How Western Civilization Could Collapse
Some possible precipitating factors are already in place. How the West reacts to them will determine the world’s future, says Rachel Nuwer.
BBC Future- Rachel Nuwer
1. Venice was built on wooden piles – True. The city is constructed on millions of wooden piles driven into the clay and sand beneath the lagoon. Alder wood, known for its water resistance, was primarily used, along with oak and larch. 2. The wooden piles have petrified over time – Partially true. The piles haven’t literally turned into stone (petrification), but they have become extremely hard. This is because they are submerged in oxygen-poor water, which prevents decay and allows minerals from the water to gradually reinforce the wood. 3. St. Mark’s Campanile stands on 100,000 piles – False. The bell tower is supported by about 10,000 wooden piles, not 100,000. 4. Basilica della Salute required over a million trunks – Likely an exaggeration. The basilica does rest on thousands of piles, but claims of a million are probably inflated. 5. Piles are driven up to three meters deep and spaced half a meter apart – Generally accurate. The depth and spacing vary, but...
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