Dark Ages Dr. Green

Basic Assumptions Immanent causality Limit Form or pattern Uniformitarian –Same social processes at work now were at work in the past Mutual causality –One change may cause others, which may eventually feed back to reinforce the original change

Social Organization TypeFormBasis SocialCooperativeJoy-sorrow EconomicContractual Wealth Fear- confidence PoliticalCoercive Peace-Order Anger- contentment CulturalIdeational Expression- Legitimation Agreement- disgust

Social Unity Cohesion—The number and strength of social relationships Organization—The number and strength of economic relationships Integration—The number and strength of political relationships Legitimation—The number and strength of cultural relationships

Societies An ascendant society is one with high levels of integration, organization and cohesion (accepting that they cannot all be equally strong). –It will be ordered and peaceful (integration). –It will be innovative and wealthy (organization). –Its citizens will be loyal –Its institutions will be widely recognized as legitimate.

Societies –A declining society is one where integration, organization, cohesion, and legitimation are disappearing or have disappeared.

Degrees of Disintegration Cycles of different degree are ending –Recessions—within one of the phases of a longer-term trend –Depressions—between the different phases of a longer-term trend –End of an Era—end of one complete cycle –Dark Ages—when all the phases have been played out

Dark Ages There is an absolute reduction of integration, organization and cohesion, not merely a decline relative to surrounding societies. The retrenchment is large enough to last several decades. Integration, organization and cohesion are all affected simultaneously.

Causes of Decline Social Economic Political Cultural Environmental

Jared Diamond Causes of collapse –Environmental damage –Climate change –Hostile neighbors –Interdependence –Social response

Environmental Damage Deforestation Soil exhaustion Water scarcity Over-exploiting resources Environmental impact Introduction of new species Over-population Environmental toxicity through pollution Induced climate change Energy shortage

Future Problems Natural resource problems –Habitat exhaustion –Food –Ecological diversity –Soil exhaustion Pollution –Chemical –Alien species –gases

Future Problems Ceilings –Energy –Water –Photosynthetic capacity Population –Size –Impact