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The cover of The Collapse of Complex Societies (New Studies in Archaeology)

The Collapse of Complex Societies (New Studies in Archaeology)

Joseph A. Tainter

Why do complex societies collapse? Joseph Tainter tests declining returns to social complexity against Rome, the Maya, and Chaco, then considers what the pattern might mean for industrial societies.

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6 parts, about 25 minutes to read.

At a glance

Author
Joseph A. Tainter
Parts
6 parts
Reading time
about 25 minutes
The whole book
Also to read in full

What the summary covers

  1. Introduction to Collapse2 min
  2. The Nature of Complex Societies3 min
  3. The Study of Collapse4 min
  4. Understanding Collapse: The Marginal Productivity of Sociopolitical Change5 min
  5. Evaluation: Complexity and Marginal Returns in Collapsing Societies7 min
  6. Summary and Implications4 min

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