Book Review: The Evolution of Civilizations

ByGeorges Lteif

I. About this Book

Title

The Evolution of Civilizations: An Introduction to Historical Analysis

Author

Carroll Quigley

First Published

1961

Edition

Second

Pages

444

II. Who Should Read “The Evolution of Civilizations”

The Evolution of Civilizations is one of the best books I have read in the Big History genre. Compared to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, it is more thorough, rigorous, and focused but equally entertaining, captivating, and insightful. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, historical analysis, social science, civilisations, and anthropology.

This book is not a history. Rather, it is an attempt to establish analytical tools that will assist the understanding of history.

— Caroll Quigley, The Evolution of Civilizations

The book was created from a course on historical analysis that Quigley taught as a professor. The quote above is from the book’s preface to the first edition and defines its content’s scope. However, The Evolution of Civilizations is much more than that. First, it most brilliantly defines the analytical framework as Quigley promises. Second, it is also an analysis and a concise history of Mesopotamian, Canaanite and Minoan, Classical, and Western civilisations.

Central Themes of “The Evolution of Civilizations”

  • History, Historical Analysis
  • Human culture and society
  • Groups, societies, and civilisations
  • Mesopotamian civilisation
  • Canaanite civilisation
  • Greek and Roman civilisation
  • Western civilisation
  • Political, economical, military, religious, intellection, and social aspects of culture

III. “The Evolution of Civilizations” Synopsis

This culture is both adaptive and persistent. It is adaptive because it is able to change and it is persistent because it will not change without cause. The causes of such change are both internal and external to the culture.

— Caroll Quigley, The Evolution of Civilizations

The Evolution of Civilizations has ten chapters, which we briefly review as follows:

  • Chapter 1: Scientific Method and Social Sciences
  • This chapter sets the scene for the whole book by explaining how and why the scientific method can be used to analyse history, despite the prevailing sceptical opinion that it can only be applied to the hard sciences and not so much to the social sciences.
  • This chapter is a tour de force that showcases Quigley’s deep understanding of the philosophy of science, sophisticated but highly effective analytical methods, and towering intellect.
  • Chapter 2: Man and Culture
  • This chapter defines culture as a dynamic, ever-changing, yet recognizable pattern of human behaviour, beliefs, and thought that is passed from generation to generation. It describes how culture is essential to an individual’s and a group’s survival.
  • This second chapter also seeks to understand what drives people to do what they do and how their behaviour manifests. Quigley lists six areas that he uses throughout the book to describe the potentialities of people and which have historical significance: 1) military, 2) economic, 3) political, 4) social, 5) religious, and 6) intellectual.

A civilisation is a producing society that has writing and city life.

— Caroll Quigley, The Evolution of Civilizations
  • Chapter 3: Groups, Societies and Civilisations
  • Chapter 3 clearly defines the terms groups, societies, and civilisations. In this chapter, Quigley explains why social groups are neither organisms nor aggregates of individuals and why human organisations can be understood as groups, societies, and civilisations.
  • This is another brilliant exposition by Quigley that shows how human relationships influence and shape group organisation and behaviour.
  • Chapter 4: Historical Analysis
  • Chapter 4 breaks down culture into six levels that develop and evolve through stages.
  • The six levels of culture are as follows. 1) Military, covering the need for group security. 2) Political, governing the interpersonal relationships and power distribution within the group. 3) Economical, satisfying the need for material wealth. 4) Social, covering the need for companionship. 5) Religious, fulfilling the need for psychological certainty. 6) Intellectual, meeting the need for understanding the world.

The Stage of Exapnsion is marked by four kinds of expansion: (a) increased production of goods, eventually reflecting in rising standards of living; (b) increase of population of the society, generally because of a declining death rate; (c) an increase in the geographic extent of the civilisation, for this is an age of exploration and colonization; (d) an increase in knowledge.

