Re: The Ages of civilization
Reply #7 –
As we are approaching an archaeology age, we see that division into ages is an artefact of artefacts. There never was a stone age. Stone is a very hard material to manipulate. However it can last for millennia while other materials rot, so that's what was found. Other technologies like the domestication of humans and other animals gave more subtle artefacts, we never had a bone age.
Likewise with the historical ages. When we realised that our long-ignored ancestors had been writing as well, we first discovered government propaganda, as it was loud and big, and again long-lasting. Then we listened to the voices of old historians, conducted by the contemporary historians, all of whom desired to organise the world in their way.
Stone is a hard material to manipulate--- but our ancestors did it. Did it rather well, too, if the artifacts they left behind is any indication. Tools were made of it, weapons were made of it, they even wrote on it.