Atlantis: The Eighth Continent

Cover by One Plus One Studio

*Atlantis: The Eighth Continent* (or *tlantis: The Lost Continent Revealed*) is a nonfiction book written by Charles Berlitz. Released in 1984, it alleges that the mythical sunken city of Atlantis recounted by Plato is actually the eighth continent of the world.

## Publisher's Summary

For thousands of years before the beginning of recorded history -- the legends tell us -- a powerful civilization flourished in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This breathtakingly advanced island continent boasted splendid cities, golden temples, crowded seaports from which the far-reaching influence of Atlantis spread to the rest of the world, until its destruction in an overwhelming cataclysm.

Now, based on careful study of scientific undersea research, Charles Berlitz proves that Atlantis is not legend but fact -- and unravels a mystery even more startling than the Bermuda Triangle!

What message lies buried with the mighty stone structures deep beneath the Atlantic?

What profound revelations about Atlantis have come to us from beyond the Earth?

Was Atlantis destroyed in an ancient nuclear war?

What great centers of Atlantean culture yet await discovery?

## Summary of Events

### Chapter 1: Introduction to a Lost Continent

Underneath the Atlantic Ocean lies the remains of the eighth continent, Atlantis. Various islands found throughout the Atlantic Ocean (dubbed the Atlantic Islands) are actually mountain tops. An ancient civilization lived on the continent of Atlantis that influenced and jumpstarted the various civilizations of the world.

Today, Atlantis is considered a myth despite the extremely convincing description of Atlantis found within Plato's dialogues. Various geographical names and legends (including that of Noah's Ark) are influenced by Atlantis - even animals such as eels and birds remember Atlantis. Unexplained ruins (most likely from Atlantis) dot the Atlantic Ocean.

Belief in Atlantis is shunned by most scientists because it would radically alter their understanding of human history [Note: This is not how the scientific method or science/history works. This is an extremely common bias against "big science" found within many pseudoscientific or conspiratorial works]. Despite this, studies to find Atlantis have rapidly gained traction due to the masses gaining more interest in Atlantis and technological advances.

### Chapter 2: Atlantis, a Name and a Legend

"A percentage of the world's people" [Note: There is no source given for this percentage] believe in an island continent in the Atlantic that was inhabited by a higher civilization and that sunk into the ocean - this being Atlantis. The name of the Atlantic Ocean comes from this island.

The Atlantis shown by Plato was placed by him "beyond the pillars of Hercules". Within his account, Plato predicted the existence of the Americas, however, Atlantis is still believed to be a hoax by the scientific community. This is because no trace of it can be found (Berlitz claims that islands within the Atlantic are actually peaks of mountains from Atlantis) and that all records of Atlantis come from only somewhat reliable sources - legends and Plato's dialogues, where Atlantis can be viewed as a political allegory. One of the prime figures to work to demolish belief in Atlantis was Aristotle though he unwittingly wrote about an island named Antilla known to the great seafarers of the Greek world.

The name of Atlantis is found across the world - everywhere from the Gauls to the Vikings and the Aztecs (with the name Aztec being derived from Aztlán - which Berlitz believes to be Atlantis). There is even a settlement in Venezuela called "Atlán" found by the conquistadores inhabited by pale peoples.

Most scientists believe that there have been no major geological catastrophes within the time period that Atlantis sunk and that continental drift would make the existence of a large chunk of land in the Atlantic Ocean completely impossible. This seems to be a major barrier to belief in Atlantis. Berlitz chooses to basically ignore this, though he does bring this up.

### Chapter 3: The Receding Horizon of History

A discussion of the various dates that history was stated to have begun in - including those derived from Biblical sources (~4004 BC). These dates are used to claim that Atlantis could have existed in a period before recorded history but after the spread of humanity from its origins in Africa.

rest to be added

## See Also

* Critias by Plato
* Timaeus by Plato
* The Bermuda Triangle by Charles Berlitz
* Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler
* The Time Monster by Terrance Dicks