Knowledge Management and Civ

[Maccabee2]

quote: Originally posted by XarXo on 04-21-2001 09:20 PM Reading this post I remembered something for Civ III in the Apolyton Early Days: As you know, some knowledge can be lost. How? In decadence periods, some knowledge (the one that is very specific or really new) needs a minimum science production to exist. For example: In the fall of the roman empire the advanced architecture was lost (like some war techiniques or the sewer construction), same could happens if in a war a very advanced civ (respect its neighbours) could loose some of its knowledge. [This message has been edited by XarXo (edited April 21, 2001).]

Great idea. The Roman technology for producing their special kind of chain mail is lost forever. Most people don't realize how much of our present technology is not even written down. Many of the special techniques used in building our modern, super-quiet, nuclear submarines are known only to the actual construction workers. Their knowledge is a craft not unlike sculpting or blacksmithing -- it is an art. Art is something that can be taught, but not self-taught from a book. One must learn directly from one that practices the art. It is technology that can be lost simply by not continuing to produce the object of the art (submarines, for example). That's why we must continue to build submarines -- so we don't forget how.