What is Harari's central theory on human history?

Answered in Yuval Noah Harari's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

My central argument is that the Cognitive Revolution, roughly 70,000 years ago, was the crucial turning point. This allowed *Homo sapiens* to develop abstract thought and language, leading to the creation of shared myths and fictions. These shared fictions, like religions, nations, and legal systems, are not inherent in nature but are powerful social constructs that enable large-scale cooperation, distinguishing us from other animals.

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