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In Anthroposophy, "cultural epochs" are phases of human civilization/evolution, especially subdivisions of our present great epoch, the Post-Atlantean Epoch. Lasting about 2,160 years each, cultural epochs are also called cultural ages. The Post-Atlantean Epoch consists of seven cultural epochs, including four we have already passed through (the Indian, Persian, Egypto-Chaldean, and Greco-Roman Ages) and two that lie ahead of us (the Russian and American Ages). Our present cultural epoch is sometimes referred to simply as the Present and sometimes as the Anglo-Germanic Age.

According to Steiner, our passage upward through the cultural epochs is an evolution of human types, peoples, and/or races. Our souls acquire new characteristics as we reincarnate in more highly evolved forms. “[A]s human evolution proceeds, certain definite capacities, certain definite impulses are developed in each succeeding cultural epoch. It is impossible to imagine people living in the ancient Indian period having a condition of soul development similar to ours. From epoch to epoch, as human beings pass through succeeding incarnations on earth, different impulses are needed for the human soul.” — Rudolf Steiner, THE KARMA OF UNTRUTHFULNESS, Vol. 2 (Rudolf Steiner Press, 1992), lecture 14, GA 174.

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These are the cultural epochs discussed by Steiner and his followers:

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I. Epochs of the Past

Indian Age

In Anthroposophical belief: This is the first cultural epoch during our current great epoch, the Post-Atlantean Epoch. [1] The Indian Age ran from about 7230 to about 5070 BC. [2] "Consciousness was then dominated by the loss of the full Atlantean clairvoyance [3] ... [People then were] enveloped in an etheric aura [4] which they beheld inwardly, and like young children beheld in ensouled pictures [5] the thoughts inspired within them by the gods [6] ... All this was prepared under the constellation of Cancer, the Crab [7] ... [W]hat the Polarean epoch lived through became for them knowledge. [8] Only the Holy Rishis [9]...were still able to speak of the Atlantean wisdom. [10]" — Richard Seddon, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE EARTH AS FORETOLD BY RUDOLF STEINER (Temple Lodge Publishing, 2002), p. 13.

"We call it the Old Indian epoch because the character of post-Atlantean evolution in general was especially marked in the people of India. In this epoch there existed a sublime, all-embracing wisdom, with wide ramifications. In principle, the teachings given by the seven holy Rishis were identical with what was actually seen in the spiritual world by natural clairvoyants and also by very many of the people of that time. This ancient knowledge was present in the Old Indian epoch as a heritage from still earlier times." — Rudolf Steiner. THE BACKGROUND OF THE GOSPEL OF ST. MARK, "The Tasks of the Fifth Post-Atlantean Epoch", GA 124.

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Persian Age

In Anthroposophical belief, this was the second cultural epoch of our present great epoch [11]; it ran from approximately 5067 BC to 2970 BC. It was epitomized by the Zoroastrian religion [12], which had an imperfect but productive vision of Christ, picturing him as their chief god, Ahura Mazda. [13] Earthly reality at that time was dark; it was the "kingdom of Ahriman." [14] The Persian Age developed under the aegis of Gemini, and it recapitulated the Hyperborean great epoch. [15] "The polarity of light and dark was at the same time experienced as a polarity of good and evil [16] ... On the inner path, which no longer coincided with the outer, people perceived the astral body instead of the spirit [17], and met there the forces of Lucifer [18]...." — Richard Seddon, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE EARTH AS FORESEEN BY RUDOLF STEINER (Temple Lodge Publications, 2002), pp. 13-14.

"In the Old Persian epoch, among men influenced by Zoroastrianism, something began in connection with knowledge of the external world which can be compared with the second period in human life ... In a spiritual respect the Old Indian culture-epoch is comparable with the first period in human life, from birth to the seventh year ... What followed in the Old Persian epoch can similarly be compared with a kind of school-learning, the kind of learning connected with the second life-period ... Among the followers of Zarathustra a systematic development of concepts took place. To sum up: The treasure-store of ancient wisdom which had evolved until the end of the Old Indian epoch and continued from generation to generation, was accepted. Nothing new was added but the old was elaborated." — Rudolf Steiner. THE BACKGROUND OF THE GOSPEL OF ST. MARK, "The Tasks of the Fifth Post-Atlantean Epoch", GA 124. 

