"A Plume book."

Originally published: Pi Press, 2006.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [357]-388) and index.

Introduction: 2So peace brings warre and warre brings peace -- Part I. Imperiogenesis: the rise of empires. A band of adventurers defeats a kingdom: Ermaks conquering Cossacks Life on the edge: the transformation of Russia and America Slaughter in the forest: at the limites of the Roman Empire Asabiya in the desert: Ibn Khaldun discovers the key to history The myth of self-interest: and the science of cooperation Born to be wolves: the origins of Rome A medieval black hole: the rise of the great European powers and the Carolingian marches Part II. Imperiopathosis: the fall of empires. The other side of the wheel of fortune: from the glorious thirteenth century into the abyss of the fourteenth A new idea of renaissance: why human conflict is like a forest fire and an epidemic The Mathew principle: why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer Wheels within wheels: the many declines of the Roman Empire Part III: Cliodynamics: a new kind of history. War and peace particles: the science of history The bowling alley in history: measuring the decline of social capital The end of empire?: how the mobile phone is changing cliodynamics.