Survivors Of Atlantis: Their Impact on the World

Rating:
Summary: Atlantis and Bronze Age Catastrophes
Review: This book is a sequel or preequal to Joseph's previous work, THE DESTRUCTION OF ATLANTIS. While it's possible to enjoy it on it's own Joseph jumps right in with the new material rather than expending space rehashing his earlier book.So, a novice to the subject might feel a little lost.A great deal of the first book went into his theory that Atlantis was a Bronze Age civilization, 3200-5500 years old, approximately, rather than Plato's literal figures which put the destruction of Atlantis 10,500-11,600 years ago. Joseph is convinced that the final demise of Atlantis occurred ca.1200 B.C. when the Late Bronze age cultures of the Aegean and Near East collapsed,which was followed by an extended dark age.There is evidence of earthquakes, possible tsunamis, inexplicably severe fires and climatic deterioration.But similar evidence clusters around the transitions from the Middle to Late Bronze ages[ca.1750-1550 B.C.] and the Early to Middle Bronze Ages [ca.2350-2050 B.C.].Finally, there was such a period ca.3500-3100 B.C., at the beginning of recorded history.These events could represent Plato's four great catastrophes, though the philosopher put Atlantis demise prior to the first not the last of them.The reasons why Joseph reverses that sequence and reduces the dates overall are dealt with in the previous book.He makes a valiant attempt to correllate the evidence of these catastrophes with how they could have affected his proposed version of Atantis, and how as the title indicates their survivors impacted upon known contemporary cultures.He gives a convincing sketch of each event but one must be willing to accept his overall premise about when and where Atlantis existed first.Those seeking a paleolithic supercivilization and submerged continent sized landmasses will not find them here.This is speculative archaeology and geology not the revealed 'wisdom' of psychics or channelers. He collects quite an assemblage of ancient traditions from around the globe and throughout history in an attempt to connect the dots in the Atlantis story.Those fond of mythological investigations may love it as I did.But if that is not your taste it could prove slow going.I appreciated the effort to tie in the rise of Atlantis to known history as well as it's fall.Others might take exception to the idea, believing that Atlantis preceeds or transcends 'mere' history.Since the whole subject can be viewed in so many different ways there is no way to please everybody.For those willing to consider that Plato's account derived from people, places and events of the historical period Frank Joseph has provided a marvelous compendium of how Atlantis may have fitted into the jigsaw puzzle of antiquity.To such an open minded reader I highly recommend the book.Even for those convinced that Atlantis sank 11,500 years ago, Joseph's material could be applicable to the three catastrophes Plato said had occurred since then, a subject rarely dealt with in this field.

Rating:
Summary: Way to Go, Frank Joe!
Review: The five stars are for the concept alone.

Since the delightfully goofy-titled "Atlantis in Wisconsin" it was clear that Joseph had a masterpiece in him and it's safe to say this is it.

Clearly presenting the information and deftly interpreting it, Joseph finally brings real history and science to a subject wrongly confined to the occult and speculative. Some of us have hiked and explored the copper country of Michigan and know very well history touched it -- but Joseph fills in the details and matches the evidence of archaeology with the records of history. In so doing, he begins our common history.

And you're in for loads of surprises if you think "Michigan" and "Wisconsin" and "Ontario" are sorely out of place when discussing the Bronze Age world of Egypt and Myceneae and Minoan Crete. Let Frank Joseph be your guide to the truth of the past and you'll see the world with new eyes.

Not a moment too soon, young people in North America can come to the realization that our past, too, stretches into antiquity. Our past, too, contains nobility and courage and adventure. This connection with our ancient roots is essential for rediscovering a modern love for the land that we must engender for our own rise to a "Great Civilization".

There's much more in Frank Joseph's book. His main gift is the ability to wake up the sense of wonder in his readers. A rare gift indeed and one greatly needed.