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Egypto-Chaldean Age

According to Steiner, this was the third cultural epoch of the Post-Atlantean Epoch, a period of earthly evolution running from approximately 2900 to 747 BC. "The third age...includes the Assyrian, Babylonian, Semitic and Hibernian cultures. Consciousness, now feeling sheltered within the bloodstream, permeated the sentient soul [19] ... Under the influence of the Bull [20] this age consequently penetrated fully into this external world ... Their mystery wisdom [21] expressed experiences of the Lemurian epoch [22] ... An actual incarnation of Lucifer, the tempter [23]...occurred in China during the third millennium BC." — Richard Seddon, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE EARTH AS FORETOLD BY RUDOLF STEINER (Temple Lodge Publishing, 2002), pp. 14-15.

"In the Egypto-Chaldean epoch it was Angels who were the actual leaders of the epoch ... They were Angel Beings in the lowest stage of Luciferic development, Angel Beings who had not completed their evolution on the Moon ... [They] were themselves not so far advanced as men will be at the end of Earth evolution ... These Beings...instilled their forces into the Egypto-Chaldean civilisation ... They incarnated in human bodies and mixed with the rest as real men."— Rudolf Steiner, WONDERS OF THE WORLD, ORDEALS OF THE SOUL. REVELATION OF THE SPIRIT, "Dionysos as the representative of the ego-forces. The entry of the Christ Impulse into human evolution and the activity of the planetary gods", GA 129.

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Greco-Roman Age

In Anthroposophical belief, this is the fourth cultural epoch of the Post-Atlantean great epoch, running from 747 BC to 1413 AD. "[It] echoed [i.e., recapitulated] the Atlantean epoch [24] ... The forces of Aries, the Ram, prepared the age to take in the universe...and look back on it [25] ... The Greek [26] sought to harmonize perfectly with his environment ... Into this came the descent of Christ [27] ... Through Christ the individual ego was finally born [28] ... But through Rome, with its emphasis on conquest and personality, came a darkening [29] ... [T]houghts became dead [30] ... [S]pirit as separate reality was formally denied [31] ... AD 666 designates the impulse of Arabism [32] ... [But] an esoteric Christianity [33]...remained active behind the scenes ... The Rosicrucians [34] brought the wisdom of the pre-Christian ages to a single focus...." — Richard Seddon, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE EARTH AS FORETOLD BY RUDOLF STEINER (Temple Lodge Publishing, 2002), pp. 15-16.

According to Steiner, the most important event in recent human evolution occurred during the Greco-Roman Age. This was the descent of the Sun God — the incarnation of Christ on Earth: "At the turning-point of time,/ The Spirit-Light of the World/ Entered the stream of Earthly Evolution./ Darkness of Night had held its sway;/ Day-radiant Light poured into the souls of men/ ...O Light Divine! O Sun of Christ!...." — Rudolf Steiner, THE FESTIVALS AND THEIR MEANING (Rudolf Steiner Press, 1996), pp. 13-14. The darkening of human thought was thus potentially offset by the illumination provided by the "Sun of Christ."

The secret truths of Christ's identity and mission were maintained within the small band that comprehended "esoteric Christianity." Eventually these truths would blossom forth in Rosicrucianism and Anthroposophy. “We [Anthroposophists] shall study the path that is right for modern humanity: the Rosicrucian path.” — R. Steiner, MACROCOSM AND MICROCOSM (Rudolf Steiner Press, 1985), p. 94.

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II. Our Present Epoch

Anglo-Germanic Age

According to Anthroposophy, this is the present cultural epoch (1413 AD - 3573 AD); sometimes called the European-American Age. The earliest years of this Age were presided over by Samael, the Archangel of Mars. [35] Samael was succeeded by Gabriel, the Archangel of the Moon. Currently, Michael — the Archangel of the Sun — presides. “The fifth, Anglo-Germanic age began in 1413 [AD] and will extend until 3573 [AD]. Although we might suppose that we understand it because we live in it, we have so far seen only its earliest stages ... It carries the future within it like a seed. At first, however, it spiritually looked backwards [35] ... [We] experience progressive deterioration [37] ... Around 1471 spiritual rulership passed [from Samael] to Gabriel, the Archangel of the Moon. His period was dominated by the rise of the nation-state and of natural science (both firmly rooted in the moon forces of heredity) [38] ... Gabriel brought also the moon quality of occultism [39] ... Meanwhile Michael, the Sun Archangel, who strides ahead of Christ as his countenance [40], was preparing a new spiritual content for humanity ... His rulership of 350 years as Time Archangel began in 1879. [41]” — Richard Seddon, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE EARTH AS FORESEEN BY RUDOLF STEINER (Temple Lodge, 2002), pp. 17-19. 

