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Изменение научно-технической активности в процессе жизненного цикла разных цивилизаций. Предварительный сравнительный анализ шести цивилизаций с древнейших времен до нового времени
This article aims to explore the relationship between the development of civilizations and the dynamics of scientific and technological progress. For this purpose, a preliminary study of the dynamics of scientific- technological activity during the life cycle of six civilizations of Antiquity and the Middle Ages (Mesopotamian, Ancient Egyptian, Ancient, Chinese, medieval European and Islamic). Estimates of the life cycle duration, peaks of innovation and technological activity, upward and downward trends have been made for each of the civilizations, and the main subcycles within the general life cycles have been identified. In addition, a fairly definite trend towards shortening the life cycle of civilizations has been identified, which makes sense to associate with the dramatic acceleration in the pace of scientific and technological progress observed in recent millennia (although this acceleration is generally It is shown in this article, and proceeded extremely unevenly, especially at the local level). The study showed that the rise and peak of the development of civilizations are closely related to the rise of inventive activity and the development of material technologies. At the same time, it was revealed that not all civilizations are equally inclined to develop material technologies. The general idea, which follows from the comparison of civilizations in the technical aspect, is that if there are estates or groups in a society that have material and legal opportunities, as well as a certain freedom for the development of agriculture and handicrafts, If there is a direct interest in labor conservation, then the development of invention is more active. Conversely, where classes and groups are enslaved by restrictions (as in India), technology development is slow. An example of the development of invention can be the ancient and especially the European medieval civilizations (and even more so the European civilization of Modern times). In other cases, the state can be the engine of technology development, as China demonstrates. Finally, in some cases, invention is fueled by the need for military-technical inventions.