The Lost Empires

Speculatively, during the contemporary era, we find ourselves in a situation where the importance of constructed maps has transcended the actual geographical/social/political terrain they attempt to represent. Other archives function as pivotal tools that delineate and manage society and chronicle its evolution. Throughout history, empires have relied on records, archives, and maps to assert their dominance, wealth, memories and authority over their subjects. Revolutions often involve the deliberate destruction of existing documents. As empires crumble and new regimes ascend, fresh narratives and histories emerge. If capitalism were to collapse, the existing archives might gradually disappear, supplanted by new memories and narratives reflecting the transformed societal landscape.