still hunter-gatherer societies today.
This builds towards his proposed fifth beginning, the next beginning. He doesn't actually say what that beginning is, but makes some predictions. He vaguely alludes to the end of capitalism due to unsustainability, but doesn't go further as I'd imagine he's trying to actually get his book published. He predicts the end of the nation-state, either with global balkanization of super-states, neither of which he is actually against and seems to foresee as traits of a fifth beginning. Broadly, he foresees a post-war humanity defined by unprecedented levels of cooperation and peace. I appreciated his optimism, however I would have liked a more definite fifth beginning for me to agree or disagree with. I feel like the fifth beginning is just global communism and he's holding back honestly.
Overall its a fun book with a lot of thought to be provoked, but I don't really agree with the metanarrative he constructs, so I appreciate it more for the trees than the forest (the artifacts more than the site?).
As a writer, Kelly is pretty good. His grasp of the book-length narrative essay is solid, and he is funny, entertaining and easy to read. I found this enjoyable and easy to get into. At times it was kind of dumb, and there are absolutely some bruh moments which are great for critical reading and discussion. Discussing this with my friends who also read it (I read ahead of them), we had some laughs at Kelly's dumber moments, like the supersymboler theory, or claiming that people find bombing hospitals unacceptable (his faith in humanity is greater than mine).
His actual theory I'm not so sure about. This is a metanarrative and I don't much like metanarratives. The beginning of tool usage is absolutely a milestone, and one that predates Homo sapiens. The beginning of culture, which is even more nebulous, is still clearly a milestone even if the exact start is ambiguous. These two things being seperate milestones assumes that tools aren't culture, but lets not get into that now.
The beginning of agriculture and the state are much more proximal and have a causal relationship between eachother. There are exceptions like the Indus Valley Civilization which was apparently in between these two stages, but generally, agriculture, urbanism and monopolies on legitimized violence go together. I think this is a significant beginning, but also just one, and much less universal than tools and culture. There are still hunter-gatherer societies today.
This builds towards his proposed fifth beginning, the next beginning. He doesn't actually say what that beginning is, but makes some predictions. He vaguely alludes to the end of capitalism due to unsustainability, but doesn't go further as I'd imagine he's trying to actually get his book published. He predicts the end of the nation-state, either with global balkanization of super-states, neither of which he is actually against and seems to foresee as traits of a fifth beginning. Broadly, he foresees a post-war humanity defined by unprecedented levels of cooperation and peace. I appreciated his optimism, however I would have liked a more definite fifth beginning for me to agree or disagree with. I feel like the fifth beginning is just global communism and he's holding back honestly.
Overall its a fun book with a lot of thought to be provoked, but I don't really agree with the metanarrative he constructs, so I appreciate it more for the trees than the forest (the artifacts more than the site?).
February 27, 2021
An archaeological account of human history. Author divided it in five different beginnings, each started with the emergence of a phenomenon that changed the course of human evolutionary process.
These phenomena includes:
1. Technology
2. Culture
3. Agriculture
4. State
5. Globalisation
The author sums up the whole idea in a single sentence.
"Evolution has always tried to make us the best at one thing, but in doing so, it turned us into something quite different"
It seems like the author desperately wanted to write a book, otherwise all this could have been written in a paper of 30-40 pages.
These phenomena includes:
1. Technology
2. Culture
3. Agriculture
4. State
5. Globalisation
The author sums up the whole idea in a single sentence.
"Evolution has always tried to make us the best at one thing, but in doing so, it turned us into something quite different"
It seems like the author desperately wanted to write a book, otherwise all this could have been written in a paper of 30-40 pages.
October 13, 2021
I have a BA in Human Development, and this book added to my knowledge on the topic. I enjoyed reading it, and it helped me understand the chaos and confusion of modern times in the state. Humans didn't always live in large politically stratified nations--of course, our ancestors were once hunters and gatherers who became agriculturalists who then became state citizens slowly over time. Evolution is a mystery, yet, as Kelly points out, hope and optimism are necessary as we brave the future and humanity moves toward our authenticity as a social species. I love this book!
