Collapse is not a sudden fall, but a transformation

We're often obsessed with ancient civilizations and their collapse. We see the ruins of ancient palaces, temples and the like, and fantasize about what might have led these beautiful places to their demise. Because while the majority of known civilizations have had their heyday, they all eventually fell and disappeared.

However, we often have a brutal and very moral view of the end of peoples, when the reality is far more complex. For example, in the 18th century, the historian Gibbons theorized that the Roman Empire collapsed due to sudden apathy and decadence, with a fair amount of corruption. However, what he denounced already existed in the first centuries of the flourishing civilization.

The reality is that changes have taken place, and circles on the periphery have begun to offer more money to "barbarian" lords, etc. The same goes for the Maya, who, yes, experienced conflicts, but also other environmental issues and European colonization that played a part in the end of their reign in Central America.

Perhaps, rather than focusing on the potential downfall of our societies, it would be wiser to assume that things have changed and that we can no longer do as we did in the 18th, 19th or 20th century. Empires have often disappeared through their inability to adapt to the world around them, or by alienating their neighbors.

If we were to opt for the opposite, we would once again see human resilience. For, despite the "collapses", people have persevered. For example, there are still 7 million Mayans in Mexico and neighbouring countries. They no longer have the glory of yesteryear, but they continue to walk their land. A lesson to be learned.

Running time: 29:45

Image: Walkerssk from Pixabay