The Stories That Got Erased | Smart Carrot Homegrown

Some stories aren't just told from the wrong perspective — they're erased entirely. Whole civilisations, achievements, and events have been scrubbed from the historical record.

What you don't know about history might be more important than what you do know.

Erased from the Record

The Destruction of the Library of Alexandria

The ancient Library of Alexandria in Egypt was one of the greatest collections of knowledge in the ancient world, containing an estimated 400,000 scrolls. It was destroyed over several centuries through multiple fires and conflicts. Imagine how much knowledge was lost — mathematics, astronomy, medicine, philosophy from civilisations we barely know about today.

Aboriginal Australian Knowledge Systems

Aboriginal Australians developed sophisticated knowledge over 65,000 years: astronomical calendars, fire management techniques, aquaculture systems, medicinal plants. When colonisers arrived, they dismissed this as "primitive." Much of this knowledge was lost when communities were displaced and languages died.

Linguist Patrick McConvell estimates that of the approximately 250 Aboriginal languages spoken in 1788, fewer than 20 are still being learned by children today. Each lost language takes its knowledge with it.

The Burning of Maya Books

In 1562, Spanish Bishop Diego de Landa ordered the burning of thousands of Maya manuscripts. He wrote: "We found a large number of books and... they contained nothing but superstition and lies of the devil, so we burned them all." Only four Maya codices survive.

Women in History

For most of recorded history, women's contributions were deliberately excluded from the record. Women scientists, artists, leaders, and innovators were either uncredited, credited to men, or simply forgotten. The term "the Matilda effect" describes this systematic erasure of women from science.

Why Erasure Matters

When a people's history is erased, their identity is weakened. They lose connection to their achievements, their ancestors, and their sense of possibility. This is why the recovery of erased histories is not just academic — it's deeply personal for the communities affected.

Tonight's Question

"If you could recover one piece of lost history — one book, one story, one piece of knowledge — what would it be?"

The Lost History Hunt

Each family member researches one example of "erased" history.
It could be: a person whose contributions were forgotten, a culture whose knowledge was lost, or an event that was covered up.
Present your findings to the family (5 minutes each).
Discuss: why was this history erased? Who benefited from the erasure?
Create a "Family History Wall" — a poster of the erased histories you've discovered.

Go Further

Book: Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez (2019) — how women are systematically excluded from data and history.
Research: Pick an Aboriginal Australian language and find out its status. Is it still spoken? Are there revival efforts?
Question: In the digital age, is it still possible to erase history? Or does the internet make it harder?
Website: First Languages Australia (firstlanguages.org.au) — tracking Aboriginal language revival.

What We Simplified

The Library of Alexandria's destruction is debated. It wasn't a single dramatic event but a gradual decline over centuries.
Aboriginal knowledge isn't all lost. Many communities actively maintain and revive their knowledge systems. We don't want to imply it's all gone.
Erasure isn't always deliberate. Sometimes records are lost through neglect, natural disaster, or simple passage of time.

Sources

Criado Perez, C. (2019). Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. Chatto & Windus.
McConvell, P. & Thieberger, N. (2001). "State of Indigenous Languages in Australia." Australia: State of the Environment Report.
Rossiter, M.W. (1993). "The Matilda Effect in Science." Social Studies of Science, 23(2), 325-341.
First Languages Australia. firstlanguages.org.au