Quote:However, social forces do not exist in isolation. Even apparently singular points of social influence exist in the midst of a web of cues, directions, impulses, and directives. A useful way in which to conceptualize social dynamics is through a concept called dialectics. Related to the dialectical method of Greek philosophy, social dialectics allows one to frame many social issues in terms of two or more social forces in opposition to each other. In such a framing, “society” can be conceptualized as a web or fabric suspended between numerous forces working in opposition with each other, each of them trying to pull the resulting network in a direction of their liking. Wages for workers is perhaps the archetypal example of a social tension, stretched between the employer, who wishes for the wages to be low—if not nonexistent, in the extreme cases of thralldom—and the laborers, who want them as high as possible.

Consider other such oppositions; the aristocracy will be in opposition to the peasantry in terms of rights and privileges, and possibly also in opposition to the royalty. Hedonists exist in opposition with the ascetics. The intellectual against the ignorant, and possibly the propagandist. The agriculturalist against the industrialist and each in turn against the preservationist. The artist against the censor. The pacifist against the martialist. The authoritarian against the libertarian. The anarchist versus the statist. The despot versus the democrat. And so forth.

Each of these in turn stretch the fabric of society between themselves, forming the social environment of laws, mores, attitudes, beliefs, concepts, traditions and systems in which they live.

—Nationbuilding: How People Move, Talk, Think, Organize, & Structure Themselves, 1888, Amsterdam University Press

(07-27-2022, 11:43 AM)I Wrote: I got a few updates behind on Luke & Leias Excellent Adventure myself, so I'm a few weeks late in memeing WOW! Such Skywalker! Very plan! again, but this bunch especially (including one or two before the linked chapters as well)really deserves it. Really really.

Blake Skies Wrote:Wait what's this? A new chapter?!

A History of Old Francia (Oxford Press, 1432) Wrote:During the periods of the Kingdoms of Francia, Brittany (Breton: Breizh), in its position occupying the westernmost peninsula of the region, was regarded as a stubborn outsider—culturally Brythonic Celtic instead of Gallo-Roman, with a different and distinct language, identity, and historical background. Beginning as independent petty kingdoms formed by displaced Celts from the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain, Brittany spent the next few centuries fully independent, occasionally joining forces with the Roman Empire against the likes of Attila the Hun, but otherwise being mostly occupied with domestic political matters and associating with their fellow Celtic nations in the Isles, occasionally sending reinforcements to the Cymru, Picts, Kernowyon, and Gaels as they fought against the Anglo-Saxon invaders.

Later, in the 9th century AD, Brittany became a tributary suzerain state to the Carolingian Empire under Emperor Charlemagne, who managed to impose vassalhood on the region, reducing the Breton lords to semi-autonomous status. This did not last long, however, as in the aftermath of Charlemagne’s death, they rebelled against the Carolingians, securing their independence as a unified kingdom of Brittany in 851 AD after defeating Charles the Bald at the Battle of Jengland. From there, they proceeded to expand their kingdom at Francian expense, taking large swaths of territory around the eastern extents of their peninsula, and reaching their greatest territorial extent in 867 AD.

Internal political disputes ensued, stopping the kingdom’s expansion, and rendering it ripe for conquest by Viking raiders in the early 900s; by 919 AD, the entire kingdom was fully occupied by Norsemen, who looted and pillaged many cities and monasteries without facing organized resistance. The region was eventually liberated from the Norse occupiers by Alan “Twistedbeard” II, grandson of King Alan the Great, the prior king of Brittany, between 935 and 939, culminating in an attack on the last Norse stronghold at Trans-la-Fôret by joint Breizh and Frankish forces. Meanwhile, to the neighboring east on what had once been part of the kingdom of Brittany, Rollo the Viking had settled in with his own men, offering allegiance to King Charles the Simple in exchange for claim to what would become known as the Duchy of Normandy.

With his lands in ruin from decades of war and looting, Alan could not hope to restore his prior kingship and likewise made the same decision as Rollo had, offering tribute to King Louis IV of Francia in 942 AD as the Duke of Brittany. This action ended Brittany’s time of independence and politically brought it into the Kingdom of Francia as the Duchy of Brittany. However, the newly-born duchy still had a long independent history and a cultural identity as separate from the rest of the kingdom

(08-10-2022, 12:22 AM)Norgarth Wrote: I Woke up as a Dungeon (post-GM Taylor as a Dungeon's controlling consciousness) on SB
https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/i-woke-up-as-a-dungeon-now-what-dungeon-worm.620521/page-759?post=86235356#post-86235356

Travolore Wrote:Guess who's back? Back again? Trav is back, tell a friend!

Trav also Wrote:As Bare Squadron relaxes on Dathomir, Imperial Agent Nikal puts out a bounty on their heads. One of the first to answer the call is Mandalorian bounty hunter Jemini Linaki who is spoiling for an epic fight...

Quote:“Soldiers are prepared to fight the last war,” “Generals are always ready to fight their father’s war,” and “the military mind is always fighting the last war,” as the saying and its variants go. What this means is that militaries are fundamentally conservative institutions, looking back and thinking on what they have done wrong in previous conflicts as compared to looking forward and adapting to what is coming. This is especially well seen around the times where shifts in technology and tactics render the old ways obsolete, and yet the commanders persist in sticking closely to what they know, typically refusing to adapt to the changes in warfare, even in the face of proven losses. Typically adaptation happens by the removal of those elder generals—either by political removal or death on the battlefield—and the appointment of newcomers who are aware of the new battlefield realities and are willing to change and throw out conventional knowledge in the face of new lessons.

The loss of life before this happens can be staggering…

—Statecraft: The Great Game Of Diplomacy, Espionage, & War By Other Means, 1732, Rouen University Press