I am having trouble reconciling the grandness of the golden age with the sight of all those rusted out cars near the cosmodrome that look to have had rubber tires and combustion engines. Presumably they had something at least as good as sparrows or pikes before the fall. Guardians, I don't think we are being told the whole truth here.
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I think there are a couple reasons for that. Firstly, the golden age started slightly further ahead of where we are now. Secondly, the major advancements were made offworld. Once we had the ability to travel and colonise the other planets earth was left behind. Well clearly certain parts of earth were. Thats why it's referred to as "Old Russia". My two cents.