How did Giambattista Vico connect art and language to the development of civilizations?

Giambattista Vico integrated art and language into a comprehensive theory of the development and decline of civilizations, positing that culture evolves through a cyclical movement driven by the successive expression of "myths" that reflect social conditions.1

In his work Scienza nuova, Vico argued that human history progresses through three distinct stages, each characterized by specific forms of language and artistic expression:231

• The Age of the Gods: Primitive humans, possessing powerful imaginations, expressed themselves through poetic metaphors to interpret their fear of the supernatural (e.g., Zeus as the god of thunder).3
• The Age of Heroes: Society became more structured, characterized by rigid divisions between classes.2
• The Age of Men: This stage is defined by the use of prose and the inevitable trope of irony.3

Vico emphasized that to understand history, one must imaginatively enter the spirit of these past ages rather than imposing modern rationalist frameworks upon them. He viewed these artistic and linguistic shifts as essential to the "world of nations," which humans create and can therefore truly know. Ultimately, Vico warned that when these cultural expressions lose their connection to conscience and moral sentiment, civilizations risk corruption and a potential reversion to barbarism.432