I'd like to know more about the prior calamities as well. Also, I'm fascinated by all these ancient societies like Mhach and Amdapor, and Gelmorra. I'd love to know more about the societies that were in place during each calamity, like the aforementioned kings of the First Age. What does "basic sciences" even mean?

I don't have a copy of Encyclopedia Eorzea, and even if I did, it's more fun to actually explore this stuff in the game.