1097 Fate of Empires

The common theory of empires is that they have a 250 year life-cycle: pioneers, conquest, commerce, affluence, intellect, and decline due to decadence, defined as a rejection of their traditional values. Though the theory makes for interesting reading, it misses the real reason all societies eventually fail: the weak gain control. Currently, democracy is the culprit: there is simply more weak than strong and they vote, but it’s always the case that the empire declines when masculinity declines: loss of ambition, greed & aggression; all aspects of testosterone. When testosterone can't function because of a weakened male dominance hierarchy, boys are never triggered into puberty; they grow up to be man-boys without the evolutionary features of males; they can't find mates or even sex partners; they’re disrespected; they become disgruntled, pessimistic & perverse; their numbers grow and eventually society becomes weak & unproductive. Ultimately the males rebel or more likely the empire is consumed by a rising empire that has not yet deprived their males of masculinity.