That Global Catastrophes Spark Golden Ages
Throughout history, various factors have played important roles in shaping the course of events. From kings and empires, to wars and treaties, to science and technology, a singular idea stands out as the catalyst to these positive transformations in our world — and wait for it, global catastrophes. Now, I know what you’re thinking, this is a cataclysm we’re talking about, how does this bring about positive changes? How does something that brings destruction upon the world cause the world to evolve to even greater lengths? Surprisingly, global catastrophes have often served as the root of innovation and progress. Whether they’re natural disasters, pandemics or even simple accidents, major catastrophes were often followed by periods of progression and unity. Several well known historic events such as The Black Death and The Great Depression have proven this trend to be true, which I will go into further detail later on. It’s curious, really, how society has bonded and come together after disaster strikes rather than allowing these disasters to overwhelm them. What arose from these chaotic and turbulent times were what historians referred to as the ‘Golden Ages’, where humanity has united stronger than ever, contributing to even greater advancements. I think that the correlation between global catastrophes and eras of innovation are worth exploring, and it’s interesting to see how humankind can be resilient in the face of adversity. My belief is that despite the series of disastrous events that occurs globally, the more catastrophic it is, the more that it triggers societal progression and innovation.
During times of hardship, disasters can unlock creativity and resourcefulness as it forces people to reevaluate the existing system and seek solutions to it. With a sense of renewed purpose, individuals can bond and unite to build a better future together. This leads to technological advancements and reforms in society. The Black Death was a deadly plague that spread around Europe during the 14th century that took the lives of many, wiping huge portions of the population, and yet, that devastating event served as a catalyst to societal transformations. Due to the reduced population, labor shortages emerged and led to increased wages, improving living conditions for those who remain in the workforce. At the same time, the death toll has also driven society to innovate new medicine and health practices that made significant advancements in the field of healthcare. With the destruction of the plague came along the creation and birth of what we know today as the Renaissance era. The trauma that survivors underwent had shifted survivors’ perspective and prompted them to understand life anew, thus the advancements made in various fields such as classical knowledge, arts, literature, and sciences. Similarly, The Great Depression had also reshaped our economic structure. As a result of the hardships faced during this period of time, the global economy eventually recovered from this crisis by new policies that were implemented. Isn’t it so fascinating how humanity, instead of succumbing to grief and surrendering, can still progress forward? Furthermore, it’s not just natural disasters or global pandemics that we see this trend in, but something as simple as an accident have also played its role in this. Think about the safety windshields we have on our cars today — the source? It was discovered when a scientist carelessly dropped a glass flask containing cellulose nitrate, a liquid plastic that stopped the glass from shattering and retained its original shape. And what about penicillin, an antibiotic that’s crucial in the medical field? A researcher accidentally contaminated a petri dish of bacteria he was working on, noticing that the mold that formed prevented the bacteria culture from growing. Catastrophes and disasters do bring about progress, and history has done nothing but proven over and over again that this holds true.
As we acknowledge the contribution catastrophes have made to innovations throughout history, it may also be that we are giving these global catastrophes too much credit. Simply pointing our fingers at disasters as the root of advancements would be too ignorant and overlook the already existent progression that is already occurring before the disaster. Therefore, saying that innovation and advancements transpire solely because of global catastrophes could be misleading. It also may not be ethical or appropriate to view human suffering as a potential catalyst for innovation. Although it may be true that societies are making improvements as a result of catastrophes, it may be that the aftermath from it outweighs any positive changes. Afterall, the deaths, trauma and suffering are something we shouldn’t forget so easily, for we achieve these breakthroughs at an extremely high cost. Additionally, the benefits we gain after a disaster may not be distributed evenly. Oftentimes, the rich and powerful may be more in favor. For instance, after a flood, rich people who own businesses might have the money to rebuild quickly. On the other hand, people who work in these stores might lose their jobs and even struggle to find new ones. Inequalities like this may hinder the progression of society.
A more recent case would be the global pandemic we refer to as Covid 19. We all can agree that this pandemic was devastating, not only taking the lives of many but also harming our economies and even our social lives. In pursuit of combatting this virus and returning to our normal lives, we have also made societal progress. As we were forced to rely on technology, we learned to adapt to all these changes. Because of this, telemedicine has made improvements and led us to have greater access to virtual healthcare service. Us as students also had to learn and get our education virtually, making knowledge easily accessible online all over the world. With the lack of options, we have also discovered new ways to connect with one another using the internet as a tool, improving global communication.
Overall, I do think that while global catastrophes do indeed bring about positive worldly transformations, we shouldn’t be ignoring the suffering and pain it causes, nor should we have the desire for this to happen. This essay merely states the patterns throughout history that displayed the resilience of humanity in the face of adversity. The idea that global catastrophes can spark golden ages suggests that even in the darkest of moments, there is potential for growth and progress. My take on this is that with or without catastrophic events, societies are constantly making progress. Disasters may speed up this process, but rather than wishing for catastrophes to occur, we should be learning to be more resilient and take measures to address societal issues without waiting around for disasters to happen — Even if they do, it should be noted that when chaos strikes, innovation always strikes back.
