First point

● The Library of Alexandria was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, the successor of Alexander
the Great, in 283 BC. It was part of the Museum of Alexandria, a place of study that
included lecture areas, gardens, a zoo, and shrines for the nine muses.
● The Library of Alexandria was estimated to have held over half a million documents from
various civilizations, including Assyria, Greece, Persia, Egypt, and India. It had another
branch, known as the "daughter" library, at the Temple of Serapis.
● Julius Caesar is often blamed for the destruction of the Library. In 48 BC, Caesar was
pursuing his rival Pompey into Egypt when he ordered the burning of ships in the
harbor, which accidentally spread and destroyed part of the city, including the Library.
● Theophilus, the Patriarch of Alexandria from 385 to 412 AD, is also implicated in the
destruction. He converted the Temple of Serapis into a Christian Church, likely leading
to the destruction of many documents. Riots broke out after his death, and Hypatia, a
female philosopher associated with the Library, was murdered.
● Some accounts suggest that the death of Hypatia marked the final destruction of the
Library, while others blame Theophilus for destroying the last scrolls when he razed the
Temple of Serapis.
● The Moslem Caliph Omar is another figure blamed for the destruction. According to a
quote attributed to him, the books in the Library would either contradict the Koran or be
superfluous, leading to their destruction. However, the details of this event were
recorded centuries later and lack historical documentation.
● It is likely that multiple individuals and events contributed to the destruction of the
Library of Alexandria, and the collection may have fluctuated over time with additions
and losses.
● The House of Wisdom, also known as Khizanat-al-Hikma, was a great library in Baghdad
that belonged to the Abbasid Caliphs. It was initially a private library and was later
opened to the public to promote education.
● The House of Wisdom housed manuscripts derived from or translated from ancient texts
in Pahlavi, Syriac, Greek, and Sanskrit. It became a center for research and intellectual
pursuits in humanities and sciences during the Islamic Golden Age.
● The Mongols pillaged Baghdad in 1258 and looted the House of Wisdom. They threw the
books into the Tigris River, resulting in the loss of a significant part of the collection.
Only a few books taken to Maragheh by Nasir-al-Din-al-Tulsi were preserved.
● The Mongols, led by Genghis Khan, established a vast empire that extended from
northeast China to the Caspian Sea. They launched successful campaigns in Asia and
Europe, reaching Hungary in 1241.
● The Mongols abruptly returned to Asia from Hungary, and historians have speculated
about the reasons. A recent study suggests that a cold and wet period affected the
pasturelands and decreased the mobility and military effectiveness of the Mongol
cavalry.
● The death of Ogodei Khan, the Mongol leader, in 1241 and the subsequent power
struggles within the Mongol Empire may have contributed to the decision to abandon the
western front.
● While the Mongols continued to launch occasional raids on European cities, the major
war campaign in Europe came to an end, and the Mongols focused on other territories.
● The Mongols' swift rise to power and their subsequent retreat from Europe highlight the
impact of natural climate change on historical events.
● Impact of Destroying a Society's History:
1. Loss of Cultural Identity:
- History shapes the cultural identity of a society, providing a sense of belonging
and continuity.
- Destruction of historical artifacts, documents, and monuments erases the
tangible and intangible heritage that connects people to their past.
- Cultural practices, traditions, and values rooted in history may be lost or
forgotten, leading to a weakened sense of identity.
2. Impaired Understanding of the Present:
- History helps us understand the present by providing context and insights into
past events, decisions, and societal developments.
- Destruction of historical records and narratives makes it difficult to
comprehend the factors that have shaped the society's current state.
- Without historical knowledge, societies may repeat past mistakes or struggle to
navigate contemporary challenges effectively.
3. Loss of Knowledge and Learning:
- Historical records are crucial for learning and knowledge acquisition.
- Destruction of libraries, archives, and educational institutions eliminates
valuable resources for research, education, and intellectual growth.
- The loss of historical knowledge inhibits the development of critical thinking
skills, as individuals are deprived of diverse perspectives and alternative
interpretations.
4. Weakened Social Cohesion:
- Historical events and stories often bind communities together, fostering a
shared understanding and collective memory.
- Destroying a society's history can fragment social cohesion and lead to
divisions and conflicts.
- Without a common historical narrative, different groups may develop
divergent interpretations of the past, leading to polarization and hostility.
5. Impaired Future Planning:
- History provides lessons and insights that inform future decision-making and
policy formulation.
- Destruction of historical records deprives societies of valuable guidance for
planning and governance.
- The lack of historical context may hinder the ability to anticipate potential
consequences, leading to flawed policies and ineffective strategies.
● Impact of Information-Tracking Resources (Wikipedia and TikTok) Vanishing:
1. Loss of Accessible Knowledge:
- Wikipedia is a widely used online encyclopedia providing free access to a vast
range of information.