Under Michael, we have begun to rise out of our gross physicality, although the process of ascent will be long and difficult. Michael will continue as Time Archangel until approximately 2250 CE. Thereafter, the remainder of the Anglo-Germanic Age will be overseen by four more archangels: Oriphiel, Archangel of Saturn (~2250-2600 AD); Anael, Archangel of Venus (~2600-2950 AD); Zachariel, Archangel of Jupiter (~2950-3300 AD); and finally Raphael, Archangel of Mercury (~3300-3650 AD; this period extends into the next cultural epoch, the Russian Age).

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III. Future Epochs

Russian Age

According to Steiner, this will be the sixth age or cultural epoch of the fifth great epoch, leading to the American Age. "The sixth Post-Atlantean cultural age [24], the so-called Russian age, extends from 3573 to 5733 [AD]. It is also known as the Aquarian age, because it is prepared and guided by forces from the Waterman [43], where the vernal point stands from 2375 to 4535 [AD]. These are etheric forces [44] of rejuvenation, resurrection and rebirth, but if not turned to the spirit they can lead to dissolution. This age is represented in the Apocalypse [45] as Philadelphia (Rev. 3: 7-13). [46]" — Richard Seddon, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE EARTH AS FORESEEN BY RUDOLF STEINER (Temple Lodge, 2002), p. 41.

Steiner taught that the transition from our present age, the Anglo-Germanic Age, to the Russian Age will be marked by a tremendous race war. “[T]hese things cannot happen in the world without the most violent struggle. White mankind is still on the path of absorbing spirit more deeply into its essence. Yellow mankind is on the path of preserving the [prior] period when the spirit was kept away from the body, when the spirit could only be sought outside of the physical human being. But the result will have to be that the transition from the fifth cultural epoch [47] to the sixth cultural epoch [48] cannot happen differently than as a violent fight between white mankind and colored mankind in the most varied areas. And world history will consist of those events that will lead to these battles between white and colored mankind, until the great fight between white and colored mankind has been brought about. Future events are frequently reflected in previous events. You see, we stand before something so colossal that, if we regard it through the diverse perceptions of spiritual science [49], we will in the future recognize it as a necessary occurrence.” — Rudolf Steiner, KOMISCHE UND MENSCHLICHE GESCHICHTE - DIE GEISTIGEN HINTERGRÜNDE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES (Dornach: Rudolf Steiner Verlag, 1974), GA 174b, p. 38; translation by Roger Rawlings. [50]

Steiner's prophesied race war is sometimes mistaken for another war Steiner forecast: the War of All Against All. But the former war is different from the latter. The race war will come before the beginning of the Russian Age, Steiner said, whereas the War of all Against All will come at the end of the American Age. (See below.)

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American Age

In Steiner's account of human evolution, the seventh and concluding cultural epoch of our current great epoch will be the American Age. It will run from 5733 CE to approximately 7900 CE. [51] There will be little advancement over the prior Russian Age; in a sense, retrogression or at least stasis will occur. Anglo-American culture will predominate, under the direction of an abnormal god opposed to spiritual progress. The Moon will reunite with the Earth. Horrible monsters of intellect will be unleashed, and the epoch will culminate in the War of All Against All. [See “All v. All”.] 

