© Colman Hogan, 2020
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BCE
Epic of Gilgamesh 1st alphabet: Socrates
Phonecia Buddha
Egyptian/Sumerian writing Homer Confucius
hieroglyphs/cuneiform
‘The Axial Age’
the mythic era the classical world
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CE
Columbus
Jesus Fall of Rome Muhammad Christianization Song of Roland Chaucer Scientific Revolution
of Europe
rise of European vernaculars
Tours: 732 and European self-consciousness
Roncesvalles: 788** Crusades (1095-1291)
the classical world ‘the dark ages’ 1st Renaissance 2nd Renaissance
Islamic Golden Age the modern era
** in the Battle of Roncesvalles the historical Roland was ambushed and killed by Basques: no Islamic forces involved!
Texts/films referred to in the article:
Chronicle of Isadore of Beja, 754 Doctor Faustus, 1591 (Marlowe); Faust, 1806/1831 (Goethe)
The Song of Roland, c. 1040-1115 Frankenstein, 1818
The Travels of Marco Polo, 1300 The War of the Worlds, 1895 (Wells) Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 1956/1978
The Book of Wonders, 14th century Flash Gordon, 1934 ff. Independence Day, 1996
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, 1357 The Day the Earth Stood Still, 1951
Utopia, 1516 (More) Shane, 1953
Jesuit Chronicles of China, 1570-1610 Invaders from Mars, 1953