The Roots of Knowledge reaches in this column what is sometimes called the Meridian of Time, due to the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth and the founding of Christianity. During this period the Roman Empire reached its furthest extent, connecting people through commerce and government, but the empire’s vastness would also be a force behind its undoing. In the background destructive scenes, such as the burning of the Library of Alexandria and the Fall of Rome, indicate that the future looks ominous for the pursuit of knowledge.
