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starroute

(12,977 posts)

8. This...

Reply to PDJane (Reply #2)

Sat Jun 29, 2013, 06:38 PM

Jun 2013

Last edited Sun Jun 30, 2013, 12:52 PM - Edit history (1)

Sounds like you've been reading David Graeber. The general patterns is that as elites acquire wealth and power, they lose interest in supporting the larger society or even doing the hard work of governing.

I suspect we have Gibbon to blame for much of the "decadence" theme. He was writing for the elites of his day, and he reflected their incompetence and salaciousness quite accurately.

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Perverse, decadent homosexuality brought down the Western Roman Empire... [View all] Bicoastal Jun 2013 OP

So... Cirque du So-What Jun 2013 #1

Actually it's possible Scootaloo Jun 2013 #5

Oh, I agree Cirque du So-What Jun 2013 #6

What really brought down the roman empire was finance........ PDJane Jun 2013 #2

This... starroute Jun 2013 #8

I've read both Gibbon and David Graeber. PDJane Jun 2013 #10

I thought it was lead plumbing...? closeupready Jun 2013 #3

I always bring this up. SQUEE Jun 2013 #11

Another point: "perverse" means "unnatural" thus, for those whose nature closeupready Jun 2013 #4

I thought it was the lead linings in the aquaducts that brought down the roman empire. hollysmom Jun 2013 #7

Famously, Gibbon blamed Christianity eallen Jun 2013 #9