"The Seventh Age [52]: This age extends from 5733 [CE] to about 7900 [CE] ... The age as a whole is dominated by Anglo-American culture, led by an abnormal Spirit of Personality [53] who does not work for the progress of evolution ... World egoism [54]...proceeds from the English-American people; through their inventions they cover the earth with a network of egoism fraught with evil ... This dominating egoism causes the drying up of regions where it is pursued ... Because by this time sufficient souls have the power to use the moon forces [55] for the benefit of evolution, the moon again unites with the earth [56] ... When the moon does unite, all the thoughts of the shadowy intellect [57] which at present have no reality at once become substantial realities. There springs forth a terrible brood of beings, automata [58] lying between the mineral and plant kingdoms, possessed of an overwhelming power of intellect. This swarm spreads over the earth as a ghastly network of spiderlike creatures [59] ... The reunion with the moon brings the culmination of evil on earth. The whole Post-Atlantean epoch ends with the War of All Against All. [60]" — Richard Seddon, THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THE EARTH AS FORETOLD BY RUDOLF STEINER (Temple Lodge Publishing, 2002), pp. 54-60.

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Endnotes

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[1] See the entries for these various terms in the Brief Waldorf/ Steiner Encyclopedia (BWSE).

[2] The Indians were the ancient inhabitants of India, not aboriginal Americans.

[3] I.e., people on Atlantis had a natural, instinctive clairvoyance. This was lost after Atlantis was destroyed. The loss of clairvoyance fundamentally determined the sort of consciousness people had during the Indian Age.

[4] See "Auras". (The ancient Indians felt their auras, their spiritual condition, inwardly.)

[5] I.e., "imaginations." [See the entry for "imaginations" in the BWSE.] Here, Steiner is describing the childlike but perceptive consciousness of people during the Indian Age.

[6] These are "living thoughts." [See "Thinking".] The ancient Indians were not clairvoyant, but they had a pure, childlike consciousness that enabled them to receive the living thoughts sent to them by the gods.

[7] Belief in astrology is basic to Anthroposophy. [See "Astrology"]

[8] I.e., they recapitulated the Polarian period and received its wisdom. The Polarian Epoch was the first great epoch of Present Earth. [See "Early Earth".] The Post-Atlantean Epoch is the fifth great epoch of Present Earth.

[9] Occult initiates on the Indian Age: Hindu saints. 

[10] I.e., only the Holy Rishis preserved the wisdom of Atlantis.

[11] See the entries for "epochs", "cultural epochs", and "great epochs" in the BWSE.

[12] See "Zoroastrianism".

[13] See the entry in the BWSE for "Ahura Mazda".

[14] In Zoroastrianism, Ahriman is the devil. In Anthroposophy, he is an arch-demon, a colleague and rival of Lucifer. [See "Ahriman".]

[15] Steiner taught that as we evolve, we continually recapitulate prior stages of evolution. The Hyperborean Epoch was the second stage of evolution (a great epoch) during Present Earth. [See "Early Earth".]

[16] This was the polarity of the god Ahura Mazda and the demon Ahriman.

[17] I.e., the esoteric (occult, inner) path of evolution and the exoteric (open, outer) path had diverged, and humanity became confused. Instead of continuing to directly perceive spiritual realities, people could only perceive the astral body (the second of our three invisible bodies, according to Steiner [see "Incarnation"]).

[18] I.e., humanity's confusion led us into the clutches of Lucifer, the ally/rival of Ahriman. [See "Lucifer".]

[19] According to Steiner, this is the first of our three souls or soul parts. [See the entry for "sentient soul" in the BWSE.]

[20] I.e., under the constellation Taurus.

[21] I.e., the occult knowledge possessed during that age.

[22] I.e., the age recapitulated the Lemurian great epoch. [See "Lemuria".] Lemuria ended in a "Fire Catastrophe." This was a series of firestorms caused by human wickedness, said Steiner. Similarly, Atlantis ended in an immense water catastrophe (the Great Flood), which was also caused by human wickedness. The Post-Atlantean great epoch will end in the War of All Against All, which will likewise be caused by human wickedness. 

[23] See "Lucifer".

[24] Steiner taught that as we evolve, we continually recapitulate previous stages of evolution. Here Seddon reports that the Greco-Roman Age recapitulated the Atlantean Epoch. [See the entries for "Atlantean Epoch" and "Atlantis" in the BWSE.]

[25] These are astrological forces, which in Anthroposophy are deemed to be the forces of the gods who reside on or near various planets, stars, etc.

[26] I.e., the ancient Greek, alive early in the Greco-Roman Age.

[27] See the entry in the BWSE for "Turning Point of Time".

