For most of its history, mankind has lived in system N as nomadic tribes of hunters and gatherers. This is the lifestyle that humanity has genetically adapted to, so under ideal conditions, humans could live in rather good physical and mental health. Society was quite egalitarian compared to the later systems. Technology was simple and consisted of stone and wood based tools.
What slowed down technological development in this system was the need to travel around often, because local food supplies would diminish below levels of sustainability if a tribe stayed for too long in one single area. A nomadic civilization has difficulties maintaining an infrastructure that would be needed to sustain more complex economic and technological activity.
This changes in system A.
Alternative names for system N
- Forager age