History channel 24/7 in 2023: "All accomplishments of ancient societies, but especially non-European societies, were impossible. The only explanation is aliens. Now here's a racist who failed grade 9 world history to explain why."
I read something a while ago that really put all these "ancient mysteries" into perspective: Modern humans with modern brains have existed in our current form for at least tens of thousands of years. During that time we've seen huge advancement as a society thanks to the accumulation and sharing of scientific knowledge, but any individual human today has no more brainpower than one living 10,000 years ago.
In other words, if we can sit around today and brainstorm a dozen different ways to build a pyramid with nothing but ramps and levers, there's absolutely no reason to think that the smartest builders in ancient egypt couldn't have come up withl the same ideas or better.
Attributing these achievements to aliens, or divine intervention, or anything other than raw human ingenuity is a disservice to our ancestors.
What's more likely, humans independently discovered chiseling and grinding stones to a smooth square finish and stacking them into the most structurally sound shape in more than one place, or aliens used space lasers to build pyramids?
Having watched Ancient Aliens quite a bit, it still has real historical stuff in there, just interspersed with the question "what if it was aliens? Wouldn't that be fun?"
All these newer shows on History do this. They're trying to make history a bit more appealing to the masses by putting it into different perspectives. Forged in Fire and that Butchery competition show are also on History and they frequently cover real historical facts about weaponry, tactics, people of consequence, butchery techniques, food preparation, etc. All the historical facts relevant to the program.
And lemme tell you: it sure beats the hell out of the 24/7 WW2 shit that earned the channel the nickname of "The Hitler Channel" when I was growing up.
Nah, it's not much better during the day, either. HC runs either crackpot history/paranormal docs, reality shows, discussion about niche topics such as toys/modern architecture/etc., or war docs almost 24/7. In case anyone is wondering, here's the next three days of programming scheduled for History Channel.
Saturday (Veterans' Day):
12:03-1:06am - The UnXplained
1:06-3:04am - The Proof is Out There
3:04-4:01am - The UnXplained
4:01-7:00am - Paid Programming
7:00-1:00pm - WWII in HD
1:00-7:00pm - Vietnam in HD
7:00-8:00pm - Special, Variety Salute to Service 2023
8:00-10:03pm - Beyond the Battlefield
10:03-12:03am - Special, 761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers
Sunday
12:03-2:04am - Beyond the Battlefield
2:04-4:01am - Special, 761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers
4:01-7:00am - Paid Programming
7:00-3:00pm - Modern Marvels
3:00-12:03am - The Toys that Built America
Monday
12:03-4:01am - The Toys that Built America
4:01-7:00am - Paid Programming
7:00-12:00pm - History's Greatest Mysteries
12:00-4:00pm - Ancient Aliens Special Presentation
4:00-9:00pm - Ancient Aliens
9:00-11:05pm - Ancient Aliens Special Presentation
11:05-12:03am - Ancient Aliens (continues until 4am Tuesday)
When I was a kid, I definitely remember a more history-centric focus on the History Channel, although I remember even then (early 2000s) that they seemed to lean pretty heavily on WWII documentaries. It seemed every time I switched to the channel, one would be playing. It's more or less been the way it is for the last decade or so, though.
Historical landmarks, scattered across the globe, are tangible echoes of the past, serving as silent witnesses to the unfolding narratives of civilizations. From the grandeur of the Pyramids of Giza to the iconic symbolism of the Eiffel Tower, these landmarks stand as testaments to human ingenuity, creativity, and endurance. Each stone, arch, or tower tells a story—a narrative etched into the very fabric of its existence.
Whether it's the ancient marvels like the Great Wall of China or the modern architectural wonders like the Burj Khalifa, historical landmarks serve as bridges between different eras, connecting us to our roots and reminding us of the diverse and often intricate tapestry of human history. Visiting these sites is akin to stepping into a time machine, allowing us to witness the footsteps of our ancestors and appreciate the cultural, technological, and artistic milestones that have shaped our world. In the shadows of these landmarks, we find not just physical structures but also the collective memory of humanity, eternally preserved in the stone and mortar of these enduring monuments.