> Is this intended to communicate positivity or negativity?

It just says it was important to predict the tides. There is no positivity or negativity to it. Your question doesn’t make sense, hence the downvotes.

> Predicting tides was known to the ancients

Good. To which ancients? With what accuracy and how far into the future? What techniques did they use? Tell us more.

> it would be lovely to explore the hubris of the modern narrative.

Explore it then! Would love to read it. It is not like there is some conspiracy holding you back.

>> Predicting tides was known to the ancients

> Good. To which ancients?

To the ancients of 1944 for sure.