Part 4/11:
Mastery of Fire: A Turning Point
The dire circumstances surrounding early man’s environment highlighted an essential discovery: fire. Lightning strikes and sparks from volcanic activity revealed the power and potential of flames to early humans. Eventually, the potential to create and control fire became an architectural miracle for Homo erectus, allowing them to tame the wild, cook food, and create a social space around housing—fires and hearths became centers for community bonding and early language development.