Alternative approaches to calendars
Merlin Stone issued an intriguing proposition. Our current dating system is based on the Christian religion (B.C./A.D.). This shapes the way we view history. For me, everything that happened B.C. is a sort of timeless jumble, and it's difficult to wrap my head around the chronology. Conversely, I tend to see A.D. as the start of the modern era. And yet there are other ways of looking at history. Stone proposed that we use a dating system based on the start of agriculture 10,000 years ago. Before the Development of Agriculture (B.D.A.)/ After the Development of Agriculture (A.D.A.) And so I've been playing around with this. While I think it would also make sense to use the start of writing as a dating point, I decided to stick with Stone's concept. And so here for your perusal is a very brief chronology of history, based on the development of agriculture:
40,000 B.D.A. Emergence of modern humans
16,000 B.D.A. Venus of Willendorf
Year 1 A.D.A. Beginning of agriculture
1000 A.D.A. Neolithic Europe
3000 A.D.A. Earliest cities in Mesopotamia
4000 A.D.A. Sumerian writing
4240 A.D.A. First year of the Jewish calendar
4628 A.D.A. First year of the Mayan calendar
5500 A.D.A. First libraries in Egypt
6000 A.D.A. Concept of four elements (earth, air, fire, water) in India
6500 A.D.A. Israelites leave Egypt
7247 A.D.A. Foundation of Rome
7450 A.D.A. Birth of Buddha
7550 A.D.A. Celtic settlements in the British Isles
7785 A.D.A. Great Wall of China
8000 A.D.A. Birth of Jesus Christ
8043 A.D.A. Founding of London
8360 A.D.A. Scrolls begin to be replaced by books
8500 A.D.A. Tamo (founder of Zen Buddhism) discovers tea in India
8507 A.D.A. Visigoth Kingdom of Castile
8622 A.D.A. First year of the Muslim calendar
8711 A.D.A. Moorish conquest of Spain
9066 A.D.A. Battle of Hastings
9348 A.D.A. Black Death comes to England
9492 A.D.A. Voyage of Columbus
9776 A.D.A. U.S. Declaration of Independence
9969 A.D.A. Moon landing
10,013 A.D.A. Present Year
It goes without saying that this is hardly an exhaustive history of the world.
40,000 B.D.A. Emergence of modern humans
16,000 B.D.A. Venus of Willendorf
Year 1 A.D.A. Beginning of agriculture
1000 A.D.A. Neolithic Europe
3000 A.D.A. Earliest cities in Mesopotamia
4000 A.D.A. Sumerian writing
4240 A.D.A. First year of the Jewish calendar
4628 A.D.A. First year of the Mayan calendar
5500 A.D.A. First libraries in Egypt
6000 A.D.A. Concept of four elements (earth, air, fire, water) in India
6500 A.D.A. Israelites leave Egypt
7247 A.D.A. Foundation of Rome
7450 A.D.A. Birth of Buddha
7550 A.D.A. Celtic settlements in the British Isles
7785 A.D.A. Great Wall of China
8000 A.D.A. Birth of Jesus Christ
8043 A.D.A. Founding of London
8360 A.D.A. Scrolls begin to be replaced by books
8500 A.D.A. Tamo (founder of Zen Buddhism) discovers tea in India
8507 A.D.A. Visigoth Kingdom of Castile
8622 A.D.A. First year of the Muslim calendar
8711 A.D.A. Moorish conquest of Spain
9066 A.D.A. Battle of Hastings
9348 A.D.A. Black Death comes to England
9492 A.D.A. Voyage of Columbus
9776 A.D.A. U.S. Declaration of Independence
9969 A.D.A. Moon landing
10,013 A.D.A. Present Year
It goes without saying that this is hardly an exhaustive history of the world.