[Sirius Lee]

I also wonder why Egypt or Rome didn’t advance much further in the sciences and technology areas.

Political corruption accompanied by moral degeneration in the populous in general quickly followed by collapse/barbarian invasion. Happens every time.

[dp0622]

yeah, that doesn’t help.

I think WWII started the phenomenal advancement in technology. I could be wrong.

Hitler was a monster but the scientists were pretty good, making the first jet, the first rocket...thank goodness they made them too late.

And then we took those guys here to continue their work. Kind of a slap in the face to Jews, but if we didn’t take them, someone else would havee.

[Cronos]

actually, dp -- the egyptians did advance quite fast during the Old Kingdom. Technology changes etc. were relatively fast.

Rome was good at expanding on other's innovations. Most of their innovations were military related or administrative. Whereas the latest rounds of innovation (in the past 250 years) are more driven by commerce and individuals.

[Cronos]

Political corruption in the Old Kingdom that lead to the first interregnum? I don't think so -- more like climate change

for Rome, that's not true either -- Rome became Christian in 398 AD and fell to the Huns in 430 -- so moral regeneration before this and the political corruption was ended in the late 200s under Diocletian

[Cronos]

Yet note that even Republican Rome was 'corrupt' -- it was expected that you got elected with someone's money and paid him back with contracts. Cicero even boasted about this (I think it was Cicero) and gave thanks to his sponsor.

Moral degeneration, you may have a point, but moral degeneration with a corresponding laziness to stand up for what the nation stands for -- so hiring mercenaries to be legionnaries