Are We Smarter Than Humans 1,000 Years Ago?

Intelligence vs. Knowledge: What Are We Really Comparing?

Okay, first thing’s first: intelligence and knowledge aren’t the same. A person in the year 1025 might not know what Wi-Fi is (obviously), but that doesn’t mean they were dumb. They probably knew how to build a shelter, treat wounds with herbs, navigate using stars. Try doing that without Googling.

Today, we’re walking encyclopedias—but only because we carry the internet in our pockets. Are we naturally more intelligent, or just more connected to information? Hmm, it depends on how you define "smart."

Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence

Psychologists split intelligence into two types:

• Fluid intelligence = solving problems, logical thinking, pattern recognition.

• Crystallized intelligence = accumulated knowledge, facts, vocabulary.

Studies suggest fluid intelligence hasn’t increased much in a thousand years. But crystallized? That’s where we win big. Schools, books, memes (yeah, even those)—all part of how we stack knowledge layers higher than ever before.

The Flynn Effect: Are We Getting Smarter?

Now here’s something cool: since the early 20th century, IQ scores have been rising. This phenomenon’s called the Flynn Effect. But wait—IQ tests measure very specific types of intelligence. Mostly logical and visual reasoning.

Some argue this rise reflects better nutrition, education, and a more stimulating environment, not an actual boost in brain power. Others say it’s plateauing now anyway (so maybe we peaked?).

So yeah, IQ might say we’re “smarter,” but it’s not the whole story.

Modern Education and Brain Development

A medieval kid spent more time outside, solving real-world problems (and avoiding bears). A modern kid solves math puzzles and plays Minecraft. Different skillsets, for sure.

Also: literacy is now almost universal. That’s huge. Only about 5-10% of Europeans were literate in 1025. So in terms of access to knowledge? We’ve come miles.

How Technology Shapes (and Limits?) Our Minds

Here’s the paradox: we’ve offloaded so much thinking to machines—calculations, memory, directions—that we’re using our own brains less for certain tasks. That old “use it or lose it” rule might apply here.

Ever forgotten how to get somewhere you’ve driven a dozen times because you always use GPS? Yeah, me too.

But at the same time, tech is boosting other mental muscles. We multitask, analyze tons of data, and adapt quickly to new interfaces. That’s cognitive flexibility—super valuable today, not so much in 1025.

Emotional and Social Intelligence: Harder to Measure

Let’s not forget EQ—emotional intelligence. Are we more empathetic than medieval folks? Maybe. We’re more connected to global cultures, more exposed to different ways of life. But we’re also glued to screens and, let’s be real, socially awkward sometimes.

A 12th-century villager might’ve had fewer words for feelings, but they probably knew their neighbors better than we know ours.

Hard to measure, even harder to judge.

So… Are We Smarter?

Honestly? Yes and no.

• We’ve got access to way more knowledge, and we’ve built systems (schools, internet, science) that let us grow smarter collectively.

• But our raw cognitive abilities probably haven’t changed that much. Our brains are still built on the same hardware—just updated with new apps, so to speak.

And if you dropped a modern human into the year 1025? They’d probably panic (then starve). But reverse that? That medieval brain might catch up fast. They’d just need a crash course on how not to click phishing links.

In the end, maybe “smart” isn’t about what we know, but how we adapt. And humans, old or new, are pretty damn good at that.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.