docs: add Project Origins section to README

* Document project evolution through research spikes
* Add links to previous implementations
* Show progression of battle mechanics
* Explain how current project builds on past work

README.md

@@ -6,6 +6,33 @@ Edge AI-powered turn-based combat game running on Raspberry Pi hardware.
 
 📚 [View Documentation](https://materdev.github.io/thepath-ai_pi/)
 
+## Project Origins
+
+This project represents the evolution of turn-based battle mechanics through several research spikes:
+
+1. [Simulat33](https://github.com/MaterDev/Python_Jupyter_Experiments/tree/main/projects/06_simulat33) - The initial prototype built in Python using Jupyter notebooks, which established core concepts for:
+   * Character class systems with unique abilities
+   * Turn-based combat mechanics
+   * Interactive battle UI using ipywidgets
+   * Status effects and buff systems
+
+2. [huMon-gen](https://github.com/MaterDev/Python_Jupyter_Experiments/tree/main/projects/08_huMon-gen) - A specialized tool for character stat generation and balancing:
+   * Algorithmic generation of character stats using ancestral tree patterns
+   * Interactive visualization of stat distributions across character generations
+   * Comparative analysis tools for balancing character attributes
+   * The base character stats used in this project were generated using this system
+
+3. [golang_turnbased_game_spike](https://github.com/MaterDev/golang_turnbased_game_spike) - A Go-based implementation that refined these concepts and added:
+   * RESTful API architecture
+   * Modern React TypeScript frontend
+   * Improved battle state management
+   * Enhanced cooldown mechanics
+
+The current project builds upon these previous implementations, incorporating:
+* Core battle mechanics from Simulat33
+* Balanced character stats generated through huMon-gen
+* Modern architecture and UI patterns from the Go implementation
+
 ## Quick Start
 
 ```bash