[Ice Age] TL0 Gadgeteers and Civilization-Building

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by fredtheobviouspseudonym

Key element -- remember that originally the human species was in the middle of the food chain -- our ancestors were basically snacks for cats. Fire changes this -- the Lion King doesn't like being burned and keeps his distance. [Actually the Lion Queen -- males don't hunt.] So build a fire, stay by it at night == and you will live longer in the Paleolithic.

Other factors are that fire enables you to cook food, which increases the percentage of nutrients you can extract from some foods, and detoxifies others; and it opens the door to "firestick farming," which increases the productivity of many habitats.