The sequence of visions The prehistoric visions that made us human:     Transformative vision of the natural world  (dominant in Paleolithic)         emerges with the earliest modern humans         based on transformations in nature, human reproduction, lunar cycles         associated with the "alchemical" use of fire and water to transform materials         final accomplishments are domestication of animals, invention of pottery        Kinship vision of human society  (dominant in Paleolithic and Neolithic)         emerges as human population expands and spreads out geographically         based on keeping track of distant family relationships, marriage taboos, etc.         first abstract intellectual system -- nature seen in terms of dualities         embodied in social structure of tribes and clans     Spirit vision of inner experience  (dominant in Neolithic and Bronze Age)         emerges among early shamans -- possibly with aid of psychedelic drugs             spiritual energy, healing, trances, journeys to spirit realm             source of music, dance, art, story -- everything that makes us fully human         first "countercultural" vision -- challenges the accepted Paleolithic way of life The ancient visions that made us civilized:       Cosmic Order vision of the heavens  (dominant from Bronze Age to Greece and Rome)         emerges in Neolithic  (based on observation of the sun and stars)         dominant c. 2600 BC - 450 AD  (megaliths, archeo-astronomy, astrology)         as above, so below     Aristocracy vision of human society         emerges c. 2600 - 800 BC         dominant c. 800 BC - 1100 AD  (patricians and plebians)     Revelation vision of inner experience         emerges c. 800 BC - 450 AD  (prophets, philosophers, monotheism/monism)         dominant c. 450 - 1490 AD  (powerful world-religions) The medieval visions that sought to upgrade the human enterprise:     Emanation vision of the material world         emerges c. 450 - 1100 AD         dominant c. 1100 - 1735     Hierarchy vision of human society         emerges c. 1100 - 1490  (feudalism)         dominant c. 1490 - 1848  (nation-states)     Reason vision of inner experience         emerges c. 1490 - 1735         dominant 1735 - 1916 The modern visions that led to the rise of the West:     Scientific Materialism vision of the physical universe         intimated in 13th-17th centuries, emerges 1735 - 1848         dominant 1848 - 1965     Democracy vision of human society         intimated in 17th-18th centuries, emerges 1848 - 1916         dominant 1933 - 2011     Chaos vision of inner experience         intimated in 18th-19th centuries, emerges 1916 - 1965         dominant 1965 - The post-modern visions that re-unified the world:     Holism vision of the natural world         intimated in mid-19th to mid-20th centuries, emerges 1965 - 2011         dominant 2011 -     Horizontalism vision of human society         intimated from 1930's, emerges 2011 -     Creative Imagination vision of inner experience         intimated from late 1970's Return to Worlds of Wonder Return to The Secret History of the 20th Century Return to Trogholm home page Return to Trogholm blog Background courtesy of Eos Development