I use to always think that the past was progressively not as sophisticated, innovative, civilized, or even as populated as we are today as you reach further and further back. Funny thing to realize in college that I only thought that because that stuff we see from the past - like buildings, tools, clothing, jewelery, artifacts in general - don't have that new shine and integrity it once had. And neither will our stuff give it only 50-100 years. It's a trick. Really, cities just like the ones I've lived in have always existed and there were probably ones more technologically and philosophically more evolved then ours. It doesn't seem true but it makes more and more sense the more you learn about different civilizations. With the exception of specifics of materials, geography, social constructs, et cetera we have and always will be the same old beasts.
In this mind frame I love to look at artifacts from other times in history and art museums. I like to squint my eyes and imagine what objects looked like before they became more worn with use and time than my cellphones have yet to endure. The objects we get to see from hundreds of years ago are the things that were built well enough to last. Wonder what kind of objects these people made that we not meant to be as durable. What was their equivalent of a styrofoam cup, cheap shoes, McDonald's throwaway prize?
Check out this
Roman pocketknife and the article in the Daily Mail. This thing was built not only to be highly functional but also to endure travel and battle. And that's why this little piece of craftsmanship is still with us today. For a society so obsessed with youth, beauty, immortality, hell even vampires wouldn't you think that we would want to make the stuff we use last as long and look as great as this utility knife? Why doesn't our obsessions spill into craftsmanship?
