the rise and fall of nations - vor aktuellem hintergrund.
the rise and fall of nations - vor aktuellem hintergrund.

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How golden ages really startâand end

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đ Book Overview: Peak Human by Johan Norberg
Publisher: Atlantic Books Length: 400 pages Price: $32.99 / ÂŁ22 Author: Johan Norberg, Swedish historian Thesis: Golden ages of human history were driven by opennessâto trade, people, and ideasâand declined when societies turned inward. đď¸ Key Historical Case Studies
- Song Dynasty (960â1279 AD), China Progress:Decline:
Rule of law and meritocratic bureaucracy. Toleration of dissent: e.g., officials not executed for opposing the emperor. Peasant property rights and freedom of movement. Agricultural output surged, fueling urban growth (Kaifeng vastly larger than London at the time). Advanced commerce: paper money, canals, international trade. Technological innovation: movable type, industrial processes (e.g., coal for smelting).
Mongol invasion preserved tech but stalled further progress. Ming dynasty (from 1368) imposed harsh reactionary policies: Banned ocean-worthy ships and foreign trade. Reinstated ancient fashion and punished deviation (e.g., forced castration for wrong hairstyles). Economic regression followedâChinese incomes halved (1080â1400). China only rebounded with liberalization in the late 20th century.
- Athens Achievements:Limitations:
Democracy and liberal trade: tariffs only 2%. Welcomed foreignersâe.g., a Syrian ex-slave became a wealthy man. High economic freedom (per Fraser Instituteâs index)âhigher than any modern nation.
Exclusion of women and slaves from freedoms.
- Roman Empire Strengths:Decline:
Inclusive citizenship and cultural learning from conquered peoples. Unified legal system and extensive road network. Economic policies: Augustus introduced a flat poll tax and low marginal tax rates. Encouraged innovation and productivity.
Mismanagement: Coinage debasement led to hyperinflation. Price controls stifled commerce. Rise of dogma and suppression of intellectual freedom. Collapse followed due to plagues, invasions, and poor governance. Dark Ages marked by massive societal regression (e.g., decline in shipwrecks = less trade).
- Abbasid Caliphate Misconceptions:
Revered by extremists today (e.g., ISIS), but historically a beacon of tolerance and intellectual flourishing.
- Italian Renaissance Clarification:
Originated in rebellion against Christian orthodoxy and embraced pagan ideals. Not a purely âChristianâ cultural phenomenon.
- Britainâs Industrial Revolution Reality Check:
Contrary to romanticized misery (e.g., Dickens, Blake), diaries suggest most people were satisfiedâexcept poets and writers.
đ Modern Relevance & Lessons Contemporary Parallels
Globalization after 1990 marked the most dramatic improvement in living standardsâhalf of humanityâs 10,000-year progress occurred since then. Current global shift toward nationalism and closed borders threatens this âpeak humanâ moment.
Warning Signs
Rising trade wars and suppression of inquiry mirror the downfall patterns of historic golden ages. The book implies (though does not name) Donald Trump as a symbol of such regressive policies.
đĄ Central Argument
Societies thrive when they are openâto trade, immigration, dissent, and innovation. They decline when fear, rigidity, and insularity take over.
Norberg asserts:
Golden ages are man-made and reversible. Collapse stems from bad leadership, dogma, and refusal to learn. âFailure is not a fate but a choice.â
đ Style and Reception
Rich in historical narrative, analytical rigor, and counterintuitive insights. Challenges popular myths with empirical evidence. Timely and persuasive, especially given rising global protectionism and authoritarianism.
Previous golden ages all ended like Romeâs did, jinxed by a mix of bad luck and bad leadership. Many thriving societies isolated themselves or suffered a âSocrates momentâ, silencing their most rational voices. âPeak Humanâ does not mention Donald Trump; it was written before he was re-elected. Americaâs president will not read it, but others should. The current age of globalisation could still, perhaps, be saved. As Mr Norberg argues: âFailure is not a fate but a choice.â
ironical.