How Many Times Human Civilization?

Mythologically speaking, both the ancient Greeks and ancient Mesoamericans stated that this is our "fifth" or "iron" civilization. In both mythologies, this cycle is the most beset with hardship, and we are the least naturally gifted.

reply to post by DaisyAnne

The Aztec calendar has us at near the end of the fifth Sun also, five Suns and four ages. Relating this to astrology and the Zodiac wheel, Hindu Yuga cycles of wisdom and the astronomical precession of the equinoxes makes it all very confusing. There are different estimates for where we are currently at on the great wheel, somewhere near the transition between Pisces / Aquarius and the Iron / Bronze age.

Interesting topic and one I've always found interesting.

It's really a simple matter of mathematics in it's strictest sense. Barring of course 'x-events' such as geologic upheavals, fluke scientific breakthroughs, etc.

We have reached our current level of technological achievement in roughly 5000 years. That is, in a linear sense. A relatively brief time when given the approximate age of mankind. Which is thought to be between 150,000-195,000 years since our earliest ancestors.

What is more interesting, though, is the relatively brief 'lifespan' of most of mankinds structures and contributions of the last 1000 years or so. 10-15,000 years would wipe out virtually anything we've manged to build or construct in the historical era.

So clearly, we have had enough actually time to evolve to a certain point, be erased, and re-start back in a more or less primitive technological state.

Regardless, an interesting exercise in speculation if nothing else.