Collapsology (SOCIETAL COLLAPSE, LOL!) with Joseph Tainter
About this episode
Alie Ward interviews Dr. Joseph Tainter about the causes and implications of societal collapse, exploring historical examples and complex societies.
What is your Roman Empire? It’s about to be this episode. What causes the big dogs to stumble and fall? Do societies collapse suddenly, or would one notice as it happens? What *is* a complex society – and is it better than a simple one? Depends on who you ask, and we went straight to the source: the legendary anthropologist, scholar, historian and author of “The Collapse of Complex Societies,” Dr. Joseph Tainter. New obsession awaits you in the fall of the Roman Empire, cities lost to the desert dust, diminishing returns, fiddling amid the flames, the worst beard in history, fossil fuels, fertilizer, bread, circus, hanging chads, and if you should go live on a small goat farm. Happy 250th birthday to the currently United States of America!
People in this episode
Host: Alie Ward
Guest: Joseph Tainter
Topics covered
- societal collapse
- complex societies
- anthropology
- history
- cultural commentary
- sustainability
Keywords
- societal collapse
- Joseph Tainter
- complex societies
- Roman Empire
- anthropology
- history
- sustainability
- cultural commentary
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Collapse of Complex Societies
Places: United States of America, Roman Empire
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