Mark Pardini - Mans Horizons: A Universal Perspective on Mankind through the Ages

About the Author

Mark Pardini, a resident of Sydney, Australia, was born in Johannesburg where, as a boy, he showed a great interest in the natural world and developed an admiration for the magnificent creatures of the African wilderness

His background includes a BSc degree in Electrical Engineering, 10 years of experience in Engineering Design and Applied Mathematical modelling, a Masters Degree in Business Administration and 24 years of practice in Business Management.

Mans Horizons is the result of seven years of research, the focus of which was to evaluate the global forces impacting the modern world. This specialisation provided the foundation of information needed to develop the books hypothesis and hence propose Humankinds probable destiny.

Mans Horizons Table of Contents

Time Horizon of the Past

Rise of Planet Earth 13,700 to 4,600 Mya

Voyage to the Dawn of Time

Theory of Origin

Singularity to Planet

Planet Earth

- Rise of the Sapient Anthropoid4,000 Mya to 5000 BCE.

Seed of life

Archaean Eon

Proterozoic Eon

Phanerozoic Eon

Hominids

Trial by Ice;

Fire

Speech and Language

Pathway to Civilization

- Macro History of Mankind 5000 BCE to 2000 CE

Era of Warlords and the Rise of Sumer

Civilization in Ancient Egypt

Indus Valley Civilization

Chinese Civilization

Empire in Persia

Greco-Macedonian Empire

Era of Rome

Foundations for Theology

Two Christian Empires

Two Islamic Empires

Mongol Breakout

Asian Consolidation

Renaissance and Exploration

Industrial Revolution and the Rise of Britain

Napoleon

New World

Canada & South Africa

Australia & New Zealand

Rise of Modern Europe

Two World Wars

United States of America

Post War Era

Impact of the Past

The Planet and the Anthropoid - The Present

Global Economy

Marginal Lands

Lands of Bounty

Oceans of the Blue Planet

Atmosphere

Population

Impact of Industry

Extinction

Impact of Man

Time Horizon of the Future

Roads to the Future - 2000 CE to the End of Time

Old Road

Global Morality

Sustainable Earth

New Road

Super Civilization

Reach for the Stars

Mans Horizons

A Universal Perspective on Mankind through the Ages

Prologue

Down in the valley beside the bubbling brook, the rustic bridge and old watermill, all was restful. Misty shafts of gentle morning sunlight filtered through a nearby grove of tall white pines, whilst dairy cows grazed in a lush meadow beyond. On the grassy patch where I rested, Natures tiny creatures continued with their daily tasks. Bees and butterflies flitted here and there over the water. Columns of ants carried the nights bounty back to their nests, swallows swooped and spotted lizards fought over territorial boundaries. My mind drifted away from this miniature haven of tranquillity to ponder the greater worlds problems; of wars, where brave soldiers fell, carpeting battlefields; of plagues that swept across continents; of giant meteors that hurtled from the sky, wreaking unimaginable destruction and of mans current problems, including conflict, pollution, deforestation, climatic upheaval and overpopulation. Here in this peaceful sleepy glade I realised that my world perspective was far removed from reality.

I gathered my backpack and, slinging it over my shoulder, began the arduous ascent. It took me along a winding mountain track, over ragged boulders, up roughly crafted stairs and steep gravel strewn gradients, heading towards the lofty peak above. As altitude was gained, so the visible landscape began to open up, exposing a majestic and un-obstructed view of the diverse world below. Hours later, I reached the summit, trusting that my investment in time and effort would prove to be worthwhile.

Above the windswept cliff tops, where eagles soared, there was an awe inspiring view. It revealed a panorama that could not have been imagined. What initially had appeared as mundane grassland, blossomed forth to be a grand variety of terrains. There were hills and valleys, verdant forests and deep rocky gorges, all gradually merging into the hazy grey horizon. Looking southwards, this impressive range of jagged mountains faded into the blue with its snow capped peaks caressing the sky. A long way below, a city sprawled out. Its arterial roads fed the central district where slender skyscrapers reached upward like tall stark pines seeking the sun. Beyond the suburbs, farmlands dissected the rolling hills, forming a quilted patchwork of olive and tan fields, their borders defined by rows of graceful willows or by sunlight glinting on winding streams.

After sunset, in the serenity of this hot summers night, there was no moon and my gaze drifted into the distance. At the far horizon, twilights last glimmer left a slender pale crimson crescent that divided mother Earth from the purple celestial world above. A few low lying twinkling stars invited my eyes upwards to behold one of Natures most magnificent displays. Via Lactea, the Milky Way galaxy, stretched across the heavens, exhibiting her cosmic beauty as few had ever seen it. Under these perfect conditions, crystal clear stars appeared like sparkling jewels in an imperial crown. Numbering in their hundreds of thousands, they painted a canvas like none ever created by man. I pondered the fact that beyond this inspiring opus, at least another 10 billion [1] galaxies lay hidden, all as beautiful as this one.

For a moment I savoured the exhilarating spectacle and contemplated the immense majesty of it all but then planet Earths insignificance sank in, leading to the realisation of my own absolute inconsequentiality, just a man, lost in the grandeur of the Creators superb masterpiece.

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As with altitude, so is it with knowledge. The more that is acquired, the greater ones ability to comprehend reality. Winston Churchill captured the benefits of increased perspective in his statement: The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.

A persons understanding of reality is limited by the height of the mountain of relevant knowledge that one has accumulated throughout life. Horizons therefore, define the extent and limitations of our knowledge, whilst the experience of broadening ones personal horizon is edifying and essential if wisdom is to be gained.

What lies beyond distant horizons remains a mystery and we, as individuals, or together as a species, are left at a disadvantage when facing challenges that arise from the great unknown.

The universe is bounded by the horizons of space and time and each of these warrants further consideration. Principally we live in a three dimensional world where there are two aspects to the horizon of space. Firstly, there is the outer (macro) horizon which lies in the distance. In recent centuries Humankind has developed ever more powerful telescopes which have pushed back visible boundaries towards the farthest reaches of the cosmos, greatly enhancing humanitys comprehension of space and time. Secondly, there is the inner (micro) horizon where microscopes and a branch of mathematics known as quantum mechanics have advanced our understanding of Natures minute workings, revealing the intricate structures of matter and living organisms.