Abstract: |
Defines the concept, notes some historical examples, discusses the nature of complex societies, considers the study of collapse in terms like resource depletion, catastrophe, intruders, social dysfunction, economics; looks at the marginal productivity of sociopolitical change; and offers an evaluation of various societies that did collapse. For instance, the Western Roman Empire's collapse is attributed to a declining number of profitable conquests, the difficulties of long-range governing from Rome, and the perpetual costs of administering provinces long after the initial gains had been spent. |