• Unit 1: Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Bitcoin: Unraveling Human History and Technological Progress

    In this unit, direct discussion of Bitcoin is minimal. Saylor and Breedlove focus on laying the historical and intellectual foundation for our understanding of energy, anthropology, and technology, specifically how they provide a lens through which we can interpret human history. Bitcoin did not spring up out of nowhere; it's the natural result of a long series of developments, a capstone innovation to and an inheritor of centuries of human ingenuity employed in the efficient capturing and wielding of energy. All these elements converge and reach an apotheosis in Bitcoin. Be ready and willing to think abstractly about these themes and how they impact the very basics of our survival.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 5 hours.

    • Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

      • analyze the concept of asymmetric combat and its role in achieving victory;
      • evaluate the three fundamental technologies that propelled mankind to apex predator status in nature, highlighting the key element that contributed to their success;
      • examine the significance of energy capture, protection, and transfer in human society, emphasizing its role in innovation, wealth generation, peace, and cultural development;
      • discuss the longevity of the Roman Empire by exploring their understanding of human motivation, ego, and the inevitability of hierarchy;
      • explain the importance of protocols and standardized systems for global cooperation, using Bitcoin as a lens; and
      • compare and contrast Bitcoin's invention with historical instances like the Native Americans' lack of discovery of the wheel and China's pre-Gutenberg printing press failure, highlighting their implications and lessons learned.