Check the satellite view of world history and you see the same amazing pattern. A time-lapse photograph of the world, extending the period of written history, would show the deja vu element.
As the recent events in the world are played out, this coming together is predictable. But that is another subject and blog. The one I want to write on here, is the repetitive history of the empire.
Generally speaking, there have been nine dominant empires in history. From the Egyptians (5000 years ago) to the USA in the present. Definition of dominant is ‘the most powerful in the world, controlling significant tracts of land and instilling their culture’.
It always follows the same routine path.
A) commencement from nowhere; no hopers; nothing to signify future success (non-entities who struggle to survive).
B) they get a foothold and some form of unity - this builds an essential confidence.
C) opposition phase - existence is threatened. There is always a physical threat, but also can be extended to economic and unity threats.
D) having survived, their is a predictable chronological sequence.
- the belief phase (a big high)
- a grand vision is now part of the future
- feeling of mission and element of fervour
- physical strength and belief of invincibility
- conquest and expansion
- economic bigness
- scientific development and innovation
- arts, culture and intellectual content
E) Decay Phase
- belief of superiority over all others
- arrogance
- self indulgence and waste
- decay, value system declines, leading to social degradation
F) Decline Phase
- disunity of purpose and population starts infighting
- society starts disintegrating
- economic reversal leading to disasters
- currency and trade collapse
G) Destruction Phase
- a challenger appears ...simultaneous to the decline phase. Sometimes it is visible. Others come from the left field unexpectedly. Five years before Yarmuk, Rome did not suspect it will lose its grip to the Muslim Arabs. The Caliph in Baghdad never thought of the fast emerging Mongols as a danger.
- decay is complete by the time actual disintegration and destruction takes place.
This is happening right now and very visibly. Average age of empire in history 250 years. Average age of currency domination 100 years. Do the maths, it does not take much grey matter to figure out the present events.
