The Totem Pole of Civilization

It is traditional to teach the subject of history by narrating how each country became a nation through a series of internal wars and conflicts. Advanced world history recalls how countries like England, France, and Spain colonized other countries to become empires.

Students are made to memorize not only these episodes, but also the names of prominent protagonists like Genghis Khan, Caesar Augustus, Napoleon, etc. These exercises focus on the negative side of mankind, overlooking human achievements which have made our 21st century life easier.

Basic needs underwent major changes

 Our way of life has changed over the years. Imagine yourself hunting for an animal just so you could eat a piece of raw meat. Would you be able to swallow the kind of food early people ate? Or, how are you going to catch your prey?

Indeed it is good that as time passed, many changes have transpired involving our culture and our way of life. Food, for example, can be bought directly from the store. We just need to order and pay. The seller just needs to heat the food. At home, if one does not want to cook, canned goods are readily available.

The totem pole of historical men

Aborigines like the American Indians and Maori tribe of New Zealand carve well-decorated wooden ceremonial figures on a ten-foot pole as landmarks of important places or events. To symbolize the history of human progress, the Cosmic Curriculum uses the Time Line Scroll of human discoveries 20 centuries before Christ (B.C.) and 20 centuries after Christ (A.D.); and the Totem Pole of Civilization (see illustration). The Totem Pole material is a drawing of seven historical figures one on top of the other on a narrow scroll, which is hang on the classroom wall.

PRIMITIVE MAN found at the bottom of the totem pole, wore very little clothing, ate raw meat and lived either in caves or in natural refuge. He led a nomadic life, transferring from one place to another, once supply has already been exhausted.

MAN representing RIVER CIVILIZATIONS is on top of the Primitive Man. He built his house near bodies of water since caves were already filled up by then. His clothes improved as he discovered weaving. With the discovery of fire, he improved the taste of food. Fire also protected him from enemies and wild animals. It also kept him warm from the coldness of the weather. He started the practice of agriculture and animal domestication.

MEDIEVAL MAN learned to roast his meat and lived in houses made of stone and wood. He made use of clothes that are different from the previous group of men. These included chain mail, tunic for children and long gowns for the ladies.

RENAISSANCE MAN lived in the age of monarchy. Royal families lived in castles, while commoners in simple cottages of stone clay and thatch roofs. Clothing was hand woven at home although clothes of noblemen were of fine material and embroidered. He made use of salt in food preservation.

EXPLORERS AND COLONIZERS under the patronage of the kings and queens of England, France, Spain, Italy, Holland and Portugal discovered new sea routes to North and Latin Americas, including Asia, looking for gold, silk and spices. Velvet suits were used by little boys. They lived in stone houses with tall chimneys. Spices, sugar, and coffee beans brought back from foreign lands were added to their diet. (Several fruits in the Philippines came from Mexico.)

MODERN MAN can now easily satisfy his hunger just by opening canned goods bought at nearby stores. In addition, cocoa beans are now made into chocolate bars. Houses are made out of wood, bricks, cement and steel. Clothing includes trousers and pants used by both genders.

The astronaut represents the SPACE AGE. Today, men are able to travel everywhere and anywhere, even explore the outer space. 

The chain of discoveries that make our lives sustainable

The primary quest of early man was food, clothing and shelter. The earliest evidence of a settled farming community was at Jericho (Jordan, 8000 B.C.). The metal plough blade appeared in Europe by 500 B.C. It cut deeper into the soil because if was stronger and heavier than ancient wooden ploughs. In 1780, R. Ransome (England) produced the all-iron plough, the first mass-produced farm implement. Modern ploughs are pulled by tractors and have up to 12” bottoms or ploughshares.

By 1300 B.C., the Babylonians used a seed-dropper for sowing seeds. In 1570 A.D., Cavalini (Italy) invented the first seed drill with a hopper (container) mounted on a cart. When the wheels vibrated the seeds fell through the holes in the bottom. Meantime, A. Meikle (England, 1786) designed a practical thresher, while Rev. P. Bell (1826) devised a practical reaper for cutting crops. The first combined harvester, a reaping and threshing machine, was created in 1836 by H. Moore and J. Hascall (USA).

Food production

To increase the amount of produce, farmers have always used some form of fertilizer and pest control. Xenophon (Greece, 400 B.C.) recommended animal droppings, blood and bonds or grass to be ploughed back into the soil as fertilizers. J. von Liebig (Germany, 1840 A.D.) made the first artificial fertilizer, treating ground animal bones with sulfuric acid to produce concentrated phosphate or lime. Phosphate stimulates early root growth.

Biological pest control was also introduced by the Chinese (2000 B.C.) who used ants to kill leaf-eating insects which kill orange trees. Mynah birds were brought in to kill locusts in Mauritius (1762 A.D.).

To preserve food, salting and smoking were the first methods discovered by tribal settlers. After kerosene and electricity were discovered, drying and freezing became the modern methods in food technology. Bottling and canning of foods started early in the 19th century through D. Edwards (England).

Germ disease

Before the 19th century, many people in the world died from diseases transmitted in unhygienic conditions. Surgical operations were often fatal because lack of hygiene led to decay of blood tissue or gangrene. Later, better methods were developed for treating illnesses. In 1676, A. van Leeuwenhoek (Holland) noted germs under his microscope. However, he did not realize that they cause diseases.

In 1860, Louis Pasteur (France) showed germs that ferment and soured wine could be destroyed by heating, without destroying the taste. Today, this process is called pasteurization and is used for treating milk.

For vaccination and immunization: E. Jenner (England, 1796) prepared the first smallpox vaccine; Louis Pasteur (1885) the rabies vaccines; L. Calmette and C. Guerin (France, 1922) a tuberculosis vaccine; J. Salk (USA, 1954) prepared the polio vaccine; and J. Enders (USA, 1960) developed the measles vaccine. Antisepsis, chemotherapy, antibiotics and pain-killing drugs were developed after 1850.

21st century man owes his life to men in the past

The Totem Pole of Civilization tells us that we (modern man) should give gratitude to the achievements of men in the past. For without them, we would not have grown and become better people.

We must pay homage to the men who courageously made a mark in the development of our civilization — the discoverers, inventors, explorers and adventurers. They have strived physically and mentally to solve problems in life coming out with something strikingly useful not only for themselves, but for mankind as well.

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