If your culture is only those things that someone chose to write down then you’ve got a narrow definition of culture.
What about Music? What about Dance? What about oral traditions and storytelling?
The dis-integration of centralized power after Rome fell could have led to a loss of writing but it also led to the creation of thousands of unique, individualized cultures, city-states and statelets across western Europe and the British Isles.
James C Scott in Against the Grain says;
“Writing appears to be necessary for the centralized, stratified state to reproduce itself... It seems to favor rather the exploitation than the enlightenment of mankind.”
Very true. Important work you are doing.
Thank you for providing this welcome invitation to discover and discuss some major works of our Western culture
That's a very good reminder. Thanks.
Thank you! have noticed, your substack (any substack?) can be found on Bluesky. You might find yet an additional audience there.
If your culture is only those things that someone chose to write down then you’ve got a narrow definition of culture.
What about Music? What about Dance? What about oral traditions and storytelling?
The dis-integration of centralized power after Rome fell could have led to a loss of writing but it also led to the creation of thousands of unique, individualized cultures, city-states and statelets across western Europe and the British Isles.
James C Scott in Against the Grain says;
“Writing appears to be necessary for the centralized, stratified state to reproduce itself... It seems to favor rather the exploitation than the enlightenment of mankind.”
Your culture CAN come back, but at great cost.
Look at what Spain has to do to expel their Muslim invaders. It takes force, not just words.