Civilizations pass through distinct stages: genesis, growth, time of troubles, universal state, and disintegration.
Universal States; Universal Churches; Heroic Ages; Contacts between Civilizations in Space/Time; Law and Freedom in History; The Prospects of the Western Civilization. These volumes look at the late stages of empires and the unifying role of religion. a study of history 12 volume set pdf
While the original 12-volume set is quite dense, many readers encounter the work through famous two-volume abridgement. Civilizations pass through distinct stages: genesis