摘要
In reflecting on human history and the causes of the rise, decline and fall of past societies and civilizations, many writers and thinkers-perhaps the majority-have long explained these in terms of social and political struggles-invasions, civil unrest, economic exploitation and the like. Add to this the modern concept of ＂ecocide＂——the intentional destruction of ecosystems and species, the loss of topsoil, environmental pollution, new diseases, and human-induced climate warming, and there is no lack of drivers of history to choose from. In his new （2005） book, ＂Collapse： How societies choose to fail or succeed,＂ Jared Diamond details how many ancient communities and societies failed due to these and other anthropogenic pressures related to water quality and shortages, excessive hunting and fishing, evergrowing ecological footprints, energy shortages and oooulation growth.
