17th
Incredibly, Wikipedia has an article titled “History of the world,” which is actually about the “the recorded memory of the experience, around the world, of Homo sapiens.” Its scope is amusingly reductive, and by virtue of it the article must condense humanity’s development to its most dramatic highlights. I imagine there are all sorts of academic quibbles to be had with the entry, for those inclined.
Above is a graphic (which I’ve rotated) detailing the migration of humankind, color-coded by the number of millennia in the past each migration supposedly occurred. I believe another graphic on the subject has been making the rounds.
Below, is Ptolemy’s ~150 CE map of the world, from the same article.
I like when people say things like: “Relatively speaking, it’s not a big deal.” I want to try to speak and think relatively more often and think these maps may help. Perhaps we could keep them as cards in the wallet, or as posters on the wall. An unpleasant phone call? Well, it’s not really so significant. Financial worries? Well, crossing the Bering Strait was probably stressful, too. Etc.
it was the worst part of the whole trip! well, actually the worst part was waiting 5,000 years for the glaciers to melt so we could get to baja….
all playful & wishful imaginings aside, the journey’s certainly been a profound one and continues as such. to think that we began in several small places and’ve since moved to cover the planet… we’ve only one way to go — & funny enough, that’s where the nature of life & reality at the very small scale comes into play (re: kyle’s comment).
understanding gravity, time, light, the way matter interacts with energy to create things such as consciousness. i really do enjoy the fact that the journey outward will be much informed by the journey inward.
