# The most important event in the history of the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 14, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657 "2002-12-14T01:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/21 "2002-12-14T05:39:12Z")
I would go along with **RexDart** and **Spavined Gelding** and say that the agricultural revolution (and therefore, “civilization”) is pretty hard to top as far as significance to human history. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/22 "2002-12-14T05:39:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmileyDeath \* > \*\*Religous beliefs are not what I indicated. Chrisianity was the goverment(and kindof still is) for everything. In the middle ages, you disagree with the church bam decapitated. \*\* Nevermind that in the times in which you refered, christianity only impacted maybe… 10% of the populated world? If even… ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/23 "2002-12-14T06:53:15Z")
I’ll go with **Rexdart** , **Spavined Gelding** and **Diogenes the Cynic** in saying that the agricultural revolution is the most signifigant event. With it, we have permanent settlements, leading to cities, cultural identities, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/24 "2002-12-14T07:34:28Z")
If it’s a particular event, a moment in time, it’s hard to overlook the [first few seconds of flight](http://firstflight.open.ac.uk/) on December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk. ---
**Author:** ![Chumpsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chumpsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumpsky)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/25 "2002-12-14T07:37:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmileyDeath \* > \*\*Me, I would say the death of christ. \*\* As long as we are talking about fictional events, I would say the time when Superman reversed the rotation of the Earth to go backwards in time. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/26 "2002-12-14T07:41:00Z")
Uh… Chumpsky, there was actually a person called Christ and he did die. The Romans kept meticulous records. – I’d say the bringing of the Printing Press to Europe by Guttenburg. ---
**Author:** ![Chumpsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chumpsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumpsky)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/27 "2002-12-14T07:44:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ISiddiqui \* > **Uh… Chumpsky, there was actually a person called Christ and he did die. The Romans kept meticulous records.** Two points: (1) There was never any such person named Jesus Christ. “Christ” means savior. The character that is proposed to have existed was named Jesus of Nazareth. He was called “Jesus the Christ,” as in “Jesus the savior, redeemer of Mankind.” That was all just made up stuff, though. (2) Which Roman records? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/28 "2002-12-14T07:48:52Z")
> [@](#): > > There was never any such person named Jesus Christ. So there was no person named Mahatma Gandhi? Just a Mohandas? Come on, is nitpicking the best you can do? > [@](#): > > Which Roman records? ## I’d have to look it up, but it is known by historians that the Romans chronicled an extrodinary amount of stuff. One thing, deaths of people. Btw, as you are admiting that there was a Jesus of Nazareth, are you insinuating that he didn’t die? Does that mean you believe that he is still alive? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/29 "2002-12-14T07:51:43Z")
And btw, I didn’t say there a person NAMED Christ, I said there was a person CALLED Christ, and there was. ---
**Author:** ![Chumpsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chumpsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumpsky)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/30 "2002-12-14T07:51:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ISiddiqui \* > \*\*I’d have to look it up, but it is known by historians that the Romans chronicled an extrodinary amount of stuff. One thing, deaths of people. \*\* Tell you what. You find those Roman records showing that Jesus of Nazareth actually existed, and I will convert to Christianity today. I’ll even let you pick the denomination. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/31 "2002-12-14T07:57:56Z")
It ain’t exactly Roman, but something to chew upon: [http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20021021/jesus.html](http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20021021/jesus.html) (I’m just waiting for you to denounce this as a conspiracy) Oh, btw, I’m not a Christian, if that crossed your mind. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/32 "2002-12-14T08:00:24Z")
Part of the article (I can post parts of articles, right?), mentions: > [@](#): > > dedication tablet on a monument. It mentions Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who passed the death sentence against Jesus. Roman enough? ---
**Author:** ![Chumpsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chumpsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumpsky)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/33 "2002-12-14T08:01:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ISiddiqui \* > \*\*It ain’t exactly Roman, but something to chew upon: > > [http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20021021/jesus.html](http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20021021/jesus.html) > > (I’m just waiting for you to denounce this as a conspiracy) > > Oh, btw, I’m not a Christian, if that crossed your mind. \*\* Oh please. A jewelry box made in the late 70’s C.E.? I mean, it’s an interesting archelogical artifact, but it proves nothing. I want to see those Roman records! ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/34 "2002-12-14T08:03:23Z")
I quoted it for you. The dedication tablet mentioning Pontius Pilate is Roman in orgin. That is a Roman record of Christ. There are also testimonies by the guards that saw the crucifixition. ---
