Neanderthals were stronger & smarter than humans. What separated humans from other large primates was the tendency toward cooperation & trade.

Basically every society of any significance first used or worshipped gold & THEN became great. And eventually they destroyed their money & collapsed.

Look around. When money becomes corrupt people become stupid & hedonistic, when money collapses people become nightmarish animals that destroy each other.

Money is literally the lifeblood of human civilization. Billions would die without it.