Topic: 12,024 HE: Embracing Our Shared Timelines
Read time: 5min

Dear Human Era Explorer,

As we bid farewell to another year and welcome the new year of 12,024 HE, I extend my warmest wishes to each of you. The New Year is a momentous global occasion, offering us a chance to reflect on the year that has passed and look ahead with hope and optimism. It’s a time when we stand at the crossroads of our past and our future, endowed with the power to shape both. Embracing this transition, let us also examine the diverse calendar systems that have played significant roles in marking the passage of time across different cultures throughout history.

In keeping with the inclusive spirit of the Human Era calendar, which aligns with the Holocene Epoch marking our planet’s transition from the ice age, we will briefly explore a selection of other notable calendar systems, each offering a unique lens through which various cultures have understood time.

Egyptian Solar Calendar

Timeline: Originated ~7,200 HE (~4,800 years ago)

Cultural Significance: Central to the ancient Egyptian civilisation, it was used to predict the annual flooding of the Nile and to set agricultural and religious events.

Babylonian Lunar Calendar

Timeline: Originated ~8,100 HE (~3,900 years ago)

Cultural Significance: Deeply embedded in Babylonian society, it influenced religious rituals and daily activities. The seven-day week in the modern calendar is derived from the Babylonian system.

Chinese Lunisolar Calendar

Timeline: Dates back to at least ~8,600 HE (~3,600 years ago), potentially as early as 7,400 HE (~4,600 years ago)

Cultural Significance: The Chinese Lunisolar Calendar, vital for agriculture and governance, symbolises harmony between Heaven and Earth. Developed to align with astronomical cycles, it evolved through dynasties, shaping festivals like the Chinese New Year and influencing daily life and folklore with its zodiac signs and solar terms.

Hebrew Calendar

Timeline: Origins trace back to around ~9,000 HE (~3,000 years ago)

Cultural Significance: The Hebrew calendar, rooted in Jewish scripture and tradition, blends lunar and solar cycles. The years are counted from 6,262 HE (~5,761 years ago). It marks the Genesis creation and according to the Hebrew calendar system. It serves as a deep link to Jewish history, tradition, and astronomical observations.

Mayan Calendar

Timeline: Origins trace back to around ~9,000 HE (~3,000 years ago)

Cultural Significance: Renowned for its intricate design and astronomical precision, the Mayan calendar integrates three systems: the Long Count for long-term cycles, the 260-day Tzolk'in for religious events, and the 365-day Haab for daily life. Central to Mayan culture, it guided agricultural, ceremonial, and societal practices.

Vikram Samvat (Indian Calendar)

Timeline: Established in ~9,943 HE (~2,080 years ago)

Cultural Significance: A Vikram Samvat lunisolar calendar system has been integral to Indian culture, playing a crucial role in organising major festivals and cultural events. It marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in various regions.

Islamic (Hijri) Calendar

Timeline: Established in ~10,622 HE (~1,400 years ago)

Cultural Significance: A lunar calendar that is essential for determining the dates of Islamic holidays such as Ramadan and Hajj. This calendar deeply influences Islamic rituals and is tied to lunar phases, serving as a unifying element for Muslims globally and emphasising the significance of tradition and history in Islamic life.

Gregorian Calendar

Timeline: Introduced in ~11,582 HE (~441 years ago) by Pope Gregory the XIII (8th)

Cultural Significance: The most widely used civil calendar globally, it refined the Julian calendar to more accurately align with the solar year. Its adoption represents a significant moment in the standardisation of timekeeping.

Embracing the Human Era

As we approach the dawn of 12,024 HE, it's time to reflect on the significance of the Human Era calendar. This system is more than a way to mark days; it's a narrative of our collective achievements and progress. Unlike traditional calendars that often start from a religious or cultural genesis, the Human Era calendar counts from a point approximately 10,000 years before the Common Era, aligning with the start of the Holocene Epoch and the advent of human civilisation.

This calendar acknowledges the profound journey of humanity, from the earliest settlements to the complexities of today's global society. It serves as a unifying timeline that transcends regional and cultural boundaries, offering a global perspective on our shared history. By starting the count from a pivotal point in human development, it highlights our interconnectedness and the cumulative advancements that define us.

Final Thoughts: Embracing an Expansive History Mindset

In this New Year, let us embrace an expansive history mindset—a deep appreciation for the rich legacies that have shaped us. As we stand on the frontier of time, with the power to shape both our past and our future, let this be a year where we collectively rise to meet history's greatest challenges. Together, we can weave a future that reflects the resilience, creativity, and unity of humankind.

From one pioneer to another,

Rahul, from the Human Era.
31st December, 12,023 HE, moving to
1st January, 12,024 HE