Ivan the terrible was capable but did go a bit insane later, even killed his son in a rage.
RCW
August 11, 2016 9:16 pm
FWIW and if one is interested about the track we’re on and our almost certain destination, 40 years ago, Sir John Grubb, penned an eerie essay titled “The Fate of Empires” and heads up, it does NOT have a happy Hollywood ending. 🙁
RCW
Thanks for the link. That was well worth the time it took to read. . I would recommend it to everyone.
We are at the very end of the life cycle of ‘this Empire’
Here is an interesting quote from that essay:
“An increase in the influence of the women in public life has often been associated with national decline. The later Romans complained that, although Rome ruled the world, women ruled Rome.”
“The works of the contemporary historians
of Baghdad in the early tenth century are still
available. They deeply deplored the
degeneracy of the times in which they lived,
emphasising particularly the indifference to
religion, the increasing materialism and the
laxity of sexual morals. They lamented also
the corruption of the officials of the
government and the fact that politicians
always seemed to amass large fortunes while
they were in office.
The historians commented bitterly on the
extraordinary influence acquired by popular
singers over young people, resulting in a
decline in sexual morality. The ‘pop’ singers
of Baghdad accompanied their erotic songs
on the lute, an instrument resembling the
modern guitar. In the second half of the
tenth century, as a result, much obscene
sexual language came increasingly into use,
such as would not have been tolerated in an
earlier age. Several khalifs issued orders
banning ‘pop’ singers from the capital, but
within a few years they always returned.
An increase in the influence of women in
public life has often been associated with national
decline. The later Romans complained
that, although Rome ruled the world, women
ruled Rome. In the tenth century, a similar
tendency was observable in the Arab Empire,
the women demanding admission to the
professions hitherto monopolised by men.
‘What,’ wrote the contemporary historian,
Ibn Bessam, ‘have the professions of clerk,
tax-collector or preacher to do with women?
These occupations have always been limited
to men alone.’ Many women practised law,
while others obtained posts as university
professors. There was an agitation for the
appointment of female judges, which,
however, does not appear to have succeeded.
Soon after this period, government and
public order collapsed, and foreign invaders
overran the country. The resulting increase
in confusion and violence made it unsafe for
women to move unescorted in the streets,
with the result that this feminist movement
collapsed.
The disorders following the military takeover
in 861, and the loss of the empire, had
played havoc with the economy. At such a
moment, it might have been expected that
everyone would redouble their efforts to save
the country from bankruptcy, but nothing of
the kind occurred. Instead, at this moment of
declining trade and financial stringency, the
people of Baghdad introduced a five-day
week.
When I first read these contemporary
descriptions of tenth-century Baghdad, I
could scarcely believe my eyes. I told myself
that this must be a joke! The descriptions
might have been taken out of The Times
today. The resemblance of all the details was
especially breathtaking—the break-up of the
empire, the abandonment of sexual morality,
the ‘pop’ singers with their guitars, the entry
of women into the professions, the five-day
week. I would not venture to attempt an
explanation! There are so many mysteries
about human life which are far beyond our
comprehension.”
“Money being in better supply than courage,
subsidies instead of weapons are employed
to buy off enemies. To justify this departure
from ancient tradition, the human mind
easily devises its own justification. Military
readiness, or aggressiveness, is denounced as
primitive and immoral. Civilised peoples are
too proud to fight. The conquest of one
nation by another is declared to be immoral.
Empires are wicked. This intellectual device
enables us to suppress our feeling of
inferiority, when we read of the heroism of
our ancestors, and then ruefully contemplate
our position today. ‘It is not that we are
afraid to fight,’ we say, ‘but we should
consider it immoral.’ This even enables us to
assume an attitude of moral superiority.
The weakness of pacifism is that there are
still many peoples in the world who are
aggressive. Nations who proclaim themselves
unwilling to fight are liable to be conquered
by peoples in the stage of militarism—
perhaps even to see themselves incorporated
into some new empire, with the status of
mere provinces or colonies. “
Brian
I suggest you go to the link posted by RCW, you will get your answer—- but I’ll give you the super condensed version. The average life span of an Empire is 250 years. The U.S. was founded in 1776, I’m sure you can do the math.
Yes, but you said average. That means some last longer and some last less time. Did you mean it to be a mean, median or mode average? How do you account for the 1000 year survival of the Byzantine Empire?
Ivan the terrible was capable but did go a bit insane later, even killed his son in a rage.
