Does history progress? Is an elephant really "better" than a mammoth?

Does history progress? Is an elephant really "better" than a mammoth? 

Try and imagine life in the 1800s or even before that.  Now compare it to this world we live in now.  From someone looking on the outside in it seems to be almost two different universes!  Our technology is far more advanced and even our appearances have changed.  Our way of life, our government, our jobs, and our laws are so much different!  An example showing how jobs and economy have changed is that with all of this new and advanced technology there are more jobs available for people, because of this there are more people working now in 2011 than there were 100 years ago.  Even our outward appearance has greatly changed.  Women used to only be allowed to wear dresses down to their ankles and their hair had to be very long.  Now there is so much diversity with modern day looks!  An example of how are government has changed greatly is we have an African American president.  In years past racism has been such an issue and having an African American president is proof that people are slowly but surely starting to put aside their differences and develop a new and better world together.  A mammoth is a sure sign of our progressions.  A mammoth was born to survive cold climates; whereas, an elephant only lives in warm climates.  This species has changed greatly overtime just based on where it lives!  Although neither one is significantly better nor more advanced than the other they have changed greatly over time, just like our history.