It’s not entirely clear. Wikipedia lists four possible causes of or contributors to the Library of Alexandria’s destruction; all were connected to changes in government or religion, but only two (one connected to Christian sources, the other to Muslim) appear deliberate. Both of them seem somewhat dubious, though.
The destruction of Central American literature is a more straightforward case. Bishop Diego de Landa certainly ordered the destruction of Mayan codices where found, which only a few survived.
Wikipedia lists four possible causes of or contributors to the Library of Alexandria’s destruction; all were connected to changes in government or religion, but only two (one connected to Christian sources, the other to Muslim) appear deliberate.
The Library also wasn’t one building; and had some time to recover between one attack and the next. (As an analogy: Burning down some, or even most, of the buildings of a modern university wouldn’t necessarily lead to the institution closing up shop.)
I’d been thinking of the 391 CE one, though, which I’d thought was widely understood to be an attack against pagan sites of learning. Updating in progress.
The destruction of Central American literature is a more straightforward case.
It’s worth noting that there were people on the Spanish “team” who regretted that decision and spoke out against it, most famously Bartolomé de las Casas.
It’s not entirely clear. Wikipedia lists four possible causes of or contributors to the Library of Alexandria’s destruction; all were connected to changes in government or religion, but only two (one connected to Christian sources, the other to Muslim) appear deliberate. Both of them seem somewhat dubious, though.
The destruction of Central American literature is a more straightforward case. Bishop Diego de Landa certainly ordered the destruction of Mayan codices where found, which only a few survived.
The Library also wasn’t one building; and had some time to recover between one attack and the next. (As an analogy: Burning down some, or even most, of the buildings of a modern university wouldn’t necessarily lead to the institution closing up shop.)
I’d been thinking of the 391 CE one, though, which I’d thought was widely understood to be an attack against pagan sites of learning. Updating in progress.
It’s worth noting that there were people on the Spanish “team” who regretted that decision and spoke out against it, most famously Bartolomé de las Casas.