As of now, the development of humankind has reached its highest point in terms of technological capacity and social awareness. Under these circumstances, a false sense of security may arise, supporting the perception of civilization as an eternal entity. More specifically, many experts and researchers state that it deems itself in control of the Earth with all its resources and natural phenomena. Nevertheless, the planet continues to remind us that there exist processes over which modern civilizations have little or no agency. Furthermore, while history is often presented as a chain of logical events, other researchers argue that it is, in fact, a seemingly ordered combination of chaotic occurrences. Archaeological findings often support the second point of view, showing how even the most advanced civilizations of their time perished in the face of irresistible forces.
Such a perspective became central for The New York Times pieces titled “Is This the End?” In this article, James Atlas (2012) reflects upon the disastrous natural phenomena that shook humanity, starting from the 21st century and delving deeper into history. In this context, the author refers to other seminal pieces, which share a similar perspective on the matter at hand. In other words, history is not a perfectly ordered sequence of logical events. On the contrary, these occurrences are usually chaotic, but humanity attributes a perceived meaning to them in retrospect. Atlas (2012) discusses the contemporary projects that serve to reduce nature’s impact on people’s lives, such as MOSE flood gates in Italy. Such initiatives emphasize humanity’s views of natural phenomena as a nuisance rather than a force to be reckoned with.
The discussion presented within the article revolves around a central philosophical topic. This idea represents the ephemerality of human civilization, which is observed across the history of the world. As Atlas (2012) contemplates the existing monuments of the 20th-21st centuries, he writes about the great nations of the past, such as the Roman Empire, that never thought it would collapse in the way it did. Archaeological research shows the risks of such underestimations as experts investigate the failed societies of the past. For example, the Mayan nation was incredibly advanced for its period, building complex structures and fascinating monuments. However, as discussed by Diamond (2005), the lack of attention to natural resources and phenomena put an end to the great civilization. A similar scenario was discovered during the excavations on Easter Island. The Rapa Nui people managed to thrive in isolation in their remote part of the ocean, constructing monuments of unbelievable complexity. However, the internal discord within their enclosed community led to irrational use of limited resources combined with a ruthless feud. As a result, the once advanced civilization virtually ceased to exist.
At any major stage of global development, the Earth saw thriving centers of growth, most of which disappeared for certain reasons. In many cases, the lack of due attention to the influence of nature became the root of these problems. Furthermore, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and eruptions continue to threaten the civilization of the 21st century. Even though humanity little or no control over these phenomena, it can still increase the chances of its survival by approaching the matter with due respect. In addition, complex societies face threats from socioeconomic issues, as well. Archaeology provides modern decision-makers with invaluable lessons of history. Taking them into account within the current landscape will positively affect the development of modern civilizations, allowing humanity to avoid the mistakes of the past.
References
Atlas, J. (2012). Is this the end? The New York Times, 1-4.
Diamond, J. (2005). The ends of the world as we know them. The New York Times, 13-17.