SC - Re: Meats/spices in MA

[Bonne of Traquair]

At 12:14 PM -0400 10/27/00, Philip & Susan Troy wrote:

(about the fall of the Roman Empire)


>Probably the best explanation is either "all of the above", or my own
>pet theory, shared by some authors on the subject, to the effect that
>communications and travel technology did not advance at the same speed
>as the population of the Empire, rendering the Empire's form(s) of
>government ineffective. IMO, the only thing that has enabled the USA,
>whose government is actually pretty similar to that of the Roman Empire,
>to survive, if indeed it has, at the population we have, is our
>communications technology.
>
>Adamantius
>--
>Phil & Susan Troy

Are you familiar with the Parkinson chapter where he argues that the 
collapse of the British Empire was due to the improvement in 
communications technology? Typically the central authorities knew 
less than the people on the spot, but thought they knew more. In the 
good old days, the Viceroy of India, on receiving orders he knew were 
wrong, could stall for several months by sending home for 
clarification--and by the time the clarification arrived, the 
situation had changed so much that the clarified orders were no 
longer relevant.

Then came the telegraph, and from then on it was all downhill.
- -- 
David/Cariadoc
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/