CIVILIZATIONS: RISE AND FALL . . .TO RISE AGAIN

What are the chances we are not the most technological civilization ever to rise on Planet Earth? Some wonder if Atlantis really existed, whether it was our technological equal, or if it was merely one human technologically developed civilization in a series of which we are merely the latest version.

Conjectured by Carl Sagan in Cosmos, it may be that every civilization that manages to become technological promptly self-destructs.

Why don't we know about past civilizations, if such existed? Nothing remains; no books, no artifacts, no messages, nothing to identify them. It is the same for the people of Miller's novel: they don't believe an earlier, highly technological civilization existed before them because they find no artifacts.

A knowledge of history helps continue civilization's progress. The more history is a part of civilization, the better culture can survive.

We have a long way to go. Consider the following student constructions of history. Admittedly they demonstrate a lack of history and are created from misstatements on history tests. They are more funny as you know more history.

The World According to Student Bloopers

A History of the Past: "Life Reeked With Joy"