Theory of Social Revolutions

Delve into the insights of Brooks Adams (1848-1927), an influential American historian and a vocal critic of capitalism. Adams proposed that commercial civilizations experience predictable cycles of rise and fall. He argued that as populations cluster in large urban centers and engage in commercial pursuits, their insatiable thirst for wealth leads them to forsake spiritual and creative values. This unchecked greed breeds distrust and dishonesty, ultimately resulting in societal collapse. In his