THE ERA OF EXPANSION

As an exercise in perspective, consider how the geographical and cultural extent of the civilization that gave birth to the scientific revolution grew after the discovery of the New World. While Columbus' voyage had antecedents in other journeys of discovery in the century before 1492, his achievement clearly demarcated the beginning of a tangibly new era of growth and change, a process that accelerates into our own time. Thus, from time to time, I consider a date in our own time as one within this "Expansion Era", or a year "E.E."

If transhumanists are right about the coming quickening of growth and change, it may be that we will be able to look back from the not-too-distant future and find some other demarcation point worthy of another such exercise in perspective. We may be very near to another year, once which will mark the "Transcendence Era". What will be the Year One, T.E.?