3 ms·
Anti-gradualist explanation of history is an alternative and more likely explanation. Gradualism means a version of history in which civilisation progresses gr
by snidane 6y ago
Anti-gradualist explanation of history is an alternative and more likely explanation.
Gradualism means a version of history in which civilisation progresses gradually from less to more civilised over time. The opposite is a history in which there could have been moments when human civilization was more advanced way before our notion of recorded history, but suffered a massive hit to its existence. Then the civilisation after got rebuilt but with the previous culture and technological knowledge forgotten.
One such theory is by Graham Hancock and Randall Carlson [1]. They present an explanation of history in which there could have been a more technologically advanced human culture even during ice age which got wiped out when ice age ended.
The end of ice age was completely sudden, which they explain by a meteor crash into the huge ice sheets causing large tsunamis and sudden ocean level increase which wiped out majority of advanced population living in cities right by the sea - same as today. Causing the advanced culture and its knowledge to cease to exist with remains being picked up or reused by more primitive people living in mainlands and forming cultures which are now basis of our civilisation.
Their version explains currently unexplained phenomena such as
1. sudden extinction of ice age animal species. Hordes of mammoths found dead with broken femur bones (killed by massive tsunami vs killed by mammoth hunters as explained by current dogma)
2. Big Flood myths found consistently across many independent cultures around the world
3. Technological regress in Egyptian culture - pyramids and pottery way more advanced in older periods than in later periods (forgotten technology)
4. Way more advanced technology of construction in older structures in Latin America (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuamán, Pumapunku) with advanced construction techniques unexplained still until today
5. Geological evidence of massive tsunamis such as large travelling stones (sliding on melting ice sheets) deep into mainland North America or massive water erosion corridors also possibly explained by large tsunamis
[1] https://youtu.be/0H5LCLljJho https://youtu.be/0H5LCLljJho
- valuearb 6y agoGraham Hancock is a fun fictionalist, the Erik Von Danikan of our time.
- cneu 6y agoSome of his claims are quite far-fetched and esoteric. However, even Michael Shermer, head of Skeptic magazine, recently admitted (https://twitter.com/michaelshermer/status/1237559469967421440 https://twitter.com/michaelshermer/status/123755946996742144...) that there is some plausibility for the younger dryas impact hypothesis, which is currently an important part of Hancock's lost civilization claims. Such a major catastrophe would of course have a reset effect on any existing advanced civilization. This alone is not proof that there was one, of course.
- snidane 6y agoDismissing a hypothesis just on the basis of sticking to the baseline works in 99% cases. Then there are the 1% Galileos and Keplers which get dismissed too because their argument is not heard out. And yes in such limiting circumstances you need to develop a fringe fan base or let your findings die out. As John Anthony West puts it "... it was Victor Hugo who wrote the famous line there's one thing stronger than all the armies in the world and that is an idea whose time has come. You know that line was that the second strongest thing in the world is an idea whose time has not yet gone ..." [1]. [1] https://youtu.be/bGu7MLp574A https://youtu.be/bGu7MLp574A