5 factors that lead to past societies collapse Sarah Renken and Jacob Smith

5 factors that lead to past societies collapse

Climate Change

-long term change, weather conditions, drought which led to famine.

Timing couldn’t have been worse for the group of colonists who came ashore on Roanoke Island in 1587, attempting to establish the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Along with the usual hardships of starting a new society on the edge of the wilderness, the colonists were confronted with the region’s worst drought in 700 years, which caused mass starvation and aggravated tense relations with Native Americans. By 1590, the ill-fated settlers had vanished with little trace. Roanoke’s collapse in the face of harsh climate puts it in distinguished company.

Collapse of essential trading partners

Loss of trading partners can lead to collapse when a societies livelihood depends on trade.Trade was one of the most important aspects in the Roman Empire.  Trade routes were across the Mediterranean and Black Seas, roads were also built leading to and from Rome.  The Roman navy patrolled the Seas protecting from Pirates.  When the Roman empire collapsed, roads were left unkept, and the seas were unpatrolled leading to an increase in Pirating, causing trade to stop with the what was left of the roman empire.  

Hostile Neighbors

Hostile Neighbors contribute to the fall of past societies.  Societies are less likely to hold off hostile neighbors when they are weakened by another reason.  For example, when Ancient Rome was weakened by several factors (environmental reasons etc.) and was inevitably taken over by the Barbarians because of their vulnerability.  Previously, they were able to protect themselves because they were strong.

Environmental Problems

Includes: erosion, soil problems, deforestation, habitat destruction, water management, overhunting, overfishing, effects of introduced species on native species population growth.

Farming: supplying enough food to keep a society viable.  

Not innovating technology, causing a heavy reliance on trade

Failure to Adapt to Environmental Issues

If societies fail to adapt to the way their environment is responding to them, they will ultimately collapse because their environment cannot support unsustainable behavior forever.

Example: Mayan collapse was due to population increase, exhaustion of soils and forests, and drought.  Although, Mayan civilisation disintegrated largely because its leaders, while capable of empire building, failed to recognise and respond to societal challenges that included a damaged environment, shrinking natural resource base and changing climate.