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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Human History on Drugs summary
Sam Kelly
An Utterly Scandalous but Entirely Truthful Look at History Under the Influence
21 mins
Brief summary
Human History on Drugs delves into the transformative impact of psychoactive substances throughout history. It examines how these drugs have shaped cultures, fueled conflicts, and influenced innovations, offering a fresh perspective on human development.
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Human History on Drugs
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Divine visions and empire decisions
Ramses II ruled ancient Egypt and Nubia for an astonishing sixty-six years, from 1279 until 1213 BCE. He is remembered for his massive construction program, building more monuments than any other pharaoh. These include the rock-cut temple complex near Abu Simbel, and additions to the Karnak Temple Complex near Luxor.
In 1976, French Egyptologists analyzing x mummy at the Museum of Mankind in Paris discovered cannabis pollen in his abdominal cavity along with traces of nicotine – despite tobacco being unknown in ancient Egypt. The pharaoh who negotiated history's first recorded peace treaty stashed marijuana in his burial wrappings for the afterlife.
A bit further North, the Oracle of Delphi shaped the entire ancient world for nearly twelve hundred years – from about 800 BC until the fourth century of the common era. This priestess was considered the voice of Apollo on earth, and the ultimate authority for Greek city-states. No one declared war, founded colonies, or enacted major laws without first climbing Mount Parnassus to the Temple and consulting the oracle. Kings waited months for an audience, and treasuries were built for the gold offered in exchange for her prophecies. The Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE, which saved Greek civilization from Persian conquest, was fought based on her cryptic prophecies.
But the Oracle's divine visions had a geological source. The temple sat directly atop two intersecting fault lines that released ethylene gas, a sweet-smelling vapor that causes euphoric hallucinations. French archaeologists in 1927 first noted the fissures beneath the temple floor, and modern analysis confirmed ethylene deposits in the spring water and travertine rock. The priestess also likely consumed oleander leaves before prophesying. This poisonous plant, which grew wild around Delphi, causes delirium and tremors in controlled doses. The most crucial decisions of the ancient Mediterranean world came from a woman breathing volcanic gases while deliberately poisoning herself.
Meanwhile in Rome, Marcus Aurelius ruled the Empire from 161 to 180 CE, and is considered the last of the Five Good Emperors. His philosophical work Meditations, remains required reading in philosophy courses worldwide. He composed these thoughts on duty, mortality, and self-discipline while commanding legions of Roman soldiers against the Germanic tribes under conditions of extreme physical hardship. The text champions emotional control and mental clarity as the highest virtues.
Marcus Aurelius’ personal physician, Galen of Pergamon, was antiquity's most influential medical authority, whose writings shaped medicine for a millennium. For the emperor’s chronic chest and stomach pain, Galen prescribed theriac – a potent mixture of opium, wine, and honey. Marcus Aurelius drank this every morning and evening. Those famous stoic reflections on accepting fate and mastering desire were written under the influence of enough opiates to knock out a modern pain patient.
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What is Human History on Drugs about?
Human History on Drugs (2025) reveals how mind-altering substances have shaped forty of history's most influential figures, from ancient oracles to modern tech billionaires. The book exposes the hidden role of drugs in world-changing decisions, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural revolutions across five thousand years of human civilization.
Who should read Human History on Drugs?
- People interested in the intersection of science, creativity, and consciousness
- History buffs who enjoy learning surprising facts about well-known figures
- Anyone who's ever wondered about the real stories from behind the scenes of pivotal world events
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