Asimov Robot/Empire/Foundation Universe - the Seldon Crises

After a long discussion with Lalaith , we noticed that the known Seldon Crises fall nicely into a pattern: they are paired, the first of each pair showing a "preliminary" solution, and the second a "concluding" solution to the same problem.

This allows us to especulate on the missing crises, namely, the 6th and 7th crises: the 6th crisis should be the conclusion of the 5th crisis, and the 7th crisis should be the preliminary of the 8th crisis.

Maybe it's even possible to go ahead and predict the next crises...

So, this is the Timeline of the Seldon Speeches that mark each Crisis, using the color code Error > 10 Years, Error 1-9 Years, Probably the exact Day, Exact Day. Speculations about the crises are in this color.


50-03-14

  • 1st Speech: see Foundation, The Encyclopedists
  • 1st Crisis, external forces: Barbarian Kingdoms covet Foundation's nuclear power
  • 1st Crisis, internal forces: Foundation ruled by absent-minded scientists
  • 1st and 2nd Crises, temporary solution: coup d'etat establishes a strong Mayor in Terminus, neighbouring Kingdoms are kept in equilibrium among themselves

    80-03-14

  • 2nd Speech: see Foundation, The Mayors
  • 2st Crisis, external forces: Barbarian Kingdoms unhappy with equilibrium and trying to break it
  • 2nd Crisis, internal forces: Terminus politicians unhappy with equilibrium policy
  • 1st and 2nd Crises, concluding solution: Terminus takes control over the neighboring Kingdoms

    156-03-14

  • 3nd Speech: not available
  • 3rd Crisis, external forces: Periphery of the Empire notices that a power is forming in the border of the Galaxy
  • 3rd Crisis, internal forces: Traders demand more power
  • 3rd and 4th Crises, temporary solution: the Foundation can't beat the Empire's Provinces, because this would bring forth the full blow of the Empire

    199-03-14

  • 4th Speech: not available
  • 4th Crisis, external forces: the Empire tries to conquer the Foundation
  • 4th Crisis, internal forces: the Foundation became a Plutocracy
  • 3rd and 4th Crises, concluding solution: the Empire is beaten due to Psychohistorical Forces.

    311-03-14

  • 5th Speech: see Foundation and Empire, The Mule
  • 5th Crisis, external forces: Democratic elements of the Foundation arm fragments of the Empire against the Foundation, in order to force a return to Democracy
  • 5th Crisis, internal forces: The Foundation became a harsh Tyranny
  • 5th and 6th Crises, temporary solution: the Foundation has trouble beating the fragment of the Empire and must restore a few liberties
  • See the Mule Timeline

    377-03-14

  • 6th Speech: not available
  • 6th Crisis, external forces: the Scientific Monopoly of the Foundation has spread over the Galaxy, and another fragment of the Empire, strongly united and empowered with new technologies, defies the Foundation
  • 6th Crisis, internal forces: the Dictatorial regime of the Foundation does not leave room for Scientific Development
  • 5th and 6th Crises, concluding solution: Full return to Democracy, and focus on the Scientific development
  • See the Search by the Foundation Timeline

    450-03-14

  • 7th Speech: not available
  • 7th Crisis, external forces: The Foundation becomes too dominant, forcing its opponents to unite into a countering alliance and bring-up a Cold-War situation
  • 7th Crisis, internal forces: Provinces of the Foundation Trade Empire demand more power in the decision process
  • 7th and 8th Crises, temporary solution: the Foundation becomes a Federation, with each world sending a Representative to Terminus

    498-03-14

  • 8th Speech: not available, but see Foundation's Edge where the speech is mentioned
  • 8th Crisis, external forces: There's a strong nostalgia for the old Empire. The danger of relocating the capital to the Inner provinces is that this move would seem like a expansionist movement: "Join us for we are the Empire that you want!".
  • 8th Crisis, internal forces: Opposition inside the Foundation Federation and the Terminus Council try to move the Foundation Capital to a more central position
  • 7th and 8th Crises, concluding solution: Capital of the Federation firmly established on Terminus. If the capital were relocated, the Foundation would lose much of her credit for many would look at her neo-imperial ambitions with increasing mistrust.

    Created: 2003-11-13

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