Historian Dr. David Chen argues that civilizational collapse often results from complexity itself—societies become too complex to maintain and undergo simplification.
Which historical pattern analysis would best support Chen's complexity-collapse claim?
Roman, Maya, and other complex societies collapsed when maintenance costs exceeded benefits; each new layer of administration required more energy input for less marginal return; collapse occurred not from catastrophe but from ordinary stresses that simpler societies survived
Civilizations rise and fall
History is complex
Some empires were large
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. Cost-benefit degradation + ordinary stress vulnerability proves complexity as cause.
💡 Strategy: Complexity-as-cause claims need evidence of diminishing returns and relative vulnerability.