> Er, apart from noting that Akhenaton was New Kingdom and
> that the decline was temporary, how is this relevant?
> I
> am pointing out that an empire can collapse for reasons other
> than "moral rot" that you think must be the cause, and you
> respond with an example of an empire in temporary retreat
The notion that "moral rot" destroys empires is somewhat dodgy anyway. The (Western) Roman Empire collapsed more because of economic crisis caused by heavy taxation to pay for the military necessary to fend off invaders than "moral rot". (Besides, one would expect after Constantine its morals would have been stronger than under e.g. the pagan Antonines).
Plus, the empire lasted centuries after monsters like Tiberius, Caligula & Nero, thank you very much.
> with the observation that someone might have thought it
> was "moral rot" (an overtly subjective judgement on
> Akhenaton)?
Well, sending hymns to Aten to his generals instead of troops might have been morally uplifting, but not the most effective response.
As that great Western Philosopher Jonathan Lydon said: "Never Trust A Fucking Hippy".
Tom McVey
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