- Its sudden disappearance would result in the loss of easily accessible knowledge
across numerous subjects.
- People rely on Wikipedia for research, learning, and quick fact-checking, and its
absence would impede these activities.
2. Decreased Information Diversity:
- Wikipedia offers a platform for collaborative knowledge creation, incorporating
diverse perspectives and contributions.
- Its removal would limit the availability of diverse viewpoints and potentially
reinforce information monopolies.
- Without access to a wide array of information, people may be exposed to a
narrower range of ideas and perspectives, hindering critical thinking and
understanding.
3. Disruption of Digital Literacy:
- Information-tracking resources like Wikipedia and TikTok play a crucial role in
promoting digital literacy and information literacy skills.
- Their disappearance would impede people's ability to navigate and evaluate
information in the digital age.
- Lack of exposure to reliable sources and fact-checking mechanisms could
increase susceptibility to misinformation and disinformation.
4. Impact on Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration:
- Wikipedia enables collaborative editing, allowing individuals from diverse
backgrounds to contribute and share knowledge.
- Its absence would disrupt the collective effort of knowledge sharing and
collaboration.
- TikTok, as a platform for short-form video content, has also emerged as a
popular medium for sharing educational and informative content, and its loss
would curtail such opportunities for dissemination.
5. Social and Cultural Effects:
- TikTok has become a cultural phenomenon, allowing individuals to express
themselves creatively and share their experiences.
- Its disappearance would impact cultural trends, creative expression, and
community building.
- TikTok has also facilitated the dissemination of social and political messages,
raising awareness and mobilizing communities. Its absence may hinder such
movements and activism.
6. Economic Consequences:
- Wikipedia and TikTok have significant economic value and contribute to
various industries and sectors.
- Their disappearance would affect businesses, content creators, advertisers, and
the overall digital ecosystem.
- Loss of revenue streams, employment opportunities, and market disruption
could have far-reaching economic implications.
Second point
● The Tripitaka Koreana is a collection of Buddhist scriptures and is considered the most
extensively cataloged collection of its kind in the world.
● The collection was created in the 11th century by Korean monks who undertook the
monumental task of carving the entire canon into wooden tablets.
● Haeinsa Temple is located on the slopes of Gaya Mountain and is home to the Tripitaka
Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts, laws, and treaties.
● The Tripitaka Koreana consists of approximately 80,000 woodblocks that have been
used as the authority of Zen Buddhism for nearly 1,000 years.
● The original Tripitaka was completed in 1087 but was destroyed during a Mongol
invasion in 1232.
● King Gojong ordered the collection to be remade in the hope of driving out the
Mongolian invaders.
● From 1237 to 1248, the woodblocks were carved on Ganghwa Island using wood from
silver magnolias, white birches, and cherry trees from the Southern coast of the
peninsula.
● The wood was soaked in sea water for three years and then cut into individual blocks
during the winter to prevent warping.
● Each block was boiled in salt water to prevent insect infestations and mold, and then
dried before being carved.
● The carvings of the characters on the woodblocks are remarkably consistent in form.
● In the early years of the Yi Dynasty, the Tripitaka was transferred to Haeinsa Temple.
● The Janggyeong Panjeon buildings, dating back to the 15th century, were built at
Haeinsa Temple to house the woodblocks.
● The depositories, where the woodblocks are stored, are positioned at a higher level than
the temple's primary Buddha hall.
● The depositories were designed with ventilation and temperature and humidity control
to protect the woodblocks from deterioration.
● The conservation methods employed in the depositories have preserved the woodblocks
for over 750 years.
● The depositories and the Tripitaka woodblocks were declared a National Treasure of
South Korea in 1962 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
● In 2000, the Tripitaka Koreana was digitized after nine years of research.
● Work is currently underway to transfer the characters onto copper plates as a backup for
the digitized version.
● Haeinsa Temple attracts Buddhist pilgrims, scholars, history buffs, and art lovers who
visit to see the Tripitaka Koreana and the library that houses it.
● The initial set of wooden tablets was destroyed by the Mongols during their invasion.
However, the monks were undeterred and embarked on a second attempt to recreate the
collection.
● To disaster-proof the new set of tablets, the monks implemented several strategies using
the technologies available at the time:
 1. Material Selection: The wooden tablets were carved from durable and
insect-resistant wood called "Cham-dalbergia" or "Chamhwal," which was known
for its ability to withstand decay and damage.
2. Preservation Techniques: The wooden tablets were treated with a specialized
lacquer made from persimmon juice, which served as a protective coating. This
lacquer helped prevent decay, repel insects, and minimize damage from humidity
and temperature fluctuations.
3. Storage Design: The tablets were stored in specially designed cabinets called
"janggyeong panjeon," which were constructed in a mountainous area at Haeinsa
Temple. The cabinets were positioned to minimize exposure to direct sunlight
and were elevated to protect against flooding and moisture.
