What happened first?
Writers of the pre-Christian era organized their thoughts on Earth’s history by observing and incorporating the idea of vast gradual changes. Scientists, naturalists, or more plainly, observers of the world around them, noticed many, many years ago the record of changes taking place on Earth’s surface. The correct interpretations of these records though, came about gradually. The idea that Earth was entirely enveloped by water from which were deposited all the known rocks persisted as one interpretation. Fossils represented odd crystal growths as opposed to the petrified or crystallized remains of organic beings, in the eyes of some early scientists. Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) combined the thoughts of earlier philosophers when he wrote of the fluctuations of sea and land. In some areas the sea intruded on land while at a different time at the same place, land would rise to the surface, he said, recognizing a long term process. Perhaps unconsciously, he implied an age consistent with our perspective in modern time. He did not allude to drastic floods or titanic deluges but a gradual change that could have taken place only over many years. Observations of the flora and fauna and records of past life, i.e. fossils, contributed to an idea of a longer lifespan for Earth than earlier scientists or philosophers. His assertions arose from observations of Earth itself, the rock record and fossils, not from written records. Individuals had not personally observed large changes in land mass or sea level. Written records of personally observed large changes in land mass could mean that the water and land exchanged control of Earth’s surface over a human lifespan. Without a written record, assuming that changes of landmass and sea coverage happen over a multiple lifetimes or even over a few generations is reasonable. Aristotle interpreted what he saw as glimpse into a long history of Earth. In general, early observers recognized that Earth’s surface changed slowly and gradually.