**Author:** ![Chumpsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chumpsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumpsky)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/35 "2002-12-14T08:03:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ISiddiqui \* > \*\*Roman enough? \*\* OK, you’ve convinced me that Pontius Pilate existed. Jesus of Nazareth, on the other hand … ---
**Author:** ![Fang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fang)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/36 "2002-12-14T08:20:54Z")
Hmmm, how about the work of the historian [Josephus](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08522a.htm), who lived around the time Jesus was allegedly alive: > [@](#): > > About this time lived Jesus, a man full of wisdom, if indeed one may call Him a man. For He was the doer of incredible things, and the teacher of such as gladly received the truth. He thus attracted to Himself many Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ. On the accusation of the leading men of our people, Pilate condemned Him to death upon the cross; nevertheless those who had previously loved Him still remained faithful to Him. For on the third day He again appeared to them living, just as, in addition to a thousand other marvellous things, prophets sent by God had foretold. And to the present day the race of those who call themselves Christians after Him has not ceased. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2002, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/37 "2002-12-14T08:22:35Z")
Actually, he was almost certainly called “Joshua bar-Joseph” in his time, “Jesus” being a Greek variant that was applied later. I’m an atheist, myself, but I have little doubt that such a man did exist, though much that has been written about him is highly dubious. Personally, I think the most important event was the first formal written alphabet. The least important recent event was Chumpsky missing his afternoon nap and getting all cranky. ---
**Author:** ![Chumpsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chumpsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumpsky)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/38 "2002-12-15T07:46:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fang \* > \*\*Hmmm, how about the work of the historian [Josephus](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08522a.htm), who lived around the time Jesus was allegedly alive: \*\* Do you have any quotes that _haven’t_ been doctored? (The quote attributed to Josephus is a well-known fabrication.) ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/39 "2002-12-15T16:05:31Z")
Guys, impressive hijack. Now stop it, mkay? Look, as far as I know, the best evidence, direct, we have, outside of the Gospels, which were written anywhere between 65 and 134 AD, [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbible4.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mbible4.html) , some sentences in Josephus, which may have been added by a later translator (No, I don’t have a cite for that, I keep finding it referenced as probable), as it is a long and laudatory note, while there is a much _more_ probable mention a bit earlier about James being stoned, someone named Lucian of Samosata, and Suetonius, who wrote Life of Claudius. [http://www.christiancourier.com/archives/historicity\_jesus.htm](http://www.christiancourier.com/archives/historicity_jesus.htm) although that may be “Continual rioting in the name of the rabble rouser Chrestus.” As for the Ossuary, the bone repository, not a jewel box, it is _possible_ the “Brother of Yeshua” part was added, but not yet completely certain. See the last page of this thread. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140636&highlight=james+ossuary](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140636&highlight=james+ossuary) This gentleman, thank you, Libertarian, seems to feel this is the most appropriate interpretation of the evidence. [http://www.concentric.net/~Mullerb/index.shtml](http://www.concentric.net/~Mullerb/index.shtml) Here’s Cecil on the topic, [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_275.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_275.html) So… Did he exist? As yet, unknown. We know more about him than we do about Alexander the Great, and possibly Socrates. But until you make a time machine, I can’t be sure. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657/40 "2002-12-15T16:11:27Z")
Oh, yes. My personal opinion? First, of course, creation. The spark that collapsed the dust cloud into the sun and planets. Second, life. Third, meteor impact. Fourth, Mankind. Fifth, speech. Sixth, domestication. Seventh, agriculture. (I feel that domestication had a more obvious impact that paved the way to agriculture… Animals are more obvious a choice to tame than plants, and the conceptual breakthrough is easier after), Eighth, Fire. The wheel is not on here. It is important, but not necessary. Fire is the ultimate example of man taking control of his environment. Ninth, writing. The fact that knowledge can be passed down properly from generation to generation or to unmet people is as much more powerful than speech is than speech is from lack of language. Everything after that becomes pretty pale. Except possibly Tenth… The Apollo Missions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-important-event-in-the-history-of-the-world/142657.md?page=3)