When the first barbaric, primitive European savages invaded the great civilizations of the Americas, the Aztecs, Toltecs, Mayans and Incas had far superior knowledge of math and science and astronomy than the invading thugs of Europe, in the throes of the anti-science, religion-dominated DARK AGES.
Prior to the rise of anti-science Christianity, the Greeks had developed math, science and astronomy, but by the time rich, feudal, elitist oligarchs ruled Europe, that science was largely lost other than to the extent that it was preserved, not by the Christians, but by the Arabic Muslims (prior to the rise of their own Wahhabi Sunni Muslim extremist and their own Dark Ages that would arise much later), who added to it the concept of zero as a place holder, Algebra, Algorithms and Arabic numerals to replace the clunkier Roman numerals.
The Greeks had even accurately proven that the earth was spherical and accurately calculated its size (Eratosthenes, 240 BCE, 1732 years before Columbus’ first voyage. Columbus, the primitive savage, rejected Eratosthenes’ accurate calculation in favor of his own, in which he calculated the earth to be just one third of its actual size, putting the Indies in easy reach of a westward boat trip. Without the unknown continent of America, the distance of that land mass and the massive Pacific Ocean would have caused the ignorant Columbus to die at sea.
You probably already know this, but a good primer on pre-Columbian Americas is the book “1491” by Mann. It reviews the archeological evidence in an even handed way.
Templo S.U.D. over 5 years ago
Aside from corn tortillas (which are already gluten-free and organic), the indigenous, pre-Hispanic Mexicans didn’t have much of breads, did they?
Nyckname over 5 years ago
About five hundred years that way, in Portland.
DD Wiz Premium Member over 5 years ago
When the first barbaric, primitive European savages invaded the great civilizations of the Americas, the Aztecs, Toltecs, Mayans and Incas had far superior knowledge of math and science and astronomy than the invading thugs of Europe, in the throes of the anti-science, religion-dominated DARK AGES.
Prior to the rise of anti-science Christianity, the Greeks had developed math, science and astronomy, but by the time rich, feudal, elitist oligarchs ruled Europe, that science was largely lost other than to the extent that it was preserved, not by the Christians, but by the Arabic Muslims (prior to the rise of their own Wahhabi Sunni Muslim extremist and their own Dark Ages that would arise much later), who added to it the concept of zero as a place holder, Algebra, Algorithms and Arabic numerals to replace the clunkier Roman numerals.
The Greeks had even accurately proven that the earth was spherical and accurately calculated its size (Eratosthenes, 240 BCE, 1732 years before Columbus’ first voyage. Columbus, the primitive savage, rejected Eratosthenes’ accurate calculation in favor of his own, in which he calculated the earth to be just one third of its actual size, putting the Indies in easy reach of a westward boat trip. Without the unknown continent of America, the distance of that land mass and the massive Pacific Ocean would have caused the ignorant Columbus to die at sea.
MartinPerry1 over 5 years ago
You probably already know this, but a good primer on pre-Columbian Americas is the book “1491” by Mann. It reviews the archeological evidence in an even handed way.
casonia2 over 5 years ago
MartinPerry1: Thanks for the reference — I was looking for a good read!