The Rise and Fall of Civilizations

This is a very interesting article. Civilizations are indeed cyclical in nature. The Indian civilization was ascendent for a long while until say 1500 years ago. At that point, it started decaying and became obsessed with caste, became insular in nature and was steeped in ignorance. Thats why both muslims and british had a relatively easy time conquering India.

Muslims were ascendent at that time and were hungry to accumulate wealth, territory and knowledge. So they had an easy time winning India.

Now the tables have turned. India is ascendent once again with the same hunger to accumulate wealth, territory and knowledge. On the other hand, muslims are now decaying with the same obsession with rituals, no interest in knowledge and the obsession with insular behavior (e.g. taliban and their efforts to purfiy society). It will be interesting to see how things shape up in the future.

Leftist wet dream masquerading as an article.

Totally nonsense.

I am just suprised that this is actually on FP. Did we really not know that all civilizations come and go? IS this such a novel observation that it requires an entire essay. all this siht about the US going down the tubes...means didly squat in the face of facts. Even in 2050, US economy will still be the second largest in the world. While China and INdia ave trouble managing large populations with assymetric growth in productive segments (India too many young people, China with the large segment of the elderly (1 child policy)), the US will be humming along efficiently at a per capita GDP of around $120K/year to china`s $68K and INdia`s $48K. It will take another 50-100 years for these countries to establish, master and promote their brand of capitalism..i.e. commercialism of innovation. Having large pools of scientists is good, but it doesn`t mean value is created..owning patents is just one aspect of value creation, ability to commericalize is what matters, this is what US has. Strong banking system, strong regulatory and legal system.

this puppy ain`t going anywhere...when a country like the US has a 2 decade lead on technology innovation over EU, fiscal deficits fuel much of this. Check out how much the US spends on R&D and how much the EU does. It takes a category 5 hurricane to wreak havoc on second tier cities in the US. A heatwave kills 10,000 in france.

So get a grip and pipe down.

not a chance.....sir

sorry to inform you ....this uncivilization led by the fearsome uncivilized Mongoloid the Bush Khan of Crawfor Texas is NOT on the Decline -- will NEVER decline...

because .....armed with the WMDs -- that is the Weapons of Mass Democraczies -- it is on the road to conquer and Islamize ALL secular Muslim lands -- before it itself converts to Islam and turns into another world conquerer -- Timur the Lame excuse for a world leader.....

Major Kala Saab:

I wonder if you keep your old , I mean 1st Yr.cadet papers to be recycled just like what you have done here! I am sure you have done your duties in the army well and we are all proud of your patriotism and duty. Now that you are in the Civvy life, may I suggest you read atleast few good books before you attempt writing subjects like ,`` Rise and Fall of Civillizations`.

Sa!

If that rule be the case, what about the fallen ones, do they ever become big some day? Will Rwanda ever become a power to be recognized?

Isn`t there a spell checker before article are posted?

Vaisey, pretty good 7th grade essay, my friend.

Well it`s inevitable that all empires fall..some do get a second wind though...but the easiest way to figure out an empire in decline..besides the general ones of unbalanced deficit spending and accumalating debt..or trade imbalances is simple...when it believes in it`s divine right to rule..