David Reich – How One Small Tribe Conquered the World 70,000 Years Ago

I had no idea how wild human history was before chatting with the geneticist of ancient DNA David Reich.

Human history has been again and again a story of one group figuring ‘something’ out, and then basically wiping everyone else out.

From the tribe of 1k-10k modern humans who killed off all the other human species 70,000 years ago, to the Yamnaya steppe nomads 5,000 who killed off 90+% of (then) Europeans and also destroyed the Indus Valley Civilization.

So much of what we thought we knew about human history is turning out to be wrong, from the ‘Out of Africa’ theory to the evolution of language, and this is all thanks to the research from David Reich’s lab.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) – Archaic and modern humans gene flow
(00:21:13) – How early modern humans dominated the world
(00:40:49) – How the bubonic plague rewrote history
(00:50:52) – Was agriculture terrible for humans?
(01:00:18) – Yamnaya expansion and how populations collide
(01:16:29) – “Lost civilizations” and our Neanderthal ancestry
(01:32:22) – The DNA Challenge
(01:42:37) – India's caste system
(01:47:40) – David's Career

[ParallelPenguins]

The black death killing such a large chunk of humanity through out prehistory just makes me think that damn dogs and cats have REALLY been our best friends. Helping us take out pests and hunt for food and keep our livestock safe. We really wouldn't be who and what we are today with out cats and dogs.

[tobystewart]

The way David Reich speaks, his manner of phrasing possibilities rather than certainties, is a great credit to his intellectual standing. He does not think in terms of simple certainties, leaping from broad postulations of fact to far reaching conclusions. Rather, he is more interested in comparing possible alternatives, and questions popular models by always examining them against different models.

One would be extremely fortunate to work with him, or be a student learning from him.

[mkkxcu]

So refreshing to hear an export say "I don't know" so often. Gives one confidence that the research will continue to reveal a better knowledge.

[chetisanhart]

When a brilliant person says "I don't know" so many times, it gives me hope for humankind.

...and that he is a fellow N.American...wow. I didn't think we did that anymore.

Thank you both for this interview.

[canonbangpowell]

Amazing. David Reich speaks non-stop without hesitation for almost 2 hours. Remains as fascinating at the end as he was at the beginning.

[ynwicks]

Now this is a real scientist. He is precise and is able to confidently say "I don't know". Unlike many egotists in science nowadays making ridiculous claims.

[DwarkeshPatel]

I've been obsessed with what David Reich told me ever since we recorded. All this stuff is so fascinating. Really excited to put this one out :)

[jnielson]

There's something so wonderfully haunting and wonderful about being able to capture parts of these ancient stories and journeys that people went on so, so long ago. TOTALLY love this - really exciting to be alive when this kind of revolution is happening :)

[KathrynHaugan]

Dr. Reich...blows me away with his humility and brilliance...every time. Thank you for this extended interview Dwarkesh Patel. More please!

[tcrown]

I had to slow the video down to 0.75. This, undoubted brilliant man speaks far too quickly for this 81 year old. 😳
Excellent, thought provoking content!

[LeonardTavast]

Thanks to the algorithm for serving me this podcast. I subbed in less than a minute.

[OriginForExistence]

The Description of this video is Resuming and Brilliant.
We think it is important to read it and memorise it, before diving into the long video.
This is because the first 10-20 minutes of this long video are hard to digest, and could wrongly give the impression that nothing important will be discussed, and that all will remain confusing.

We are convinced that the old and new Findings of David Reich will rewrite human history and play an essential role in us 8 billion humans solving our many challenges and eventually unify in doing so.

Dwarkesh Patel recognizes something very similar in the shorter videos, description and even in this long video, but in the first 10-20 minutes of this video it is hard for who assists to get the line that is so well described in the brilliant Description.

After Reading the Description, we would advise to pull first to the much more clear Shorter Videos, before you take on this long video.

We hope that there will be new interviews from Dwarkesh Patel with David Reich, and that Dwarkesh Patel focusses on his own brilliant Description, and stimulated David Reich tell us what he and his team uncovered and still uncover every day through observation of Ancient DNA they are able to sequence.

We hope that Dwarkesh Patel will be able to know from David Reich why he does not rewrite history himself, him being so much on top of the latest data, and especially since he insists on the need for history to be rewritten.

Whether he did not do so himself already because of lack of time to do so, or if there could be resistance that could prejudice his research.

Since Dwarkesh Patel can always change the description, we repeat a selection of his brilliant description right here:

Human history has been again and again a story of one group figuring ‘something’ out, and then basically wiping everyone else out.

From the … modern humans who killed off all the other human species 70, 000 years ago, to the Yamnaya steppe nomads 5, 000 who killed off 90+% of (then) Europeans and also destroyed the Indus Valley Civilization.

So much of what we thought we knew about human history is turning out to be wrong, from the ‘Out of Africa’ theory to the evolution of language, and this is all thanks to the research from David Reich’s lab.

[ajknaup]

I am thrilled at your humility. So many "experts" talk like everything is known, like common assumptions & conclusions with little to no supporting facts are incontovertible. Fascitating presentation on important & interesting topic. Thank you.

[wiserliving]

I really appreciate how humble yet intelligent and informed the guest is as he is a rare person with his level of knowledge admitting he doesn’t have the answers but is also willing to give his thoughts

[redphone]

I love how clearly excited you are for this interview. It's really heart warming.

[BradleyBuiltWoodcraft]

Can we get a little love for the janitorial staff please?That lady saw that yellow cart fucking up the shot and got it TF out of frame. 🎉

[LeylaJ-slzn]

Such a fascinating conversation. And I just love what a gentle personality Mr. Reich has and how it lights up with so much passion when he talks about his favourite topics. This has been both very informative and enjoyable at the same time.

[dariolemos]

I bump into David at lunch every now and then, really nice and humble guy. A cool scientist too. Cheers from HMS

[ITObserver]

Quiet complex. A chart would help beginners like myself.

[John-qohw]

Wow didn't expect two different worlds of mine to come together in such a beautiful conversation