A number of processes spanned the entire history of civilized thinking and deserve being treated independently. I have mentioned some of the elements in previous essays, but here I bring together those elements.
Obelisks and Tentpoles: why some civilizations got science and some didn’t
Oh, Be a Fine Girl, Kiss Me Now
Chinese Technological Superiority
Writing
Vocabulary
Techniques of calculation; the abacus and number systems
coinage systems
writing systems: uncials; punctuation; alphabetization