[Nikas777]

Great point - I would add the Chinese banning exploration of the outside world because the Chinese assumed they knew all that needed to be known. So civilizational collapses can also be self induced.

China sent a world spanning fleet out in 1421 (may or may not have reached American but for sure went to Africa) and on their return their emperor ordered the fleet burned and trade with the outside world banned.

[Noumenon]

I submit that this mentality persists amongst the ruling elites in China to this day. Even in recent times, one must ask how much was lost in the ‘Great Leap Forward’ and the Cultural Revolution’ (Orwellian, isn’t it?) in just this last century.

Priceless artifacts and documents were destroyed. They’ll do it again.