1.4 The Riddle Resolved
Last modified 05/26/2008
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As we examine the pattern of the Axial Age we are left with the stunning
impression of synchronous emergence, but then with a sense of puzzlement about
its significance, and dynamics. A spontaneous question arises, What caused the
Axial Age? The pattern makes no sense in isolation. In fact, we have already
attempted to explore a suspicion that the rise of modernity is somehow a 'second
Axial Age', whatever that means. We are beginning to suspect that the Axial Age
is really a subset of a larger pattern. It is evidence of something, but of
what? With that in mind we begin to expand our range of observation to include
the whole of world history, moving backwards and forwards. If we suspect a
'second' Axial Age in modern times, what about earlier eras? Is there another
such period before what we have called the Axial Age?
We don't have far to look and the results of modern archaeology draw us immediately to still another 'axial' period at the 'birth of civilization', or, rather, the onset of Sumer, and Dynastic Egypt. Actually, the phrase 'birth of civilization' is the wrong one, and what we really mean is the sudden rapid transition in the period ca. -3000, evidenced especially in the Mesopotamian and Egyptian spheres of a new stage of world history and culture. We notice something more: the interval between these 'Axial Ages' is equally spaced, just over two thousand years. Remarkable, what is going on? All at once the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place: we have in fact three 'axial' ages or intervals, equally spaced, and in each case indicating the onset of a new era or stage of world history. We can call this generalized 'Axial Age' series the eonic effect, and it shows us the resolution of the Axial riddle (by replacing it with a larger riddle). This solution to the enigma of the Axial Age requires us to revise our methods of interpretation, seeing similarity in diversity, to find a true common denominator. In fact, as we begin to map out the full eonic effect we will need to construct a kind of 'model' for the data that can help us to set a framework of interpretation. What we have found confounds our usual sense of history and confronts us with something that is far larger than the coming and going of civilizations. |
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