Spiral Dynamics Application to History [Mega-Thread]

[Roy]

There is awesome utility in using the past in order to understand the present and the future. Having discovered Spiral Dynamics some years ago I thought it would be interesting to make a historical timeline thread with a compilation of examples, using the lens of Spiral Dynamics for analysis. I will be making sweeping generalizations and won't be including every part of the world for now as my knowledge is not infinite. I encourage you to PLEASE point out any flaws or differences of opinion, and suggest useful examples I miss.  Just remember this thread is intended to be a macro overview - History has endless content so let's try to keep our focus on events of peak importance and not get lost in minutia. I want the purpose of this thread to be to deepen everyone's understanding of humanities journey. Hopefully with enough participation and improvement this can turn into an official awesome mega-thread! @Nahm @Serotoninluv @Leo Gura is that a possibility to pin this thread if it raises in quality enough?

Let's start our timeline then! (%'s are not final. Just a rough estimate to help gauge values of where I think the world is at). 

Roman Empire: 27 BC to 476 AD - 40% Red/60% Blue. Forged with highly efficient Stage Red power, a transition to embracing the value of greater organization. Strong affinity to pride of civilization. The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. One of the first early successes in integrating proper respect for Order and Law.

Extreme military success and excess luxury cause complacency. They being to erode Blue values and respect for Republic and order. 20% Purple/80% Red Germanic, Hun, and other tribes sweep in to eat away at the empire. Due to instability and chaos, Generals, Aristocrats, and Nobility vie for raw control and power. Western Roman Empire collapses and reverts back into Stage Red Kingdoms.

Dark Ages: Roughly 500 - 1500 AD - 70% Red/30% Blue. Period of minimal organization. Kingdoms and Monarchies permeate most of the world. Most primitive and mystic Stage Purple cultures and countries are crushed or vassalized under the threat of Stage Red power. Major religions prosper and are used to unify and propel some countries into Blue, but not fully.

Period perhaps best represented by the Mongol Horde. 100% Pure red embodiment. Stage Purple paganism are part of identity but no longer deemed important. Strength and ability to exercise violence/power are of highest value. No child can be Khan! Neglecting Stage Red limitations and refusing to see past it's successes, the Mongol Empire dissolves upon Genghis Khans death. Successors are divided by selfishness and are then overpowered by superior technology facilitated by coagulating and emerging Stage Blue nations. (Continent sprawling and unified nations like Tsarist Russia and Ming Dynasty.)

Age of Discovery, Colonialism & Absolutism: 1492 -1821(Death of Napoleon Bonaparte) 80% Blue/20% Orange - Kingdoms lose relevance and evolve into world spanning empires. Individual cultures and identities begin to get left behind if they don't appeal and integrate into larger collective egos. Stability and safety under the blanket of civilization encourages exploration and innovation; The birth of the Renaissance. Most advancements in science and society are used to serve state and country, however the discovery of the New World and alien peoples give glimpses into greater ideals of Humanism. Sparking an ember and desire for individualism.

The most advanced nations in the world are still embedded into trying to maximize Stage Blue. Nationalism is the status quo. Constant war and competition advances science rapidly as nations try to get an edge on one another. Absolutism & unity to culture and religion are highly valued. Ruthless efficiency is striven for. The Napoleonic Wars devastate most of Europe. The beginning of Blue's limitations are starting to reveal themselves. The masses begin to resent and question the authority of their absolutist leaders. People begin to seek Stage Orange autonomy and react violently. The French Revolution is the first major nexus of these resentments.

Great Britain having won the Seven Years War and establishing itself as THE global hegemony, begins to slowly integrate Orange. Other nations follow suit. Entrepreneurship is encouraged as long as it serves Empire. The East India Trading company is born! The industrial revolution provides huge opportunity for common people to explore possibilities for themselves and their own success.

Birth of the United States, Abolitionism, & WW1: 1776 -1918 - 50% Blue/40%/10% Green Orange. - Powerful nations rush to capitalize on the the riches of new global interconnected markets. Stage Orange is starting to be explored in an unhealthy haste of selfishness and greed. Africa is carved into pieces. Other lower stage countries across the world are either annexed or pitted against each other as Great Powers posture against one another.

Across the Atlantic Ocean one of the first true Stage Orange countries is birthed; The United States of America. It's Constitution representing one of the most advanced documents at the time. Individualism is cherished and most of the ideals of the Old World are discarded. The nation grows across the continent rapidly and violently plows through Stage Purple Native Americans.

Britain being the leading power begins to get a small taste of Orange limitations. Stage Green Humanist ideals show themselves for the first time. Parliament votes to abolish slavery. 1/6th of the navy is reassigned to free slaves and hunt down offending ships.

More stuff coming later I'm tired lol.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 6, 2020 by Roy