This section is devoted to the proof that the Gummi Bears once existed, based on all the facts that are too strange to be coincidental... but even if you don't believe a word of this, you've at least got to acknowledge the genius of the creator of the series who fit the Gummi Bears in so well with known human history, Jymn Magon.
Contents:
1: Gummi Glen (near p.d. Brighton)--with Dunwyn and Drekmore nearby. Dunwyn is definitely situated on the English Channel, as Tummi and Cubby were able to sail to France (Jean-Claude's Kingdom) in a beat-up old sailboat..
2: Ursalia (in the Grampian Mountains). While early shows make reference to the "western mountains," later shows refer to Ursalia being in the "northern mountains," and the later shows take presidence over earlier ones. Assuming that Cavin's Grandfather was not overseas when he found the Gummi Medalion, the only mountains north of Gummi Glen would be in p.d. Scotland.
3: Gummerset (Near p.d. Somerset.) I don't know who named the city first, us or the Gummis.
4: South Gumton (Near p.d. South Hampton.) See Gummerset
5: Barbic Woods (In the Black Forest of p.d. Germany). I don't know of any instances of deforestation in 14th century Europe, but this was my best guess.
6: Berryborne (In p.d. Siberia): When viewed through the Gummi Scope's telescope, they can see land, however this is probably Scandinavia, which would definitely not be where the Gummis fled to because of the Vikings living there (see the history section for more details). The Gummis of Berryborne sailed across the Arctic Ocean, not the Atlantic like the other two.
7: Great Bearton (In p.d. Greenland): Most of the Gummis, however, crossed the Atlantic Ocean. This is fairly obvious, but if you're not convinced by blatant obviousness, consider the fact that Grammi uses the phrase "Atlantic Ocean!" (at least I think that's what she says over and over again...) in much the same way that humans use the phrase "Good Heavens!", showing that the Atlantic Ocean probably had some great significance to the Gummis that trickled down into the language for five hundered years. Check the timeline for an explanation of why I picked Greenland specifically.
8: New Gumbrea (In central America): This would be close to the Mayan Empire -- see the history section for a further explanation of this one.
Another note about the 3 New Cities: If the compass-thingie on the Gummi Scope is inverted (clockwise = counterclockwise), these locations match the directions on the Scope.
9:Gusto's Island (In the Bermuda Triangle). Where else would you find holes in the ocean?
A: Jean-Claude's Kingdom (Near p.d. Calais, France). The Kingdom is near the English Channel, not far from Dunwyn.
B: Xiang-Wu (Somewhere in p.d. China). I chose China over Japan because of the dragon, the kite, and the fireworks.
"p.d." abbreviates present day, if you're wondering
The following timeline shows Gummi history along side related events in Human history, from the end of the most recent ice age (about 10,000 B.C.) to present day. All dates (Gummi and Human) have significant margins of error to them.
| Europe | East Asia | Mesoamerica | North America | Elsewhere | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35,000 BC | Modern Gummi Bear, Ursavis volatilis, emerges in southern Europe. It was a primarily agricultural society, and thus did not at first spread across the globe as the Humans did. | Modern Human, Homo Sapiens first appears in Africa, and begins to spread throughout the Eastern hemisphere | |||
| 12,000 BC | Peak of Wisconsin glaciation. Sea levels are low, and a land bridge exists between Asia and North America. Glaciers begin to retreat. | ||||
| 4500 BC | Earliest Gummi cities appear througout Europe. They are small and unobtrusive. As the Gummis had been practicing agriculture for quite some time, they recognized the importance of preserving the ecosystem and took care not to disturb it by the construction of their cities. | ||||
| 3500 BC | By this time, Humans have settled the European continent. The Gummis stay generally hidden from the large human cities, but openly introduce themselves and work with the farming and pastoral communities. | Earliest human cities founded in the fertile lands of Mesopotamia. | |||
| 2500 BC | Human city-states grow on the Mediterranean coast.
City of South Gumpton established. | ||||
| 400 BC | Plato writes of Atlantis | ||||
| 100's AD | The increasing presence of Roman Empire causes a gradual shift northward of the center of Gummi culture. | ||||
| 200's AD | Old Mayan Empire forms | ||||
| 300's AD | City of Ursalia founded in present day Scotland. Its founding marks the beginning of the Gummi Renaissance, a new age of science and discovery. | ||||
| 400's AD | Decline of Hopewell culture | ||||
| 500's AD | |||||
| 600's AD | Tang Dynasty Begins | ||||
| 700's AD | Early Mississippi Mound culture | ||||
| 800's AD | 800: Vikings begin raids of England, at this time, a flourishing cooperative nation of Humans and Gummis. Gummi technology is fairly advanced at this point, and the raiding barbarian parties wanted to claim it for their own.