4. Environmental Factors: The storage location of the tablets was carefully chosen
to ensure a suitable environment. The area around Haeinsa Temple has low
humidity, a stable temperature, and is shielded from extreme weather conditions,
making it ideal for long-term preservation.
● The efforts of the Korean monks paid off, as the new set of wooden tablets, known as the
Tripitaka Koreana, has survived for nearly a millennium, despite various potential
threats.
● Considering the strategies employed by the monks, there are some potential lessons and
questions for our society:
1. Importance of Material Selection: Choosing durable and resilient materials can
enhance the longevity of records and documents. Considering long-lasting
materials and preservation techniques could be valuable for our records.
2. Preservation Techniques: Exploring innovative preservation techniques, such as
coatings or treatments, could help protect important documents from decay,
pests, and environmental factors.
3. Storage Design and Location: Designing storage facilities with consideration for
environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and protection against
natural disasters, can significantly contribute to the preservation of records.
4. Proactive Preparation: While it may not be possible to predict all potential
disasters or events, taking proactive measures to disaster-proof important
records can mitigate risks. This could include redundancies, backups, and off-site
storage.
● While we cannot fully prepare for all unpredictable events, adopting similar strategies
and considering the long-term preservation of our society's records can help protect
valuable knowledge and cultural heritage for future generations.
Third point
● Century Safe (1876):
- The Century Safe, also known as the "Centennial Safe," was one of the earliest known
time capsules.
- It was created to commemorate the centennial celebration of the United States in 1876.
- The safe was designed by Samuel D. Warren and contained various artifacts and
documents.
- The items included a Bible, photographs, currency, a copy of the Declaration of
Independence, and a flag.
- The Century Safe was sealed and placed in the cornerstone of the Philadelphia City
Hall, intended to be opened in 1976, exactly 100 years later.
● Westinghouse Time Capsules (1939 and 1965):
- The term "time capsule" was popularized during the 1939 New York World's Fair by the
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.
- In 1938, Westinghouse buried two time capsules—one intended to be opened in 6939
and the other in 9864.
- The capsules were made of a non-corrosive alloy called Cupaloy and contained various
items representing contemporary life, including microfilm, seeds, textiles, scientific
instruments, and recordings.
● Arctic Island Time Capsule:
- Buried stainless-steel tube on an Arctic island in 2017.
- Expected to resurface in over half a million years due to geological uplift, sea-level rise,
and erosion.
- Capsule buried in an out-of-use borehole near the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund,
Svalbard.
- Contains samples representing Earth's geology:
- 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite fragment.
- Basaltic lava from an Icelandic volcano.
- Namibian sand with kimberlite and diamonds.
- Biological samples include dried DNA from humans, rats, salmon, potato, a preserved
bee in resin, seeds, and around 300 tardigrades (water bears).
- Tardigrades known for surviving extreme conditions.
- Technological items include silicon-based devices like accelerometers, radiation
detector, mobile phone, everyday technology like a credit card, wristwatch, and a
porcelain-etched photograph of Earth.
- Researchers' fingerprints on some container caps.
- Commemorates the sixtieth anniversary of Poland's polar station (established during
the International Geophysical Year 1957-58).
- Curated by Marek Lewandowski, permafrost specialist, after consulting experts from
Polish and foreign research institutes.
- Inventory and purpose described in a manuscript published in Gondwana Research on
28 September.
 - Jan Zalasiewicz, a geologist at the University of Leicester, praises the selection of
objects but questions the estimated resurfacing timeframe due to burial location and
marine erosion.
- Follows the tradition of previous human time capsules like the Voyager Golden Record.
- Voyager Golden Record launched in 1977, containing images, music, natural sounds,
and greetings for potential extraterrestrial recipients.
- Arctic Island Time Capsule designed for future humans' discovery and comprehension.
- Marek Lewandowski is confident that discoverers will understand the message,
comparing it to how archaeologists study ancient artifacts.

● The Massachusetts State House Time Capsule: In 1795, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere
placed a brass box containing a trove of artifacts, including newspapers, coins dating
back to the 1600s, and a copper medal with an image of George Washington in a
cornerstone at the Massachusetts State House. It was rediscovered in 2014 during a
water leak repair.
● The Crypt of Civilization: In an effort to preserve all of human knowledge, Oglethorpe
University's president, Thornwell Jacobs, converted an underground chamber into a
museum of civilization in 1937. The chamber features over 640,000 pages of
microfilmed books, an early television, a container of beer, and a set of toy Lincoln Logs.
The vault is set to remain closed for 6,177 years, until the year 8113 A.D.
