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skeptical_lurker comments on Open Thread, May 25 - May 31, 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion
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Was there any noticeable technological progress back in 2000 BC?
Looking at science fiction from the 19th century, aerial warfare, armoured land warfare, space exploration were all predicted. The details were all wrong, and I doubt we can predict the details of the future with any great accuracy. But the general theme of humanity expanding across the universe seems a safe extrapolation, even if I don't know whether the starships will be beam riders or ramscoops or wormhole navigators or Alcubierre drive or some other technology that has not yet been conceived.
Shitloads. Empires rose and fell as they obsoleted each other's military technologies, architecture evolved tremendously, crop plants diversified and became more nutritious, extractive farming techniques gave way to those that preserved the fertility of the soil rather than stripmining it, new naval technology was partially responsible for the late bronze age collapse... (yes I'm aware these gradiate towards 1000 BC)
What makes you think that in 4000 years people will think there was noticeable technological progress in the XXI century?
Actually, no, if the limit of the speed of light holds, either there won't be much expansion or the result of the expansion won't be very human.