After the global revolution and prior to the great destruction much of the internet was preserved by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Sounds and visions from planet Earth were cherished on long excursions aboard Laurasia. Especially as a sleep aid, but also for entertainment. This - is Thompson Twins.
Museum
Selections of art taken from Chris Lehrer's Lyceum under the heading: Window to the Past.
Listen to Soma FM streaming radio, a favorite of the space station Laurasia since the global revolution. You may or may not have to download the free Winamp or Real audio player.
Sumerian:an-ki (heaven-earth, reflecting early worldviews)
English:Foundations of History
All men seek to be enlightened. Religion is but the most ancient and honorable way in which men have striven to make sense out of God's universe. Scientists seek the lawfulness of events. It is the task of Religion to fit man into this lawfulness. - Frank Herbert
From 4000–2000 BCE, humanity laid civilization’s foundations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley. Sumerian cuneiform (3000 BCE) recorded trade, while Egyptian pyramids (2600 BCE) symbolized divine order. Early cities, like Uruk (10,000 residents), used bronze tools, fostering agriculture and trade. Archaeological finds, like Mohenjo-Daro’s seals, show sophisticated urban planning. Polytheistic beliefs, like those of Inanna and Ra, guided societies. These early steps, balancing innovation and faith, set the stage for complex civilizations, with trade and writing shaping human progress.
Civilization’s Roots
Early societies built enduring cultural and technological foundations.
From 2000 BCE–1 CE, empires like Akkad, Zhou China, and Rome centralized power. Akkadian conquests (2334 BCE) unified Mesopotamia, while the Hellenistic era (C, 323 BCE) blended cultures, as seen in Alexandria’s Library. Iron tools and trade, like the Silk Road, connected regions. Philosophies, from Confucianism to Stoicism, and religions, like Buddhism, shaped ethics. Archaeological evidence, like Persepolis’ reliefs, shows imperial grandeur. These empires and ideas fostered connectivity, laying groundwork for global exchange despite conflicts.
Imperial Growth
Empires and philosophies forged a connected world.
From 1–1200 CE, medieval empires like Byzantium, Tang China, and the Abbasids thrived. Justinian’s law code (529 CE) preserved Roman traditions, while Tang’s printing (700 CE) spread knowledge. The Crusades (1095 CE) and Silk Road linked cultures, with $1 billion in trade value. Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism shaped identities, as seen in Hagia Sophia’s mosaics. Archaeological finds, like Samarra’s mosques, reflect cultural vibrancy. This era balanced faith and innovation, bridging classical and modern worlds.
Cultural Synthesis
Medieval faiths and trade connected diverse civilizations.
From 1200–1800 CE, the Renaissance and exploration reshaped humanity. Gutenberg’s press (1440 CE) spread knowledge, while Columbus’ voyages (1492 CE) connected continents. Mughal and Qing empires centralized Asia, with $500 billion in trade. Humanism and Enlightenment ideas, like Locke’s (1689 CE), challenged traditions. Archaeological finds, like Tenochtitlán’s ruins, show global impact. This era’s art, exploration, and ideas fostered a globalized world, navigating faith and reason.
Global Awakening
Renaissance and voyages laid modern foundations.
From 1800–2000 CE, industrialization and revolutions transformed society. Steam engines (1775 CE) drove factories, while the French Revolution (1789 CE) birthed democracies. World wars (1914–1945 CE) killed 70 million, reshaping geopolitics. Decolonization (1947 CE) freed nations, with 1.5 billion gaining independence. Computers (1940s CE) and global trade ($10 trillion by 2000) connected the world. Archaeological sites, like Hiroshima’s ruins, reflect change. This era’s technology and ideologies shaped modernity.
Modern Transformation
Industry and revolutions forged a globalized era.
From 2000–2025 CE, digital globalization connected 5.3 billion internet users, with AI and biotech reshaping society. Trade hit $25 trillion, per WTO, while cultural fusion, like K-pop, reached billions. Geopolitical shifts empowered China and India, with about 40% of global GDP. Archaeological and digital records, like server farms, reflect connectivity. Secularism (1.2 billion) and religions (4.3 billion adherents) adapted to digital life. Humanity’s arc, from Sumer to satellites, reveals resilience, balancing conflict, faith, and innovation to forge a connected future.
Humanity’s Arc
Globalization reflects humanity’s enduring adaptability.
Summary: History’s progress deepened inequalities, with empires and technologies marginalizing many, embedding systemic divides despite connectivity.
Summary: Humanity’s arc balanced innovation with conflict, forging vibrant civilizations. Inequalities persisted, but cultural and technological legacies enriched the world.
Summary: History’s empires and ideas established order, preserving values through faith and innovation, reflecting humanity’s pursuit of progress and unity.
Lyceum
Welcome to Space Station Laurasia! All passengers and crew members receive a personal device called a Lyceum, which serves as a journal to record and share information with family and friends via neutrionic mobile or desktop devices back on Earth’s surface. This is the Lyceum of Raymond Sheen.
Animations: Dragonset, Matters of Grave Concern, The Pillars of Barad-Dur, Heart of Stone, Golden Leaves, Gravity, and Dragons in Moonlight, by Steven David Bennett
Quo Vadis? [Latin] - Where Are You Going?
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go. - Dr. Seuss
