Was there really no time or space before the big bang?

The Big Bang theory doesn't state that just because there was no matter or no energy, then there'd be no space. Einstein's field equations (that's what describes the curvature of space and the mass-energy of it) have a 'vacuum solution' , a universe where there is no matter, no energy and no curvature. But this universe does have time. So it can exist, just like you said. (A note, though. The ball on a cloth model is an analogy. It's not the actual state of the universe, but it works well enough.)

However, the Big Bang theory kinda came about in reverse: some guy named Hubble discovered that galaxies were speeding away from us, and all according to a set of rules, and then some other guy, Lemaitre, discovered that if you took the galaxies expanding, and rewinded it all the way back, like (as an analogy) a VCR or a videoclip, you would eventually get to a point where everything was squeezed in this tiny, immeasurably small point of energy. Further evidence of this, like the CMBR and redshift, is the basis of today's Big Bang theory.

Essentially, your question asks: what happens if we rewind back to that small point, and keep on rewinding?

Maybe there is some 'tape' left to rewind to. However, modern physics believes there is probably no tape left to rewind to*, and so that 'footage' before the big bang simply doesn't exist. With no footage to talk about, times before the big bang are essentially meaningless. You can't talk about the -0:27 seconds of the videotape, because it isn't there. So in that sense there was no space and no time before the big bang, just as there's no videotape beyond a certain limit.

*Whether or not there is a cause for the big bang, and what that cause is, is one of the biggest unsolved problems in cosmology.

It is a bit hard to get your head around, I will admit. However, it makes a lot more sense than the alternative.

If time and space did exist before the big bang, how did matter and energy just come out of nowhere at some arbitrary point in the past? That would also violate conservation of energy and mass, because you'd suddenly have more energy in the universe for no reason (this doesn't apply to the creation of space-time itself, only what happens inside the universe once it forms).

Remember the "ball on a cloth" model is just an analogy used to explain things, not the real story- there isn't actually a cosmic cloth or ball anywhere out there.

You can't imagine it, my friend, nor can anyone else and that is why we call the Big Bang for a singularity. Just like a black hole, the big bang was a place where the laws of physic, as we know them, don't apply.

We cannot understand it and you prove it when you write "... no time ... before.." Of course if there is no time, there is no before! ;-)

Before the discovery of the red-shift of distant galaxies, thus the universe's expansion and the logic start of the big bang (a name coined by a journalist, actually!) nearly everyone agreed that the universe was either created by a divine creature, or that it was static, never ending or beginning. The philosopher Nietzsche wrote about the Eternal Return, an idea already existing from the Perse and Egyptians, that the universe is cyclic and what can happen will, again and again.

First your need to ask yourself, what is time? and what is space?

Matter occupies space, so if there was matter then there was space, matter could not have just been created with the big bang. We all know the Law of conservation of matter.

Time is a measure of duration. Some say time is linear and flows on forever, this meaning that time existed before the big bang. Perhaps time is circular and perhaps in a billion years we might be in for another BIG BANG, and then everything starts from the beginning again.

There was nothing. So - no 'space' - you can only have space if there is something to measure, and 'time' is what we humans invented to use for our needs.

Think of total nothingness, no light, no stars - nothing. It is like before you were born - nothing. We really can't imagine it. Think of what we call 'our universe' as an event. It DID have a beginning and will have and end. It is all inclusive within this event, it is just energy and will eventually end.

More precisely, our systems of measuring mass, time, length and direction don't apply at or before the Big Bang. We can't measure or even calculate what mass, time length and direction were at or before the big bang, so the theory stops at that point, some planck time units after the event

no one know as of yet; but it is being explored that we did infarct exist before the big bang; and the human race looked like chemicals way back then; and just simply change design slowly over billions of years. as things need updating.maybe a rare example where speed of light travel was used by us to mover a long distance as if it was only a mile away.so we would not have noticed the difference and our new home was just the same as our old home. indeed even the moon was commissioned for manufacturer by us. we never see it built because even before the big bang we had a equivalent of a moon. it just simply updates. evolution is by physical attractiveness not specie as humans and animals see things the same ie we both"judge people by physical attractiveness looks". and evolution isn't to update animals so much in changing there appearance; it is mainly because no one is alive that ever witnessed this process called "evolution" because it does not exist. because it took to long to doo; obviously the VHS was the DVD and if you argue it is not then you are a young fool. everything changes but is the same product. Evolution is mainly to preserve physically attractive looks laws. where as you only relate to people that you are physically attracted too. obviously we relate more to a animal because they come from the same category of physical attractive looks as we do. We do not relate to people that our not as attractive as us; they are our competitors; and to comprise against your own; using your competitors against any body that is of the same physically attractive looks a you them against your own is called "High Treason" We cannot breed with animal because the dietary is different and we would be poisoned because we eat different food than oner another.Indeed animals and humans are connected though physical attractiveness types. Evolution is about preserving physical attractive values we have. and without them our competitors will rule over us (People that are less attractive than ourselves) Common seance prevales.

A good understanding of the big bang does not come over nigh. It takes extensive knowledge and training just to get you mind right to where big numbers can carry through to the next...example If I was to say the 1Ly in my mind I think of it as miles so i instantly interpret a light year when I hear it as 6 trillion miles(roughly)

Think of it like this ..think of a number....was it under 6 trillion... then your minds not right, and you still need training to get your mind right.

There never was a Big Bangat all. This documentary may enlighten you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yTfRy0LTD0&playnex...

what's north of the north pole? there's nothing there, right? actually, there's no "there" there, the question doesn't make sense.

well, it might be like that. but then again, maybe not.