FWIW and if one is interested about the track we’re on and our almost certain destination, 40 years ago, Sir John Grubb, penned an eerie essay titled “The Fate of Empires” and heads up, it does NOT have a happy Hollywood ending. 🙁
http://www.friendsofsabbath.org/Further_Research/e-books/TheFateofEmpiresbySirJohnGlubb.pdf
Cheers.
RCW
Thanks for the link. That was well worth the time it took to read. . I would recommend it to everyone.
We are at the very end of the life cycle of ‘this Empire’
Here is an interesting quote from that essay:
“An increase in the influence of the women in public life has often been associated with national decline. The later Romans complained that, although Rome ruled the world, women ruled Rome.”
That passage is worth quoting in context:
“The works of the contemporary historians
of Baghdad in the early tenth century are still
available. They deeply deplored the
degeneracy of the times in which they lived,
emphasising particularly the indifference to
religion, the increasing materialism and the
laxity of sexual morals. They lamented also
the corruption of the officials of the
government and the fact that politicians
always seemed to amass large fortunes while
they were in office.
The historians commented bitterly on the
extraordinary influence acquired by popular
singers over young people, resulting in a
decline in sexual morality. The ‘pop’ singers
of Baghdad accompanied their erotic songs
on the lute, an instrument resembling the
modern guitar. In the second half of the
tenth century, as a result, much obscene
sexual language came increasingly into use,
such as would not have been tolerated in an
earlier age. Several khalifs issued orders
banning ‘pop’ singers from the capital, but
within a few years they always returned.
An increase in the influence of women in
public life has often been associated with national
decline. The later Romans complained
that, although Rome ruled the world, women
ruled Rome. In the tenth century, a similar
tendency was observable in the Arab Empire,
the women demanding admission to the
professions hitherto monopolised by men.
‘What,’ wrote the contemporary historian,
Ibn Bessam, ‘have the professions of clerk,
tax-collector or preacher to do with women?
These occupations have always been limited
to men alone.’ Many women practised law,
while others obtained posts as university
professors. There was an agitation for the
appointment of female judges, which,
however, does not appear to have succeeded.
Soon after this period, government and
public order collapsed, and foreign invaders
overran the country. The resulting increase
in confusion and violence made it unsafe for
women to move unescorted in the streets,
with the result that this feminist movement
collapsed.
The disorders following the military takeover
in 861, and the loss of the empire, had
played havoc with the economy. At such a
moment, it might have been expected that
everyone would redouble their efforts to save
the country from bankruptcy, but nothing of
the kind occurred. Instead, at this moment of
declining trade and financial stringency, the
people of Baghdad introduced a five-day
week.
When I first read these contemporary
descriptions of tenth-century Baghdad, I
could scarcely believe my eyes. I told myself
that this must be a joke! The descriptions
might have been taken out of The Times
today. The resemblance of all the details was
especially breathtaking—the break-up of the
empire, the abandonment of sexual morality,
the ‘pop’ singers with their guitars, the entry
of women into the professions, the five-day
week. I would not venture to attempt an
explanation! There are so many mysteries
about human life which are far beyond our
comprehension.”
Another excellent quote:
“Money being in better supply than courage,
subsidies instead of weapons are employed
to buy off enemies. To justify this departure
from ancient tradition, the human mind
easily devises its own justification. Military
readiness, or aggressiveness, is denounced as
primitive and immoral. Civilised peoples are
too proud to fight. The conquest of one
nation by another is declared to be immoral.
Empires are wicked. This intellectual device
enables us to suppress our feeling of
inferiority, when we read of the heroism of
our ancestors, and then ruefully contemplate
our position today. ‘It is not that we are
afraid to fight,’ we say, ‘but we should
consider it immoral.’ This even enables us to
assume an attitude of moral superiority.
The weakness of pacifism is that there are
still many peoples in the world who are
aggressive. Nations who proclaim themselves
unwilling to fight are liable to be conquered
by peoples in the stage of militarism—
perhaps even to see themselves incorporated
into some new empire, with the status of
mere provinces or colonies. “
Where’s the USA’s empire?
[img
[/img]
Brian
I suggest you go to the link posted by RCW, you will get your answer—- but I’ll give you the super condensed version. The average life span of an Empire is 250 years. The U.S. was founded in 1776, I’m sure you can do the math.
But we didn’t start becoming anything resembling an Empire till after WWII.
That should mean we have quite a while left.
Yes, but you said average. That means some last longer and some last less time. Did you mean it to be a mean, median or mode average? How do you account for the 1000 year survival of the Byzantine Empire?
That’s what I was wondering also.
Stucky up this time of night? I don’t believe it.
Good map Stucky, not sure I understand it but it reminds me of the stars and bars.