Arnold J. Toynbee: An Introduction, Analysis, and Evaluation (2)

In the previous article on this topic we began to discuss the rise and breakdown of civilizations. This is an exceedingly important aspect of the philosophy of history developed by Toynbee and it is my intention to develop this aspect of Toynbee’s philosophy more thoroughly before going on to other elements of the theory under consideration. The Rise of Civilizations Civilizations emerge, according to Toynbee, out of a primitive society. This emergence is caused by “challenge and response,”...