In defense, the scope, scale, timeline and ripple effects of change were different (slower and slower spreading) for most of human history before trains, automobiles, airplanes or widespread literacy, photography and now film and TV.

His distinguishing states from civilization here is also instructive. We can further analytically carve "civilization" into different histories - industrial, arts, literary, architecture, agriculture, etc. - that divide our timelines into different overlapping periods of sin waving ascent, descent, advance or retreat.

"Not with a bang, but a whimper." - T.S. Eliot.