Welcome to this week’s History Thread! Apologies for its relative lateness; internet and WordPress are being crappy this morning. Perhaps they sensed the less-than-optimistic subject?

Today’s topic: How civilizations die. Perhaps it’s appropriate to ask this question on the anniversary of Hitler’s rise to power, which is also the same day as the current President’s first State of the Union. Discuss how great civilizations of the past, and even not-so-great but relatively prosperous countries descend into darkness, whether it’s the long nightmare of totalitarianism, dissolving into fractious non-countries or total absorption by enemy states.

Today’s picture: our logo, which is clearly a civilization doomed to imminent collapse. or maybe WordPress isn’t letting me upload photos this morning. React accordingly.