PS: Long Read
THE AGE OF HEROES
In this phase of history, humanity is separated into two classes: the Hunters and the Hunted. A third class, the Heroes, are those who have the most advanced civilisation at this point. Though Vico dubbed them “Heroes” (undoubtedly due to his Catholic beliefs), they are actually the prevailing ruling order.
The Hunters are violent marauders who are outside of civilisation and don’t care about its laws(talkers…anyone?), nor do they recognise any or territorial rights (the early Germanic tribes, the Mongols and the Huns are good examples of Hunters). They are nomadic, illiterate, and operate by the philosophy of “might is right.” They are never grounded in any one place, but rather roam the lands pillaging and stealing what better men have built. Their very existence gives rise to the Hunted, who are more refined (though still primitive) individuals seeking refuge from their more violent counterparts (in Hegelian terms, the Hunters are the masters, while the Hunted are the slaves seeking to break free). Who helps the Hunted? Well, it’s the Heroes, who are the magistrates, priests, and kings of a civilised culture that has developed laws and human rights (up to a point). The Heroes have recognised the morality behind helping fellow humans in need, so they take in large numbers of the Hunted into their societies. Their goals are not entirely altruistic, however, because they want to use these refugees as an inexpensive source of labour. The Hunted are not actually recognised as equals by their would-be saviours. In exchange for giving them a safe haven, the Hunted are put to work in fields (or other menial jobs) and ultimately become serfs to the ruling class. They are not allowed any marital rights, nor are they allowed to participate in politics. In truth, they are little better than slaves - but that is the price they are willing to pay for safety (for now). Because of the Hunted and their toil for the Heroes, civilisation reaches a level of organisation where one’s time no longer needs to be dedicated to survival alone. The Heroes benefit from the Hunted because they no longer need to work as hard for purposes of survival, so they begin dedicating time to art, scientific discovery, literature, poetry, and other imaginative pursuits. They also begin explorations and expeditions. Adventurers leave their nations to discover new places. Expansion of civilisation and colonisation of “uncivilised” lands begins.
The medieval epoch is a good example of the Age of Heroes. Europe in the Middle Ages was a society of huge contrasts, especially between rich and poor, believers and non-believers. It was, generally speaking, a structured caste system with the following hierarchy:
1) Ruling Monarch - King and/or Queen (“Heroes”). These people generally had absolute power and ruled with impunity. Because many believed them to be divinely mandated, questioning them was deemed heretical and against the Gods themselves. Monarchs rarely suffered (unless they were extreme tyrants), and lived lives of great privilege.
2) Clergy - Monks and priests (also “Heroes”). These were literate, highly educated individuals. They had a complete monopoly on information and learning, and were immensely respected within society for being the intermediaries between man and God. Generally, they had good working relationships with the monarch, since the monarch wanted to ensure that they had both earthly and heavenly powers on their side. In return, the priests wanted to increase their own power by associating with the head of state. It was mutually beneficial for both parties to remain aligned as much as possible.
3) Warriors - (a mixture of “Heroes” and the Hunted). The nobility (landed knights - “Heroes”) were the fighting elite in society, responsible for commandeering wars, maintaining peace and order, and upholding the law of the land. They had a total monopoly on weaponry, and because of their fighting prowess and power, they could not be challenged in any meaningful way. The fighters under them were mostly composed of the Hunted, who were the rabble militia and served as cannon fodder in battle.
4) Peasants- (the Hunted). In medieval Europe, the peasantry made up roughly 90% of the population. These people were illiterate, poor, and lived on the verge of famine at all times. We never hear their voices because they were never recorded (history, after all, is written by the victors). Most of them worked on the land as farmers, others as tradesmen, and some as merchants. As the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes would later say (though not for the same context), life for the peasant was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” The peasants were dependent on their lords (the nobility) for protection in exchange for giving them a certain amount of resources (including manpower). Peasant-folk, because of their lack of means and opportunity, were severely mistreated by their “betters,” which made their already bleak lives that much more awful. A peasant is the last thing anyone would want to be in medieval society, but it’s exactly what most people were.
By this Age, man is well on his way to being properly civilised. Laws by this point have become exactly-worded documents and agreements between parties. Superstition, though still widespread, is slowly beginning to disappear due to humanity developing their reason and being able to explain natural phenomena on scientific grounds rather than religious ones.
The defining aspects of this era are imagination, poetry, art, science, invention, exploration, and new discoveries. The mentality is sensory-based.
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