Great Powers' "Falls" throughout History
(Originally written 2/13/02)

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and what it means today ...

In the past, all great powers have ascended to "great power" status, had their "run at the top", and usually "fell" fairly quickly. However, in all cases the signs were there that exhibited that the "fall" was imminent. In other words, "the writing was on the wall" if one would read the "signs". You have to remember that the "Great Power" phenomenon runs in a cyclical pattern throughout time.

The great empire of Nebuchadnezzar, with its magnificent capital city of Babylon, was the most powerful kingdom known to man - up to that time. They had defeated the previously most powerful Assyrian empire and controlled land from modern-day Afghanistan to Turkey to Egypt. However, in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar's son innovation and creativity "waned", efficiency became non-existant, and corruption was rampant. They got complancent after about 70 years or so of "being the top dog". They were then overrun by the Medes & Persians of Darius.

The Persians were replaced by Alexander the Great's Greecian empire - which was much bigger than the Babylonian one. However, he died young and the empire was divided among his top 4 generals. Fortunetly for the Greeks, the empire didn't last too long but evolved into a cultural power as a Confederation of city-states. Their influence lasted for hundreds of years. However, disagreements, the inability to unite & get-along between the various Greek cities, plus "pure non-industrialness" led to their downfall.

The Roman empire dominated the world for almost 400 years. The Romans were adept at taking ideas & practices from others and modifying or improving them. It went from being a Senate-run Republic to the ever-increasing self-serving, idolistic, corrupt Caesars "running the show". The personal bodyguard of the Emperor (The Praetorian Guard) along high-officials, Senators, and military Generals conspired with and against each other. History shows that they placed and replaced Caesars on the throne "at a whim". By the time the city of Rome was invaded 4 times, the glory, the empire. and advancement in any area of society was long gone. It was followed by the Holy Roman Empire in the West and the Byzantine empire in the East.

Austria-Hungary, France, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, Spain, Sweden, The Mongols, The Moors, The Netherlands, & the Turkish Ottomans all had empires since Roman times. They did not last because they were either a one-person leadership, a loose-confederation of very different peoples led by a strong leader, or just relied on military might alone. In a one-person leadership situation, when that person dies the "whole thing crumbles" (see Greece & Alexander the Great) because corruption and greediness for power was always there lying "under the surface". As for military might - No matter how tough you are, eventually there will always be someone with more "might" or tougher than you. It is not wise just rely on "military might", you better have a few others "going for you".

In all the cases throughout history, it shows that you fall from within, before you fall from without. Like a piece of fruit, it "rots on the inside", before anything abnormal is noticed on the outside. Corruption, indecision, complacency, divisions, and self-interest at the expense of the "public good" contributes to the "rotting within" and eventually the "great power fall". Pride, arrogance, and "cockiness" blind the ability to "see the real situation of where one is at".

Two examples of "great power" falls, just in the 20th century, were the British empire and the Soviet Union. This has happed to every "great power" throughout history. It doesn't matter how strong a nation's military might is. There are many factors involved. Attempting to "correct" and influence everyone else to your standard, diverts your attention from taking care of problems "at home". Until those problems become too big to overcome. Is the current "Great Power" showing "the signs" of making a "Great Fall" ? When ? Who will take its place ?