How Trains Transformed US Capitalism | Mankind Decoded (S1, E12) | Full Episode

How Trains Transformed US Capitalism | Mankind Decoded (S1, E12) | Full Episode


Mankind Decoded: The Power of Speed

Speed has been essential to human existence, giving us an advantage in the battle for survival. From the domestication of the horse to the invention of the steam engine, automobile, and telegraph, speed has shaped our story in amazing ways.

Early Advantages of Speed

  • Prehistoric ancestors relied on speed to catch prey and survive.
  • The domestication of the horse 5,000 years ago in Central Asia gave humans a significant advantage in speed and power.
  • The Vikings’ swift long ships enabled them to control a vast territory through raiding and trading.

Revolutionizing Transportation and Communication

  • The steam engine revolutionized transportation and industry in the 19th century.
  • The steamboat and locomotive made traveling across the world easier and faster.
  • The telegraph enabled fast electronic communication, connecting cities and continents.

The Impact of Speed on Society

  • Speed enabled large numbers of people to move around the world, leading to a dramatic impact on society.
  • The railroad and automobile transformed society, allowing for faster travel and communication.
  • Speed has also driven the pace of progress, with the invention of new technologies like radio and television.

The Future of Speed

Today, the internet and 24-hour news have taken the instant communications revolution to new heights. With over 2.25 billion people having computers and internet access, we can now communicate and connect at the speed of light.


Term Definition Example Usage
Domestication The process of taming and breeding animals or plants for human use. The domestication of the horse 5,000 years ago in Central Asia gave humans a significant advantage in speed and power.
Steam Engine A machine that uses the power of steam to perform mechanical work. The steam engine revolutionized transportation and industry in the 19th century.
Telegraph A system for transmitting coded messages over wires. The telegraph enabled fast electronic communication, connecting cities and continents.
Locomotive A self-propelled vehicle on rails, powered by a steam engine or other means. The steamboat and locomotive made traveling across the world easier and faster.
Revolutionize To completely change or transform something. The steam engine revolutionized transportation and industry in the 19th century.
Progress Forward or onward movement, especially towards a goal. Speed has also driven the pace of progress, with the invention of new technologies like radio and television.
Instant Communication Communication that occurs in real-time, without delay. Today, the internet and 24-hour news have taken the instant communications revolution to new heights.
Transform To change completely in form or character. The railroad and automobile transformed society, allowing for faster travel and communication.
Continent One of the seven large landmasses on Earth. The telegraph enabled fast electronic communication, connecting cities and continents.
Revolution A complete change or transformation in the way something is done or organized. Today, the internet and 24-hour news have taken the instant communications revolution to new heights.


Vocabulary Quiz: Mankind Decoded: The Power of Speed

Test your knowledge of vocabulary from the article “Mankind Decoded: The Power of Speed” with these 5 multiple-choice questions.

Question 1: What does “domestication” mean?

Choose the correct answer:

  • A) The process of making something wild and untamed
  • B) The act of training or taming an animal for human use
  • C) The process of inventing a new technology
  • D) The act of exploring a new territory

Question 2: What does “revolutionized” mean?

Choose the correct answer:

  • A) Made something slower and less efficient
  • B) Changed something completely, making it more efficient and effective
  • C) Made something more expensive and less accessible
  • D) Made something less important and less relevant

Question 3: What does “swift” mean?

Choose the correct answer:

  • A) Moving or happening slowly
  • B) Moving or happening quickly and easily
  • C) Moving or happening in a random and unpredictable way
  • D) Moving or happening in a steady and consistent way

Question 4: What does “dramatic” mean?

Choose the correct answer:

  • A) Having a small and insignificant effect
  • B) Having a large and significant effect
  • C) Having a neutral and unnoticeable effect
  • D) Having a slow and gradual effect

Question 5: What does “instant” mean?

Choose the correct answer:

  • A) Happening or done slowly and gradually
  • B) Happening or done quickly and immediately
  • C) Happening or done at a random and unpredictable time
  • D) Happening or done at a steady and consistent rate

Answer Key:

  • 1. B) The act of training or taming an animal for human use
  • 2. B) Changed something completely, making it more efficient and effective
  • 3. B) Moving or happening quickly and easily
  • 4. B) Having a large and significant effect
  • 5. B) Happening or done quickly and immediately



The Use of the Past Perfect and Past Simple Tenses

The past perfect and past simple tenses are used to describe completed actions in the past. The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action in the past, while the past simple tense is used to describe a completed action in the past. In the given text, we can see examples of both tenses being used to describe historical events and their impact on society.

Quiz Time!

1. The Vikings’ swift long ships ____________________ them to control a vast territory through raiding and trading.

A) had enabled
B) enabled
C) have enabled
D) enable

2. The steam engine ____________________ transportation and industry in the 19th century.

A) revolutionized
B) has revolutionized
C) was revolutionizing
D) is revolutionizing

3. By the time the telegraph was invented, the steam engine ____________________ transportation and industry for decades.

A) had revolutionized
B) revolutionized
C) was revolutionizing
D) has revolutionized

4. The domestication of the horse ____________________ humans a significant advantage in speed and power 5,000 years ago.

A) gave
B) has given
C) was giving
D) had given

5. The internet and 24-hour news ____________________ the instant communications revolution to new heights.

A) have taken
B) took
C) was taking
D) had taken

Answer Key:

1. B) enabled
2. A) revolutionized
3. A) had revolutionized
4. A) gave
5. A) have taken