Empires

Empires have always fascinated me.  Not the barbarism, the
subjugation of other nations, the slavery, or the unfair
taxation.  All of those negative features constitute a legacy
best forgotten.  What has fascinated me is the rise and fall of
empires.  Why would an empire dominates most of the known world,
and then, beginning at a point in time, starts to disintegrate
until it eventually becomes but a part of history?  One obvious
reason is that a stronger nation challenges it and eventually
usurps its power and its dominion.  As well, there may be other
reasons.  However, I am thinking here in epigenetic terms.

We have been informed that the environment will modify the
epigenome, and the changes will be passed on to future
generations; the effect, however, will persist for a few
generations and then disappears.  In the case of empires, I am
thinking of variations in the brain, i.e. at the mind level.

A typical scenario for an empire is the emergence of a
strong man (he could be a general, a tribal chief, a king, etc.).
This individual will have to impose respect, often be ruthless,
be versatile, be very intelligent, and above all, be able to
motivate and rally the people around him.  Of course, he has to
be surrounded by capable people both at the higher and lower
levels.  For ultimately, a general is only as good as the men he
is leading.  If the planets align properly for this individual,
he will be the founder of an empire.

As surely as an empire rises, it is sure to fall decades or
centuries down the road.  How do we explain that?

At the epigenetic level, the motivation, the sense of
destiny, the feeling of superiority (over other nations) will
alter the collective epigenome of a nation.  There is an actual
biological process, and this transformation will be passed on to
the next generations.  This epigenetic gift, however, does not
give forever.  After a few generations, it is gone.  If you’ve
studied history, you’ve learned that the first few emperors were
strong men; thereafter, the line begins to weaken.  This is also
true for the people of that nation.  History is not made out of a
succession of emperors and kings, they are but a part of the
equation, for no man can do it alone.  Is this gradual breakdown
of emperors and people inevitable?  No, an empire life can be
extended if it can epigenetically renew itself.

The Roman empire started as a democratic republic.  In time,
it became obvious that this system of government could no longer
cope with crises.  That should have been the end of it.  However,
it accepted the autocracy of a strong man.  It renewed itself.
It gave the collective epigenome a new lease on life.  Despite
some deranged emperors, this system worked for centuries.
Inevitably, the end was in sight.  However, it renewed itself
once more!

In the East, the Byzantine empire emerged, really a renewed
Roman empire.  We will never know if Constantine was sincere when
he embraced Christianity.  Nevertheless, the new religion proved
a powerful motivator.  Again, the epigenetic process could start
anew.

Without going into details, the Arab empire renewed itself
many times.  The new religion was its starting point.  It had a
number of dynasties in the different nations of the empire.  It
was liberal and was willing to learn from other cultures.  It
encouraged the flowering of the arts and the sciences.  When the
inevitable end came, another Muslim empire rose, the Ottoman
empire.  Really, the Islamic empire has held sway over the world
from the 7th century to the 20th century!  Because of it forward-
looking attitude, we are the richer for it today.

In modern times, we have come to realize that having
colonies is more of a liability than an advantage.  I believe
that the time of empires has come and gone.  We are too civilized
and advanced to want to control the destinies of other people.

And that attitude is again an epigenetic process at work.

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