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>Considering that until the Internet was invented there really was no decent way to find out what people in recorded history were really saying. We knew alot about Plato for example, but he really didn't give us any indications of what everyone elses life was like.
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>I expect that in 2020 we'll be saying something to the effect of "Any attempt at understanding humanity throughout recorded history has been worthless until now".
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Mike;

My favorite topic of history that I enjoy teaching the most is concerned with the “average person throughout time”. There are a good number of books on the subject although I cannot think of too many titles at this moment – “Bede” comes to mind as to the life in England during the Dark Ages. Bede was a Catholic Priest.

One of the conclusions that I have reached about the “commonality of mankind throughout civilization” is that life has changed but little. Yes we do have cars, credit cards and the Internet but I am speaking of day to day life. We have technological advancements but we still have a subservient relationship of the individual to the state. We may not be slaves to the King but we are slaves to our economic system and the whims of politicians and those in power. Perhaps that is why some people drop out.

We may think of ourselves as “individuals” but in fact we are very dependent upon others for our existence. Our thoughts may be free but our actions are not without consequence.

Tom