The Bronze Age near east was the center of civilization and knowledge for a few thousand years, they were definitely extremely advanced in several fields of human endeavor. But rival basically anything we can do today? Other than artistry which is subjective, you'd be hard pressed to convince me they could accomplish any feat of strength, coordination, efficiency, or anything else better than we can today. Cyrus the Great shaped the modern world as we know it and probably would have made everyone on this board look like simpletons, but brew a cup of tea or talk to your friend in Korea? Any one of us idiots can do it more efficiently.
As for the question of equally, general relativity shows us that time is passing pretty evenly for all of us stuck to this rock. Unless you think the people on the ISS and their 28 microsecond per day difference is big enough to be worth mentioning.
Kudos for mentioning Cyrus the Great
There’s a huge cylinder in the Chicago museum of history that is covered in what looks like cuneiform....it details the Persian diplomatic activities after vanquishing the Babylonians and setting their Jewish (etc) slaves free to return home
I can’t prove it to you - and it doesn’t quite reach the level of conviction for me....but I believe that some of those older civilizations had spiritual powers- possibly the ability to levitate objects- types of electrical power - and city-states that would over shadow our greatest capitals in terms of splendor/ wealth and majesty
As for “progressing” we’re herky- jerkey about How we move forward in my opinion
We get better at empowering women ..::but then we have significant factions that assert that a man can be a woman ....simply by insisting that he is....and THREATEN you if you don’t go along (never mind the obvious damage to legit civil rights movements and other catch 22s that arise)
We try to become more aware of wildlife around us but then celebrate or turn a blind eye to “aborting” a full term baby....or promoting euthanasia for teens and the elderly (as is the case in prtsnof Europe)
We get better at transmitting data at the speed of light - but we adopt regressive and unsound approaches to public health and see hepatitis/ typhus outbreaks in a place like California
We somehow spend trillions on constantly upgrading our weaponry to the point of ridiculousness.....but can’t figure out why veterans are committing suicide at the rate they are
We innovate with visual cloaking - genetic manipulation- and electromagnetic propulsion.....but we have growing homeless populations and people without enough to eat
We beat Louisville and North Carolina
But the ncaa turns a blind eye to Zion and the Kansas wiretaps that link his recruitment to PAYOLA.....and still Duke isn’t questioned
Have I mentioned that I full blown HATE the North Carolina Tar Heels lately??
Admit to academic fraud....
And I’ll be DAMNED if Missouri football doesn’t get a one year bowl ban for it
Herky Jerky progress i tell ya
