On Civilization

“The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.”

— President John Adams (1819)

Second President Of The United States

Evolving and Progressing to Something Better

History often repeats itself, and by studying the rise and fall of civilizations, we can gain valuable insights into patterns of behavior, governance, and social dynamics. Overall, it helps us connect with the past, navigate the present, and shape a better tomorrow for future generations.

From the primitive caves to organized settlements, then to bustling cities, evolving into complex societies, transitioning to monarchies, aristocracies, oligarchies, theocracies, tyrannies, and eventually progressing towards self-government and democratic systems, humans have continuously strived to refine and enhance governance.

The method of acquiring political power is central to any government’s philosophy, with electoral competition and hereditary succession serving as the primary means of power acquisition.

Useful Points of
Historical Reference

This list will serve as useful points of historical reference for our podcast conversations.

  1. Kuku Yalanji people (circa 50,000 BCE to present) – lived in Australia (Modern-day Australia)
  2. Native Americans (circa 13,000 BCE to present) – lived in North America (Modern-day North America)
  3. Ancient Japanese civilization (circa 11,000 BCE to present) – lived in Jomon (Modern-day Japan)
  4. Indus Valley civilization (circa 7000 BCE to 1300 BCE) – lived in South Asia (Modern-day India and Pakistan)
  5. Sumerian civilization (circa 4100 BCE to 1750 BCE) – lived in Mesopotamia (Modern-day Iraq)
  6. Chinese civilization (circa 4000 BCE to present) – lived in Huaxia (Modern-day People’s Republic of China)
  7. Ancient Egyptian civilization (circa 3100 to 332 BCE) – lived in Nile River Valley (Modern-day Egypt)
  8. Hindu civilization (circa 1900 BCE to today) -lived in Indian subcontinent (Modern-day India)
  9. Judaism (Abraham born circa 1813 BCE) – lived in Canaan (Ancient Israel) – (Modern-day Israel)
  10. Mayan civilization (circa 1500 BCE to 950 CE) – lived in Mesoamerica (Modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador)
  11. Ancient Greek civilization (circa 1200 BCE to 323 BCE) – lived in Mediterranean region (Modern-day Greece)
  12. Roman civilization (circa 753 BCE to 476 CE) – lived in Mediterranean region (Modern-day Italy)
  13. Persian civilization (circa 550 BCE to 331 CE) – Balkan Peninsula to the Indus River Valley (Modern-day Iran)
  14. Buddhist civilization (500 BCE to today) – lived in India (Modern-day Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka)
  15. Christianity (Jesus born circa 6 BCE) – lived in Nazareth (Ancient Israel) – (Modern-day majority of 157 countries and territories)
  16. Byzantine civilization (circa 395 CE to 1453 CE) – Constantinople (Modern-day Istanbul, Turkey)
  17. Islam (Muhammed born circa 570 CE) – lived in Hejaz (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) – (Modern-day 56 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa)
  18. Viking civilization (circa 800 CE to 1050 CE) – Scandinavia and beyond (Modern-day Nordic countries)
  19. Inca civilization (circa 1200 CE to 1533 CE) – Andes region (Modern-day Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia)
  20. Mongol civilization (circa 1206 CE to 1368 CE) – Central Asia and beyond (Modern-day Mongolia, parts of China, Russia)
  21. Ancient Maori civilization (circa 1250 CE to present) – Aotearoa (Modern-day New Zealand)
  22. Aztec civilization (circa 1325 CE to 1521 CE) – Mesoamerica, Southern part of North America (Modern-day Mexico)
  23. American civilization (circa 1565 CE to present) – Colonial America (Modern-day United States of America)

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