The Power of Myths: How Shared Stories Built Civilization

Humans are unique in their ability to create and believe in imagined realities—entities that exist only in collective imagination but wield enormous influence. Money, nations, religions, and legal systems are all social constructs that bind millions of strangers into cooperative networks.

Money serves as a universal medium of exchange because people collectively trust its value. Without this shared belief, economies would collapse. Similarly, empires like the Roman or Persian unified vast territories by fostering shared laws, languages, and identities.

Religions provide moral codes and communal identities that transcend local kinship ties, strengthening social cohesion. These imagined orders allow societies to function smoothly despite the absence of direct personal relationships.

Understanding this reveals that much of human history is a story of storytelling—how myths shape laws, economies, and cultures. These narratives continue to evolve, influencing politics, economics, and social life today.

Recognizing the power of shared myths empowers us to critically examine the stories we live by and the futures we build.