Long View: When Did Civilization Begin?

When did it collapse? Life-long learning opportunities

There’s now a new section of the Slender Threads Substack devoted to public history, with 38 posts so far. Taking the long view illuminates our understanding of current events; cultures of the past, present, and future.

Public history, beyond the walls of the traditional classroom, is a discipline that uses historical skills and methods outside academia. It focuses on history for the general public, rather than academics or specialists, and seeks to deepen the public's connection to and knowledge of the past, recognizing patterns and to seriously consider choices for the future.

Public historians are desperately needed in this era when majoring in history is discouraged, the formal study of history is declining, and too many people only think of the immediate short-term. They confuse propaganda and “presentism” — judging the past with the values of the present — with the study of history. Some think the past should be never-changing, but it actually changes frequently as humans gather new information, new perspectives and develop new interpretations. One function of public historians is to aggregate interesting content for public discussion. The Internet offers a wonderful opportunity for life-long learning at one’s fingertips.

In teaching world history, I initially encouraged students to think about and answer these questions:

1. What were the first signs of civilization?

2. In elementary school, you learned about the three stages of pre-history: the stone age, the bronze age, and the iron age. When did recorded history begin?

3. What is an empire? When was history’s first empire? When and why did it rise and fall?

4. When did civilization first collapse? Why?

5. New research is discovering why an advanced civilization in Spain vanished 3,000 years ago. What is the evidence?

This photo offers a hint as to the first signs of civilization.

Photo courtesy AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

Answers to the questions, along with four posts, one five-minute TED-ED video, and one “long view” historical lecture are below.