— Caroll Quigley, The Evolution of Civilizations
  • Chapter 5: Historical Changes in Civilizations
  • Chapter 5 introduces the crucial terms “accumulation of surplus” and “instrument of expansion.” The former is necessary for innovation, change, and technological progress. The latter is crucial for transforming a small tribe or community into a powerful civilisation that covers huge geographies and timespans.
  • This chapter also describes the seven stages of a civilisation’s lifecycle: mixture, gestation, expansion, age of conflict, universal empire, decay, and invasion.
  • Chapter 6: The Matrix of Early Civilizations
  • Chapter 6 describes the birthplace of civilisation, which spanned what is now the Levant, Mesopotamia, and the Caucasus.
  • Human history can only be understood by examining the movement of human groups throughout that region and the role that climate change (through the various glacial ages and interglacial periods) has played in shaping migrations.
  • This is another stunning chapter that takes a massive topic (the birth of civilisation) and articulates it into concise and accessible ideas that could be logically examined and analysed.
  • Chapters 7-10: Mesopotamian, Canaanite and Minoan, Classical, and Western Civilisations
  • Chapters 7 to 10 explore five of the 24 civilisations known to us: Mesopotamian (Sumerian), Canaanite (Phoenician), Minoan, Classical (Greek and Roman), and Western.
  • Each chapter cycles through the seven stages (except for Western civilization, which is still ongoing): mixture, gestation, expansion, age of conflict, universal empire, decay, and invasion. It is remarkable how much depth, thought, and insights are given to how these civilisations came into existence, what instrument(s) of expansion drove them, and how these instruments became institutionalized, eventually leading to their demise.

IV. What I Liked About “The Evolution of Civilizations”

  • Original Content
  • Of all the history books overflowing on bookstore shelves, most describe rather than explain. History books, in general, tend to revolve around a specific personality, political organisation, era, or geography, describing where and when events occurred. Much less space is dedicated to why and how events happened the way they did.
  • On the other hand, The Evolution of Civilizations presents a complete analytical framework supplemented with the necessary vocabulary to understand human behaviour in large groups, specifically at organisational levels like civilizations. In that regard, there are a few competitors, such as Germs, Guns, and Steel by Jared Diamond and Sapiens by Harari.
  • Writing Style
  • The author’s style in The Evolution of Civilizations is concise, precise, articulate, entertaining, rigorous, and provocative without being dry, academic, or tedious. The frequency at which insights keep coming and the breadth of geography and time the book covers also keep at a high enough level to avoid boring details.
  • Accessibility
  • The Evolution of Civilizations is very accessible, but to aid comprehension, it requires a moderate background in history, politics, economy, and military.
  • Since the book is about historical analysis rather than history, it applies Quigley’s framework to the 4-5 civilisations that highly influenced the Western civilisation and, therefore, focuses only on the most pivotal moments and key personalities in a civilization’s history. Some prior knowledge of geography, climatology, and the history of ancient and Western civilizations will make the book more accessible.
  • Conciseness
  • The book’s content, at 444 pages, is remarkably rich in information and insights. The author had marvellous success achieving the ambitious aims behind its conception. As such, it is very concise, clear, and lucid—a genuine page-turner.
  • Depth
  • The Evolution of Civilizations relies on various concepts such as culture, surplus, institutionalization,
    religion, rationality, capitalism, scientific method, and climate science to support its narrative. Such concepts are non-trivial, often context-dependent and require exquisite knowledge in their domain. This is where, in my view, Quigley shows immense genius in how lucid yet sophisticated and profound their
    treatment is.

V. What Could Have Been Better in “The Evolution of Civilizations”

This book leaves nothing to complain about, either in structure or content. It is a must-read for enthusiasts of history and anthropology.

VI. A Brief Biography of Caroll Quigley

Carroll Quigley (1910–1977) was an American historian and professor known for his work on historical analysis, particularly in the context of global and economic history. He taught at Georgetown University and is perhaps best known for his influential books and theories.

Key Contributions:

  • “Tragedy and Hope”: Published in 1966, this is Quigley’s most famous work. It provides a comprehensive overview of Western civilization from 2000 BC to the present, emphasizing the interplay of historical forces and the role of elites in shaping society. He argued that both individual actions and larger societal trends shape history.
  • The Concept of the “New Class”: Quigley identified a shift in power dynamics in the 20th century, suggesting that a “new class” of educated elites, particularly in finance and academia, emerged to wield significant influence over societal decisions, often operating behind the scenes.
  • Economic and Social Theories: Quigley analyzed economic systems, particularly capitalism, and their evolution over time. He explored how economic structures influence social hierarchies and political power, arguing that economic and social changes are deeply interconnected.
  • Influence on Conspiracy Theories: Although Quigley himself did not advocate conspiracy theories, his discussions of elite networks and power structures have been appropriated by various conspiracy theorists, particularly those looking at global governance and elite control.
  • Historical Methodology: Quigley’s approach emphasized the importance of understanding historical context and the interconnectedness of events, arguing for a more holistic view of history that considers multiple perspectives and influences.

Quigley’s work has had a lasting impact on historians, political scientists, and theorists interested in the relationship between economics, power, and societal change. His ideas continue to provoke discussion and debate, particularly in the realms of historical analysis and the study of power dynamics.

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