Mythologizing the Past

This book examines the origins, development, and current state of myths surrounding 'lost civilizations' and, more importantly, how these myths contribute to modern political ideologies. By examining the myths, legends, and scientific record concerning Atlantis, the Vikings, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Celts, pre-Contact North America and the Aryans, this book reveals the faulty science, logical fallacies, anti-intellectualism, and outright racism motivating the recurrent interest in them. It delineates the development of pseudohistory from its allegorical Classical origins, through renaissance and enlightenment literature, to nineteenth-century popular writing, and finally to modern pseudoscience. It describes how at every stage pseudohistory has been used to reinforce and reproduce dominant ideologies by marginalizing subordinate groups in favor of social elites. This book is ideal not only for the general reader interested in world history, but also for courses across the humanities, including pseudoarcheology, historiographic and scientific methods, and classics.

Sean M. Rafferty is an archaeologist focusing on the pre-contact era of North America and also currently works as Associate Professor of Anthropology at University at Albany, SUNY, USA. His research interests include the use of drugs in prehistory, ritual and religion, pseudoscience and critical thinking. His other published work with Routledge includes Misanthropology: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Study of Humanity. He lives in Albany with his wife, son, and five cats.