Linear time & progress
Who
The Hebrew Bible and ancient Jewish tradition, as read by historians of religion
When
antiquity
Where
ancient Israel / the Ancient Near East
The idea of time as a purposeful line moving from creation toward a future goal — rather than an endless cycle — is rooted in the Hebrew Bible and its narrative of history. Historians such as Mircea Eliade and writer Thomas Cahill have argued that this Jewish conception of linear, forward-moving time helped shape Western notions of history and progress.
Sources
Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.