http://people.uncw.edu/kozloffm/glubb.pdf
The Fate Of Empires By Sir John Glubb.
The Age of Pioneers
This period is marked by the protagonist generation preparing the foundations of the new empire. This pioneering generation are considered as hardworking, daring innovative and ambitious. This generation were also the underdogs who were never considered by the then pre-existing world power as relevant in the scheme of affairs. The pioneering American immigrants were looked down upon by the British, the Arabs were relegated as backward by the Persians and Romans until the advent of a unifying religion in the form of Islam.
The Age of Conquest
According to Glubb, Conquest may or may not be Military in definition alone. The Islamic Caliphate grew by Military conquest so also was the case of the Mongols. The Roman conquest was a combination of both Military and high level diplomacy borrowed from the Greek model. The British Empire relied on commerce alongside Military expeditions while that of the United States was a conquest of a whole continent by a few brave and hardy immigrants.
The Age of Commerce
Closely following the Age of Conquest is that of Commerce. The advantages of a large extensive land mass territory opens up any new Nation to natural resources locate there within and also allows for a large economic bloc. The splinter societies and realms that existed prior to the expansion of the Roman Empire were open to a larger market with little or no trade barriers. The Roman empire stretching from Syria to Britain was much an economic bloc.
The Age of Intellect
With a booming economy , competition is natural to follow and as such technological innovations and development begin to take shape.
This is age also sees more technology transfer to the Military thereby consolidating power for the central administrative body of the Empire.
The Age of Affluence
This age marks the period of an improved standard of living for citizens within the realm of the Empire. Unfortunately, this leads to a widening gap between the rich and the poor. An elitist society then emerges within the Empire which so happens to control vast resources of the empire.
The Age of Decadence
The last and final stage of all Empires is marked by a lowering of moral virtues and principles usually championed by the super affluent group and the middle-class. Their show of wealth and conspicuous consumption lifestyles will natural lead to an uprising by the poorer sections of society to revolt.
It is pertinent to state that most Empires are destroyed from within. A sort of implosion occurs usually instigated by the less privileged members of that society.
The last stage of the empire are usually marked by the following social upheavals:
Society moral standards are greatly lowered
A large and undisciplined Army
Glorification of celebrities
Economic meltdown brought about by a devaluation of the currency.
The hallmarks of the above were seen in the declining phase of the Roman Empire. The Military was large undisciplined and fragmented, the Roman elites were more interested in attending sex 0rgies and gladiator games where gladiator fighters were paid vast sums of money. The last days of roman also saw economic meltdown since the ruling elites spent so much of the Empires resources maintaining a huge standing army coupled with investments in public infrastructure such as temples, coliseums, etc. The Roman denarii was originally based on Silver but with years of inflation, the coins were reduced to mere silver coated copper coins which had the silver wear out within days of minting.
John Glubb was able to draw striking similarities of past World Powers such as the average lifespan (approximately 250 years or Ten generations; given that every generation last for 25 years).
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Linear Mode
