Recent DNA evidence seems to have uncovered information that bucks the conventional wisdom that had existed among elites: Apparently, not everything was always kumbaya among ancient cultures. Up until now, the educated class seems to have thought the following: The Mayan empire, to take a popular example, was a generally impressive civilization. They had charmingly feathered gods with polysyllabic and sibilant names. One day, the earnest, simple people who toiled in the fields of maize looked up, saw conquistadors, and thought, “Oh no, they have brought capitalism.” From then on, everything was bloodshed. But prior to then — so said the elites — peace ruled the day.
If you ask “What about all those skulls, then? The sacrifices to slake the crimson lust of their deities?” Well, every culture has its dark sides, no? Future civilizations will judge us for our football concussions. Perhaps we misunderstood their rituals. It’s possible the devout volunteered to have their hearts ripped out and held aloft over an ululating crowd. There was probably a waiting list! Okay, but didn’t anyone at the time say “Look, all this blood, there’s flies everywhere. What if we just didn’t tear out 50 hearts today — just a couple dozen — and see if the sun rises anyway?” He’d be first in line to go up the steps the next day.
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