Earthward

There is a beautiful dialogue called "Icaromenippus, an Aerial Expedition" by the poet Lucian in which the narrator is given the ability to fly and sees the world from above. Turning his eyes earthward, he sees how comically small even the richest people, the biggest estates, and entire empires look from above. All their battles and concerns were made petty in perspective. In ancient times, this exercise was only theoretical--the highest anyone could get was the top of a mountain or a building a few stories tall. But as technology has progressed, humans have been able to actually take that bird's-eye view--and greater.