A phase-transition model for the rise and collapse of ancient civilizations: A pre-ceramic Andean case study

J.C. Flores

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2015, vol. 440, issue C, 155-160

Abstract: For ancient civilizations, the shift from disorder to organized urban settlements is viewed as a phase-transition simile. The number of monumental constructions, assumed to be a signature of civilization processes, corresponds to the order parameter, and effective connectivity becomes related to the control parameter. Based on parameter estimations from archaeological and paleo-climatological data, this study analyzes the rise and fall of the ancient Caral civilization on the South Pacific coast during a period of small ENSO fluctuations (approximately 4500 BP). Other examples considered include civilizations on Easter Island and the Maya Lowlands. This work considers a typical nonlinear third order evolution equation and numerical simulations.

Keywords: Ancient civilizations collapse; Phase-transition model; Nonlinear model; Monumental constructions; Connectivity as control parameter; Archaeological and paleo-climatological data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:440:y:2015:i:c:p:155-160

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2015.08.025

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