Civilization One: The World Is Not as You Thought It Was [Hardcover]

Christopher Knight (Author), Alan Butler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2006

There must have been a Civilization One: a highly advanced precursor to what is currently the earliest recognized civilization. That's the astounding revelation from a powerful duo of writers that includes the author of the bestselling "The Hiram Key." Christopher Knight and Alan Butler's startling conclusion comes from their quest to crack the mystery of the ancient "megalithic yard"--an incredibly precise unit of measurement that's based on a deep understanding of the solar system. It seems beyond the comprehension of the supposedly unsophisticated people of Stone Age Britain, and yet not only is it visible in the thousands of megalithic structures built in Britain and France, but this measurement keeps recurring throughout nature and science. The implications of the authors' breakthrough discovery go far beyond the idea of a super-science or prehistory: they indicate a grand plan that will have far-reading theological ramifications.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Christopher Knight invested seven years conducting research into the origins of Freemasonic rituals. His first book, The Hiram Key (1996), co-authored with Robert Lomas, became an instant bestseller and has since been translated into 37 languages selling over a million copies worldwide. Alan Butler, an engineer, but fascinated by history, also became an expert in astrology and astronomy. He has researched ancient cultures, pagan beliefs and comparative religion and has published four successful books the Knights Templar and the Grail legend. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Paul Watkins (July 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842930958
• ISBN-13: 978-1842930953
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #83 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Controversial Knowledge

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

160 of 171 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Our mysterious ancestors, July 18, 2005

By 

Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Civilization One: The World Is Not as You Thought It Was (Hardcover)

This fascinating book of alternative history examines the evidence of weights and measures and comes to the conclusion that there must have been an advanced culture in prehistory. The structures of the Stone Age were built by using a very precise unit of measurement, called the megalithic yard. The book explores the science behind prehistoric units, their mathematical origin and means of reproduction, and proves that these are linked to the dimensions of the solar system.

The reader must have a basic knowledge of arithmetic but overall the book is an easy read and very revealing. Amongst the topics discussed are writing, Egypt, Sumeria, the Minoan foot, solar and sidereal days, pendulums and the importance of the planet Venus. It turns out that the British Pound and Pint are both derived from ancient measurements. The units of the hour, minute and second were developed more than 4000 years ago, from the movements of the moon.

The text also encompasses subjects like the harmony of the spheres, Sumerian degrees and the calendar, and explains that the metric system is not a recent invention. There is a section on Thomas Jefferson and his achievements; this great man apparently realized that he was rediscovering parts of a very ancient system.

Amongst the most captivating sections is the chapter on music and light. There is a definite correspondence between the rotating mass of our planet and human music. Also, megalithic mathematics produces its own musical structure. The authors conclude that there must have been an advanced people who instructed the rest of the world in science and technology. They also refer to the Masonic concept of the Great Architect of the Universe.

There are seven appendices that include further information on earth days and the megalithic year, megalithic music, the Phaistos Disc, the amazing barley seed, and the connection between megalithic principles and Freemasonry. The colour plates include approximately 20 full colour photographs and there are many black and white illustrations throughout the text. The book concludes with an index.

I also recommend Lost Civilisations Of The Stone Age by Richard Rudgley, Stone Age Soundtracks by Paul Devereux, and Forbidden Archaeology by Michael Cremo and Richard Thompson.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A concise unifying theory of of the fabric of civilization., September 18, 2004

By 

Harvey L. Gaspar MD (Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Civilization One: The World Is Not as You Thought It Was (Hardcover)

I have made the journey from the Hiram Key, through the Book of Hiram and now Civilization One. They are all interconnected but not in the way that I had thought them to be. If I had to choose only one to remember, it would be C.O. because it provides some solution as to how we begin our quest for true knowledge of who we are and the origin of our culture. It provides a unifying theory of our civil developement but does not yet reveal the origins of our culture. I am fully expecting more to come from the authors and suspect I will not be disappointed. The book is all 'stuff' and no 'fluff' and is presented in such a way that anyone with basic math skills can follow it adequately to understand the conclusions. It is an easy read but still left me with an urge for more info. Although the music is nice and interesting, I would have been satisfied just knowing about it, since hearing it does nothing to confirm or deny the other data presented. Congratulations to both authors, and I wish them courage to withstand the abuse that will no doubt come from the main body of scientific research. And Chris, I agree with your summation in Appendix 7.
Harvey L. Gaspar MD
[e-mail] Tulsa Oklahoma, USA

44 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book of the Century, December 3, 2004

By 

Sylvain Tristan "Sylvain Tristan" (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civilization One: The World Is Not as You Thought It Was (Hardcover)

I've just read this book twice. There are no words that can convey the stupefaction, amazement and wonderment that this book caused in me. I'll try to, however, but the truth is far beyond. Fantastically brilliant! What Alan Butler and Christopher Knight have done is a powerful achievement. It is by far the best book I have ever read and I would be surprised if there ever is one that will surpass it. I am quite convinced there won't be any, because what they did is incredible enough.
The demonstration is brilliant and touches the sublime. Even better than Butler's own "The Bronze Age Computer Disc," published 5 years ago.
Easy to read, easy verifiable calculations, the origin of geometry imposes itself as an evidence which is doubly startling: first, everything is integrated within a system which, incredibly, is thousands of years old; second, the book unambiguously shows that the very laws of our part of the universe are very hard to explain without a "Great Architect" ... unless anyone has a better explanation?? The two authors just show the existence of some "Great Underlying Principle." Both of these facts are breathtaking.
For the numbers 366, 10 and 40 are just omnipresent in calendars, time, planet dimensions, units of length and weights!
The subtitle of the book is not exaggerated -- this book shows that the world is not as you thought it was, and it might change your life forever!

Sylvain Tristan, author of 'Les Lignes d'or' (Paris, Alphee 2005)