December 10, 2017
Not your average textbook...
I totally thought that this book was going to be another boring textbook and I loved being proven wrong. It was interesting, not something for everyone but as someone who finds history and anthropology interesting it worked for me. Really makes you think about what is going to happen next, in terms of mankind's run on this planet.
I totally thought that this book was going to be another boring textbook and I loved being proven wrong. It was interesting, not something for everyone but as someone who finds history and anthropology interesting it worked for me. Really makes you think about what is going to happen next, in terms of mankind's run on this planet.
November 20, 2024
I read this for a class because I’m an anthropology (and sociology) major. However, I found it very insightful and worth the read. Kelly provided a great summary of human history with marked “beginnings” of major structural changes, like the beginning of culture. He ends the book on a note that gives us hope while still emphasizing the urgency of acting on climate change.
January 29, 2020
Enjoyed learning of the 5 "beginnings" for humans: tech/tools, culture and human creative activity, agriculture, political organization, and global citizenship; the last being perhaps the era we are just now entering.
July 2, 2020
Libro sencillo, desde una perspectiva arqueológica y antropológica, sobre grandes transformaciones en la evolución de las sociedades humanas (la aparición de la tecnología, la cultura, la agricultura y el estado). Recomendable.
April 2, 2022
prehistory boring. an optimistic sentiment that argues humans have always found ways to completely change the course of our species in revolutionary creations (“beginnings”). refreshing. that our survival is moving in the right direction is a cute take.
September 11, 2023
Read it for my anthropology class and I found it incredibly easy to read and interesting. I enjoyed the optimistic view for us as a species and as an Anthropology major it really confirmed to me why I love humans and our unwritten and written history so much.
April 29, 2018
I don't know. Despite being a necessary read for a class, it was good.
July 13, 2018
I was fascinated.
September 15, 2019
A fine view of our past and dire warnings for our future.
November 24, 2019
This book is a quick, easy-to-read summary of the past million or so years of human evolution. It's concise, entertaining, and thoughtful.
March 26, 2022
考古學也是可以讓人看得熱血沸騰的。閱讀體驗良好，這要歸功於譯者。
June 29, 2022
憋了这么久的第五次开始，内容也不过是老生常谈
September 18, 2024
Read for a class. Great introduction to anthropology, but for anyone above that level, it’s not anything revolutionary or particularly insightful.
February 17, 2019
A must read for our time. Robert L. Kelly distills the last six million years of prehistory in a slim book that is not only easily readable and accessible but thought provoking and insightful. The Fifth Beginning showed up on election day as I (and many others) were plunged into despair. I read the cover page and wanted to weep because the hopeful tone of this book could not possibly be true. But I started the book the next night - possibly out of shear despair for humankind. I think that Kelly has done a tremendous job outlining the hope that he has for our species. He has relied on science and anthropology every step of the way building a concrete vision of the past that does inform the future. I entered into this book full of doom and despair but close the cover feeling hopeful that we are making progress towards a world that makes sense - a global citizenship. I wish that I possessed even one ounce of Kelly's thoughtfulness and intelligence. Astounded yet again. Read this book friends.
August 17, 2023
"Anthropologists aren’t supposed to think that anything humans do is strange, such as talking with forest spirits while in a trance, dancing with the exhumed remains of their ancestors, or screaming obscenities at a football game while wearing a simulated cheese wedge for a hat."
This light, witty book is a great primer for laypeople, and an interesting think-piece for academics. It offers an unusual (and I think, valuable) perspective on the current historical moment. Definitely worth the read!
This light, witty book is a great primer for laypeople, and an interesting think-piece for academics. It offers an unusual (and I think, valuable) perspective on the current historical moment. Definitely worth the read!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews