are we too advanced and globalized to face another 'dark age'?

[taxidriver]

we all have a cursory knowledge of the roman empire, and how it got so big and bloated and corrupt that it collapsed on itself, and the pursuing century of germanic wars and etc. became the dark ages.

if america continues on its present course of superpower empire building (just for grins, look up how many bases we have around the world, and how thin our forces are stretched) what are the chances that we will bow and break under the combined forces of corruption and outside pressure? and if we do, what will happen? i'm not sure that there'd be another 'dark age', considering how globalized the world has become, but i know the result wouldnt be good.

[brokensymmetry]

1. Not only can we have a dark age, we probably will.

Read more about Peak Oil.

[taxidriver]

2. the thing is, tho, in the previous dark age, almost all culture and know

ledge was lost, and people literally lived hand to mouth...we are so interconnected, i think we'd be facing more of an authoritarian regime kind of dark age.

[maggrwaggr]

3. or the history of Easter Island

overpopulation followed by resource depletion followed by near-extinction of the inhabitants.

Easter Island is a chilling metaphor for what could happen to our little island in space called Planet Earth.

[amber dog democrat]

4. I fear its is just a matter of time

Given current trends of population and resoruce consumption.
Hell we are already in a holy war about OIL already. It could happen in a social context too.... caused by a man made plague

Read Margaret Atwoods new bood, ORYX and CRAKE.

That one really bothered me.