My long-time “take” is that civilization has moved ahead in spurts. The spurts are generated by the occasional genius born among the population who directs how things get accomplished.
(Borrowed from Dr. Jay Gould, who postulated that evolution on the planet occurred in spurts, or in “Punctuated Equilibrium”).
I had occasion to speak with him before his early death.
I also believe this but with one caveat. There are points where social order promotes, technology exists and genius meet. I think of the Panama Canal. It required American will, medical expertise, electric motor technology and organizational genius.
Yes, that’s reasonable. My point was that using the word “engineer” doesn’t add anything to the people’s accomplishments.
Quite correct about the spurts of civilization. Most likely they were taken out by pandemics or an unlucky asteroid hit. It really is no mystery how to move large stones. Fulcrums and levers accomplish amazing things. But wipe out that knowledge with a flu and it all resets again.