rdf-syntax-grammar
mods:
  schema location: http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
  title info:
    title: Why did ancient civilizations fail?
  name:
    name part: Johnson, Scott A. J.
    name part: 1983-
    role:
      role term: creator
    role:
      role term: author.
  type of resource: text
  genre: bibliography
  origin info:
    place:
      place term: nyu
    date issued: 2017
    issuance: monographic
  language:
    language term: eng
  physical description:
    form: print
    extent: xiii, 293 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm.
  abstract: Ideas abound as to why certain complex societies collapsed in the past, including environmental change, subsistence failure, fluctuating social structure and lack of adaptability. Why Did Ancient Civilizations Fail? evaluates the current theories in this important topic and discusses why they offer only partial explanations of the failure of past civilizations. This engaging volume offers a new theory of collapse, that of social hubris. Through an examination of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Roman, Maya, Inca and Aztec societies, Johnson persuasively argues that hubris has blinded many ancient peoples to evidence that would allow them to adapt, and that this has implications for contemporary societies. Comprehensive and well-written, this volume serves as an ideal text for undergraduate courses on ancient complex societies, as well as appealing to the scholar interested in societal collapse.
  table of contents: 1. Introduction: Social Hubris -- 2. Why Agriculture? -- 3. The Environment -- 4. Case Study: The Maya -- 5. Agricultural Systems -- 6. Case Study: Mesopotamia -- 7. Trade Systems -- 8. Case Study: Rome -- 9. Social Organization -- 10. Case Study: Egypt -- 11. Unexpected Catastrophes -- 12. Case Study: Aztec and Inca -- 13. Where This Leaves Us.
  note: Scott A.J. Johnson.
  note: Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-289) and index.
  subject:
    topic: Civilization, Ancient
  subject:
    topic: Civilization, Ancient
    topic: Philosophy
  subject:
    topic: Regression (Civilization)
  classification: CB311 .J59 2017
  classification: 930.1
  identifier: 9781629582825
  identifier: 1629582824
  identifier: 9781629582832
  identifier: 1629582832
  identifier: 9781315512891
  identifier: 2016013420
  record info:
    record content source: DLC
    record creation date: 160506
    record change date: 20170410092409.0
    record identifier: in00003851166