Aristotle wrote the History and description of Eighteen hundred Republicks, which existed before his time. Cicero wrote two Volumes of discourses5 on Government, which, perhaps were worth all the rest of his works. The works of Livy and Tacitus &c that are lost, would be more interesting than all that remain. Fifty Gospells have been destroyed, and where are St. Lukes World of Books that had been written?
If you ask my Opinion, who has committed all the havoc? I will answer you candidly; Ecclesiastical and Imperial Despotism has done it, to conceal their Frauds.
Why are the Histories of all Nations, more ancient than the Christian6 Era, lost? Who destroyed the Alexandrian Library? I believe that Christian Priests, Jewish Rabbis Grecian Sages and Roman Emperors had as great a hand in it as Turks and Mahomitans.
Democrats, Rebells and Jacobins ♦, when they possessed a momentary Power, have Shewn a disposition, both to destroy and to forge Records, as vandalical, as Priests and Despots. Such has been and Such is the World We live in,
♦ Jacobins = The Society of the Friends of the Constitution, renamed the Society of the Jacobins, Friends of Freedom and Equality after 1792 and commonly known as the Jacobin Club or simply the Jacobins, was the most influential political club during the French Revolution of 1789.
Democrats, Rebells and Jacobins ♦, when they possessed a momentary Power, have Shewn a disposition, both to destroy and to forge Records, as vandalical, as Priests and Despots. Such has been and Such is the World We live in,
Somewhat of an ironic observation. Especially given the nature of the Country’s own founding. But I suppose even by that time it was becoming readily apparent that the powers that be. Especially since Jefferson and Adam’s were both out of power, or at their very least their influence was starting to wane, by this time. Were seeking to create a narrative surrounding the founding that was as much myth, and misinformation as it was actually based off of real events. Not to mention the ongoing and steady expansion of the Franchise to more and more people than originally envisioned.
Why are the Histories of all Nations, more ancient than the Christian6 Era, lost? Who destroyed the Alexandrian Library? I believe that Christian Priests, Jewish Rabbis Grecian Sages and Roman Emperors had as great a hand in it as Turks and Mahomitans.
According to what knowledge we do have. An extraordinary amount of the purges of records were primarily spearheaded by Christians and Christianized Roman Emperors. They also went about converting the Empires citizens at Sword Point. Which lead to the destruction of lots of private records outside of the main temples and repositories they previously purged. Along with the Deaths of many of those who could afford to keep repositories and records. And had the required education and means to do so.
The Turks and Muslims were essentially a second wave that took care of much of what the Emperors and Christians missed the first go rounds. Even quite a bit of Romes own history prior to Christianity wasn’t safe from the purges.
The quote is taken out of context. John Adams was writing to Thomas Jefferson and they were both members of the Democratic-Republican Party.
The Letter. The quote with more context:
♦ Jacobins = The Society of the Friends of the Constitution, renamed the Society of the Jacobins, Friends of Freedom and Equality after 1792 and commonly known as the Jacobin Club or simply the Jacobins, was the most influential political club during the French Revolution of 1789.
Somewhat of an ironic observation. Especially given the nature of the Country’s own founding. But I suppose even by that time it was becoming readily apparent that the powers that be. Especially since Jefferson and Adam’s were both out of power, or at their very least their influence was starting to wane, by this time. Were seeking to create a narrative surrounding the founding that was as much myth, and misinformation as it was actually based off of real events. Not to mention the ongoing and steady expansion of the Franchise to more and more people than originally envisioned.
According to what knowledge we do have. An extraordinary amount of the purges of records were primarily spearheaded by Christians and Christianized Roman Emperors. They also went about converting the Empires citizens at Sword Point. Which lead to the destruction of lots of private records outside of the main temples and repositories they previously purged. Along with the Deaths of many of those who could afford to keep repositories and records. And had the required education and means to do so.
The Turks and Muslims were essentially a second wave that took care of much of what the Emperors and Christians missed the first go rounds. Even quite a bit of Romes own history prior to Christianity wasn’t safe from the purges.