Many civilizations suffered the same fate for the same reasons; including the Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Spanish, Ottoman, British and Russian empires. Every one of them entered a period of decadence wrought with selfishness, materialism, corruption and a loss of a sense of duty and purpose. Every one of them also had a very pervasive presence of elites and intellectuals before their downfalls.
Many civilizations suffered the same fate for the same reasons; including the Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Spanish, Ottoman, British and Russian empires. Every one of them entered a period of decadence wrought with selfishness, materialism, corruption and a loss of a sense of duty and purpose. Every one of them also had a very pervasive presence of elites and intellectuals before their downfalls.