What do you mean by Pre-History?

The obvious but evasive  definition of what I term pre-history are those events and circumstances that happened or existed before history. So think about a definition of history. I would define history as a time when there is fairly reliable information as to events and circumstances. Pre-history is a prior period when there is scant or patchy information about events and circumstances. I'd consider Persian, Greek and Roman civilizations as part of history because they are known in a fair degree of clarity or detail. The South American Mayan and African Egyptian civilizations are known but there are great gaps of missing knowledge. The illustration at the top of the page shows one of the main examples - pyramids.

In Egypt we find smooth sided pyramids. In South America we find 'stepped' pyramids. In both cases the details of the means of their construction are unknown. Moreover the nature of their dimensions and the accuracy with which they were constructed means that they constitute a mystery to modern, orthodox scholars. Orthodox scholars take the view that mankind is increasing in knowledge and sophistication. How could 'primitive' civilizations possibly construct such edifices with the rudimentary technology at their command?

Orthodoxy links with the theory of evolution to take us from apes, through ape-men to human and then from primitive tools and technology, to the dizzy heights of present day sophistication and achievement. But what if there isn't an upward march of progress from our primitive ancestors to our (so-called) sophisticated, advanced, civilized selves?

The bible gives a different view of the 'pre-history' of mankind. Let's consider it in relation to these 'early' civilizations.

The book of Genesis does not begin with an ape, or an ape-man, but with a man named Adam. Fully human, he seems to have considerable capabilities to the extent of maintaining the huge 'Garden of Eden' which is bounded by four rivers (Genesis ch1v10-15). Adam and his descendents all have seriously long life spans to the extent that Adam is aged 130 when his third son, Seth, is born (Genesis ch5v3), lives a further 800 years (Genesis ch5v4) and dies at the age of 930 (Genesis ch5v5). In verses 6 to 28 it is possible to calculate that Adam sees the birth of Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, and Lamech who is his great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson. We aren't told much about the accomplishments of these men other than the fact that they constitute part of the 'Godly line' that leads through Abraham to the birth of Jesus (Luke ch3v34-38 then Matthew ch1v2).

We are told more about the 'worldly line' leading from Adam's first son, Cain, who murdered his brother Abel, Adam's second son. In Genesis ch4v16-22 mention is made of: building a city; living in tents and keeping livestock; playing musical instruments (harp and flute); and metal-working (bronze and iron). The implication is that of an advanced civilization developing. This would be logical given the long life spans recorded in Genesis chapter 5. With current life spans, an individual begins work at say age 20 and retires at say age 65. After 60 years of work and research, his successor will have to learn what his predecessor knew before adding another 60 years of work and research. Someone who has a life span of 800 years can devote 700 years to researching a technical field and so will accomplish more.

We also have some hints that these 'patriarchs' not only longer lived than we do, but may also have had superior capabilities. If we use only 20% of our brain would they have used 100%? Are psychic abilities such as telekenesis and telepathy, resurgent manifestations of abilities that were fully awake in our forefathers? Who can say?

It is not therefore without foundation to postulate that civilization at the time of the next person in the 'Godly line', Noah, was extremely advanced. It is interesting to see that Noah is born after the death of Adam. He is the first in the 'Godly line' who is not able to talk to, or be influenced by, Adam. Noah's father, Lamech, dies when Noah is aged 595 (genesis ch5v30). When Noah is 600 (Genesis ch7v6) God decides to send a worldwide flood to destroy all mankind bar Noah, his wife and his three sons and their wives who survive in the huge boat known as the Ark. This group of eight people disembark into a radically remapped world. I have read of work that deduced that the world had been a single land mass. After the flood there are seas and continental land masses. It may be that the flood was responsible for destroying the mythical city Atlantis.

Many books have been written about the mysteries of the ancients. Maybe they were more technologically advanced than we give them credit for.

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e-mail : mcadam@cfn.org.uk