● The Westinghouse Time Capsules: During the 1939 New York World's Fair,
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company buried a torpedo-shaped cylinder,
which they called a "time bomb." A second capsule was buried nearby in 1965, and both
are scheduled to be opened in the year 6939 A.D.
● The Detroit Century Box: On January 1, 1901, Mayor William C. Maybury sealed a copper
time capsule at Detroit's Old City Hall containing a range of artifacts, including
photographs and a list of Detroit's mayors, to be opened on January 1, 2001. However,
the box was forgotten and only rediscovered in 2009.
● The Expo '70 Time Capsule was a kettle-shaped capsule built by Panasonic to remain
unopened for 5,000 years, containing 2,098 culturally significant objects including a
ceremonial kimono, a Slinky, and the blackened fingernail of a survivor of the 1945
Hiroshima atomic bombing.
● The Juneau Time Capsule, located in Alaska's Federal Building, is filled with thousands
of pieces of memorabilia from the 1990s, including letters written by schoolchildren to
the students of the future, and is scheduled to be opened on New Year's Eve 2094.
● The Future Library is a literary time capsule project that invites a new author to submit a
written text each year for 100 years, to be published in 2114, with the manuscripts held in
a public library in Oslo until their unveiling.
● Items for a Time Capsule for Scholars in 100 Years:
1. Technology:
- A high-capacity solid-state drive or optical storage media containing a vast
collection of digitized books, scientific articles, and cultural artifacts.
- Examples of cutting-edge technology at the time, such as a smartphone,
virtual reality headset, or AI-powered device.
2. Scientific and Cultural Achievements:
- Research papers and scientific breakthroughs in various fields, highlighting
advancements and discoveries.
- Artifacts representing significant cultural movements, fashion trends, music,
and cinema of the era.
3. Environmental Awareness:
- A comprehensive report on the state of the environment and efforts to combat
climate change.
- Samples of plants, seeds, or genetic material representing the Earth's
biodiversity at the time.
- Messages or appeals from environmental activists and scientists urging future
generations to prioritize sustainable practices.
4. Global Events and Societal Changes:
- A compilation of major global events, political shifts, and sociocultural
transformations that occurred during the time.
- Letters or testimonials from diverse communities, sharing personal
experiences and perspectives on significant social issues.

● Reasons for the Increasing Number of Time Capsules:

1. Historical Documentation:
- Time capsules serve as a means to preserve and document a specific period in
history.
- They capture the essence of a particular era and provide future generations
with a glimpse into the past.
2. Celebration and Commemoration:
- Time capsules are often created to celebrate anniversaries, centennials, or
significant milestones.
- They symbolize the collective memory and aspirations of a community or
organization.
3. Technological Advancements:
- With technological advancements, creating time capsules has become more
accessible and efficient.
- Improved preservation methods, materials, and digitization techniques make
it easier to create and store time capsule contents.
4. Legacy and Connection:
- Time capsules offer a way for individuals and communities to leave a lasting
legacy for future generations.
- They create a sense of connection between the present and the future,
fostering a shared understanding of history and progress.
 ● International Time Capsule Society (ITCS):
- The International Time Capsule Society (ITCS) is an organization dedicated to
cataloging and documenting time capsules worldwide.
- Founded in 1990, the ITCS aims to ensure that information about time capsules
is preserved and accessible to future generations.
- They maintain a comprehensive database of known time capsules and their
locations, encouraging responsible and ethical time capsule practices.
- The ITCS also provides guidelines and resources for creating and preserving
time capsules, promoting best practices within the field.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/interactive/2021/tenement-museum/?it
id=ap_philipkennicott&itid=lk_interstitial_manual_21

● In December, a time capsule was discovered in the base of a Robert E. Lee statue in
Richmond during its removal.
● The box contained various items from 1887, including books, newspapers, Confederate
banknotes, a Bible, and more.
● Time capsules have gained popularity recently, especially at the local level, due to
pandemic anxieties and concerns about digital preservation.
● They serve as a way to capture everyday realities often overlooked in official records or
digital memory.
● DIY time capsule kits are available, offering different storage options and materials.
● The term "time capsule" originated in 1939, but the concept predates it, with notable
instances like the Century Safe opened by President Gerald Ford in 1976.
● Time capsules can reflect a lack of faith in traditional memory preservation methods and
are metaphorically used to describe historically significant objects or sites.
● Andy Warhol's cardboard box "time capsules" contained everyday objects and served as a
therapeutic act.
● Time capsules can be driven by self-flattery or a desire to shape future narratives.
● Despite uncertainties, creating time capsules continues, driven by a sense of urgency to
make history and preserve relics.
● Preparing a time capsule involves a significant ritual, allowing individuals to leave their
mark and shape the future.
● An example of a recent time capsule by a sixth-grade class included pandemic-themed
items and a USB cartridge with videos and interviews. They chose a future opening date
of 2046.