The Most Valuable Predictions

What predictions were people most interested in, in the past?

Author

Ray Doraisamy
June 23, 2025

For early civilization, it seems like people were most concerned with the question, "when will the flood hit?"

The Sumerian King List is concerned with Before/After The Flood.

So much of the early Mandate of Heaven is about flood control and irrigation.

I (also) opened passages for the streams (throughout the) nine (provinces), and conducted them to the four seas. I deepened (moreover) the channels and canals, and conducted them to the streams, sowing (grain), at the same time, along with Ji, and showing the multitudes how to procure the food of toil

Consider how the legendary Emperor Shun picks an heir instead of his son.

Shun considered his son, Shangjun (商均), as unworthy and picked Yu, the tamer of floods, as his heir.