[GSlob]

Toynbee was dead wrong. There have been rather few civilizations, thus rather few civilization deaths, but at least sometimes civilizations die by murder. Say, Mezoamerican civs finished off by the Spanish. Another example would be the tribal cultures of North America [together comprising a primitive civilization], which survive on reservations only.

[FLOutdoorsman]

Toynbee's point was without uniting your civ. under a purpose instead of infighting and not collectively repelling an aggressive force is considered suicide.

Which is the case with the Americas, infighting and other tribal differences failed to unite and repel the Spanish.

[quiverfull]

Toynbee studied 21 world civilizations that fell apart(not from another power). He found they all committed a certain kind of "cultural suicide" He identified certain characteristics: Abandon-accepting lawlessness; escapism-avoid problems by drifting into distraction and entertainment; Drift-personal efforts do not matter; Guilt-self abhorring that comes from sense of abandon; promiscuity-acceptance of anything and everything. It seems to me that most of Europe and a lot of Americans have these characteristics??

"the tribal cultures of North America[together compromising a primitive civilization]
Note to revisionist historian:
civilize - "to bring out of a savage or primitive state" I believe this began when the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. When the pilgrims began making treaties and friendships with the local tribes, they began teaching them the Judeo Christian values of how to treat your neighbor. Perhaps everyone should read a true historical account of what really went on. Don't forget, the "tribal cultures" Indians fought, scalped, and ate each other. They were primitive, yes, and had been for hundreds of years, serving their gods of nature.(hence wearing little clothing - one with nature [culture is defined by "religion externalized"]