What single event do you think changed the lives of mankind forever?

The radiation from a few atomic bombs in no way changed humans. Unless you were near the explosions there was no real increase from the background radiation from natural causes. The single event which changed mankind forever was the invention of beer.

This set humanity on a path of settled agriculture and civilization which has continued for some 10,000 years.

I'm going to say the development of language. Before that, communication was restricted to survival-oriented topics, like drawing up hunting plans. What sets us apart from every other species on earth?

Not the opposable thumb - many primates have that. Not communication - many species communicate. Not even language, if the researchers are to be believed, because many other species have developed means of communication.

What sets us apart is the purpose to which we put language. Not only how we communicate, but what we communicate and what we do with what's communicated to us. Many species teach their young - it's a matter of survival.

We're the only species that takes what's been taught to us by older generations and builds on it, so that we teach our young more than was taught to us. That's why we found it necessary to develop language, so we could codify all that was being taught. From there it's a natural progression to the printing press, moveable type, computers .. .

But all these things are just tools that grew out of that one single fundamental element made necessary by our need to communicate ever more complex facts and abstractions. So all the new gee whiz technology is really just tools developed to help satisfy our insatiable desire to pass on our knowledge, and to learn more about what's been passed on to us. That's my answer and I'm sticking to it!

The use of fire. This changed everything and set man on a course for developing technologies, each leveraging the one that came before it. Protection, warmth, light, dietary habits were all changed by man's use of fire.

Where we are today and where we will be tomorrow was all set in motion by the ability to use fire.

The invention of artificial bartering pieces...yes money. Money has deteriorated personal bonds and community well being.

This may not be what your looking for, but I believe when 911 occurred, it affected all mankind forever. Before then, many of us, including me, was not really worried about terrorist attacks and thought that this huge of a catastrophe could never happen in the US. After it happened in the US in New York, I began to understand how terrorist attacks might happen and might even happen in Illinois where I live.

The birth of Christianity. One religion that effected all others, begins wars, saves lives, costs lives, shapes politics and populations. The world as we know it would not be the same had Christianity never had been dreamed up.

I'll leave the for better or worse to the imagination.

Single event was the Internet. It change the way we communicate,with whom we communicate and what we talk about.

I believe the Industrial Revolution changed mankind. Before then, things were much simpler and greener. People fended for themselves and their family, they did not concern themselves with being money hungry individuals.

Also before the Indistrial Revolution the "sense of individuality" was much stronger, there were actual craftsman and artisans known for trademark designs and innovations, then everything became the same mass produced crap.

When Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit. For if only she did not fall into satan's coaxing then there has never been any sin.

Jesus' death paid for the sins of all mankind.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.