What naturally happens during the development of an individual in infancy, absolute ego-centrism, is mirrored at the collective level during the infancy of a civilization. But just like children grow up and become disabused of their former ego-centrism, civilizations also have to grow up and give up childish fantasies about holding some special place in the grand scheme of things. The upshot is that instead of being surrounded by the universe, we actually get to be a part of it :)
And if you feel some Carl Sagan nostalgia on this chilly and rainy morning, knock yourself out with these entries.