[MrB]

Anyone read “5000 year leap”?

Human society was pretty stagnant until the concept of government protection of individual rights and property came about.

[Justa]

"Human society was pretty stagnant until the concept of government protection of individual rights and property came about."

And the American patent system introduced in the Constitution. It was the first system granting ownership, rights and protection to an individual inventor regardless of social standing or title.