[28] I.e., Christ's incarnation on Earth led to humanity's acquisition of the "I", the spiritual ego that is an individual's unique, divine identity. 

[29] I.e., mankind generally lost the capacity to receive "living" thoughts from the gods.

[30] I.e., the latter parts of the Greco-Roman Age, when the legions of Rome raged across the known (Eurocentric) world, became spiritually dark. Steiner taught that mankind first learned to think logically in ancient Greece. But soon thereafter, Steiner said, the light of living logical thought was snuffed out by the Romans; thereafter, only a dead, modern logic (animalistic in its limitations) was possible for most humans. 

[31] I.e., we lost the understanding that the spirit realm truly exists; materialistic disbelief became formally integrated into our philosophies and world views.

[32] i.e., the influence of Arab culture. [See "Arabism" in the BWSE. For the significance of 666 (often deemed the mark of the Antichrist), see "Mystic Math."]

[33] This was the secret or occult spiritual wisdom that would lead to Anthroposophy, Anthroposophists believe.

[34] See "Rosy Cross".

[35] In Anthroposophical belief, Archangels — who are typically associated with various celestial bodies — are gods two levels higher than humanity. [See the entry for "Archangels"in the BWSE.]

[36] During each phase of evolution, Steiner taught, we recapitulate prior stages.

[37] In our lives on the physical Earth, we have sunk farther and farther into physicality, removing us farther and farther from the spirit realm, Steiner taught.

[38] In Anthroposophy: The Moon is a parasitic sphere, not a source of true light like the Sun; the influences of the Moon tend to be unreliable, unstable; heredity, which is less important than karma, is affected by the changeable Moon.

[39] Steiner identified himself as an occultist, meaning a seer who possessed hidden (secret, occult) knowledge. Occultists presumably can be either good or evil. (Good occultism is generally oriented toward the Sun; evil occultism may be oriented toward the Moon.)

[40] Anthroposophy teaches that Christ is the Sun God. Michael, as the Sun Archangel, is Christ's defender.

[41] See the entries in the BWSE for "Time Archangels" and "1879".

[42] I.e., the sixth age of our current great epoch, the great epoch following the destruction of Atlantis. [See "Atlantis".]

[43] I.e., the constellation of Aquarius, also called the Waterman.

[44] See the entry in the BWSE for "etheric force(s)".

[45] I.e., the last book of the New Testament, the Book of Revelation.

[46] Rev. 3: 7-13: "7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." 

Philadelphia was an Asian city; the church there was considered a model for true Christian churches.

[47] I.e., the present.

[48] I.e., the Russian Age.

[49] As Steiner used this term, it applies principally to his own teachings, Anthroposophy.

[50] Like some other inflammatory statements by Steiner, this one is rarely translated into English. Steiner's assertions about various races, and the historical necessity for a huge race war, must be deemed repugnant today. [See "Steiner's Racism".]

[51] See "Oriphiel".

[52] I.e., the seventh cultural epoch: the American Age.

[53] Spirits of Personality are gods three stages higher than humanity, Steiner said. But an abnormal Spirit of Personality is a god who should have evolved higher; it should be four stages higher than humanity, but it has lagged behind its fellows. The American Age will be sick, as indicated by the abnormality of its presiding spirit, a backward god who "does not work for the progress of evolution." (Steiner uses the present tense, here — "is dominated" — although he is describing events in the distant future. Such usage creates a sense of timelessness and mystic sagacity.)

[54] I.e., global arrogance; worldwide egotism and selfishness.

[55] I.e., the Moon's astrological/spiritual forces.

[56] Steiner taught that the Moon and Sun were both once part of the Earth. They separated in the distant past, and they will reunite with the Earth in the future. The Moon will rejoin the Earth during the American Age.

[57] Although he was an intellectual, Steiner generally deplored intellect. It is dark ("shadowy") and abstract, he said; it is involved in the destructive powers of science and technology, and it functions under the sway of Ahriman. During the American age, dark or shadowy evils that previously existed only as intellectual thoughts will become incarnated evil realities stalking over the surface of the Earth.

[58] I.e., robots or robot-like creatures, having brains but not souls.

[69] See, e.g., "Spiders, Dragons and Foxes".

[60] See “All v. All”.

[R.R.]

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