Lacking in the coveted traits of speed and strength, the nerd was barred from the hunt and was instead relegated to tasks of lower distinction, such as delousing others, deburring furs, sweeping, organising rocks, and collecting grubs and water. This gave his larger brain more time to think about the world around him. Scientists now suspect that it was experimentation by an early nerd that lead to humanity's first creation of fire, but that one of the hunters took credit for it and made cave paintings to that end. Physical prowess placed hunters atop the social hierarchy in these early times and, much like modern times, won them a large pool of the most prized mating partners. If the geek mated, it was with the less desirable members of the opposite sex and, in this way, their gene pool remained inferior and their populations small.
Historical accounts tell of the existence of nerds during the Greek and Roman empires.
While adeptness in the study of mathematics may have elevated the status of some, their inability to tackle larger, philosophical questions excluded them from conversation with the aristocrats and participation in the giant orgies. Most likely the nerd would have been too scared to join in anyways. The Middle Ages signalled a revival in learning after the stagnant Dark Ages - a boon for those endowed with large brains and skinny arms. These were times of war, however, and the ability to wield a sword was still a heavy determinant of one's worth. As the swords were quite heavy, the nerd chose instead to study the burgeoning fields of alchemy and wizardry.