875: The Ancient Gummi Exodus. Gummis of Europe split into four groups. Three groups set out for new lands across the oceans; the fourth stays behind. | Decline of Old Mayan Empire | |||
| 900's AD | Capital of Gummi Europe moved from Ursalia to Gummi Glen, where the bulk of the Gummi population staying behind to watch lived. | Berryborne founded in Siberia. The land is poor, and the inhabitants soon migrate southward.
960: Gummis arrive in China and surrounding areas of East Asia, where they are well-recieved. Many secrets of Gummi invention are shared with the humans in this part of the world. The economically and intellectually prosperous Sung Dynasty follows. | New Gumbrea founded in central America. Mayan Civilization, recently fallen, takes remarkably well to the arrival of the Gummis and together they build the New Mayan Empire. | Great Bearton founded in Greenland or Labrador region. A peaceful relationship between the Gummis and Inuit peoples develops.
950:Gummi explorers from New Gumbria head northward, and mingle with the Mississippi Mound Culture. | |
| 1000's AD | Barbarian raids of Europe cease.
1066: William of Normandy conquers England | Vikings journey to Greenland and Labrador. Fearful of the people that once drove them out of the British Isles, the Gummis of Great Bearton migrate southward to New Gumbrea. | |||
| 1100's AD | |||||
| 1200's AD | The Mongol conquest of Asia occurs. History repeats itself as the Gummis of Berryborne are driven off by those who desire their technology, setting sail now across the Pacific Ocean to New Gumbrea.
1279: Sung Dynasty comes to an end shortly after the Gummi influence has left China. | ||||
| 1300's AD | Earliest influences of the Renaissance in Italy
1350: Bubonic Plague spreads across Europe. The toll it takes is great for Human and Gummi alike. 1375: Detached from the Ancient Gummis now for 500 years, the Gummis of Gummi Glen reopen the Great Book of Gummi, and find the link to their past. | ||||
| 1400's AD | Gummis of Europe reunite with Gummis of New Gumbrea (??) | 1492: Columbus and successive European explorers land in the Americas. Gummis flee once more from the still-greedy Humans, though their most recent home stays hidden from us. Mayan and Mississippi Mound cultures dissipate after the Gummis leave, having been very dependent on them. | |||
| 1900's AD | 1976: Most recent appearance of Gummadoon Castle. | 1985: Lost for centuries, the legend of the Gummi Bears resurfaces among Humans. | |||
Here is a map summarizing the major Gummi migrations:
If you've read along up to this point, you're probably asking "OK, so how come there aren't any Gummi Bears around today?"
Glad you asked... here are my theories.
First Possibility: The Gummi Bears are living underground. Twelve centuries ago, the Gummis built a vast network of Quick Tunnels. Not only would it be easy for them to build an entire underground city (especially after 700 years of technological advances), but they would have a good start already.
Second Possibility: The Gummi Bears left Earth completely and are out in space somewhere. Space flight in the 15th century would be not unbeleivable for a civilization that had flying machines in the 9th. Where in space? Can't help you there, sorry.
Archaeologists have discovered a species of bear, Ursavis elemensis, that was around about 20 million years ago, that was the size of a small terrier. This is the most likely candidate for the ancestor of the modern Gummi Bear, Ursavis volatilis, which probably evolved about one million years ago. I realize that there is a 19 million year gap, completely unaccounted for archaeologically, but perhaps a peculiar habit of Ursavis elemensis has shrouded the missing link from today's archaeologists.
The City of Atlantis is described as being formed of several concentric circles. Gummi Architecture is based primarily on circles -- take a look at the aerial shots of Ursalia, the main hall at Gummi Glen, and Gummadoon castle. Atlantis could have conceivably been an ancient Gummi City.
Who and what helped me figure this all out
The series, The Adventures of the Gummi Bears (of course)
The Bear Den
HyperHistory Online
Alberto Manguel and Gianni Guadalupi's Dictionary of Imaginary Places
Mr. Godfrey's 1996-7 7th Hour A.P. European History class and Prof. Berg's Fall '97 History 100 class (I knew school had some purpose...)
You have anything to add to this? Send it to me.