The measure of civilization: How social development decides the fate of nations /

Morris, Ian.

The measure of civilization: How social development decides the fate of nations / Ian Morris - Unites States of America : Princeton University Press, c2013 - xvi, 381 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction : quantifying social development -- Methods and assumptions -- Energy capture -- Social organization -- War-making capacity -- Information technology -- Discussion : the limits and potential of measuring development.

The Measure of Civilization presents a brand-new way of investigating these questions and provides new tools for assessing the long-term growth of societies. Using a groundbreaking numerical index of social development that compares societies in different times and places, award-winning author Ian Morris sets forth a sweeping examination of Eastern and Western development across 15,000 years since the end of the last ice age.

9780691160863


SOCIAL HISTORY

HM 706 .M67 2013