Sir John Bagot Glubb’s remarkably insightful paper The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival may provide a useful context for understanding recent history.
Dates for the Ages of American Empire
(based on Glubb’s 250 year average lifespan / 6 ages = 41.67 years per age)
(note: ancient peoples considered 40 years to be a generation)
1776–1817 Age of Outburst (Founding Fathers)
1817–1859 Age of Conquests
1859–1901 Age of Commerce
1901–1942 Age of Affluence
1942–1984 Age of Intellect
1984–2026 Age of Decadence
Recent Generations
(as determined by marketing and demographic models)
born 1901–1926 The Greatest Generation
born 1927–1945 The Silent Generation
born 1946–1964 The Baby Boom Generation
born 1965–1980 The Slackers (Generation X)
born 1981–2000 The Millennials (Generation Y)
born 2001–20?? The Boomlets (Generation Z)
Post Greatest Generation labels are likely based on 18 years as the legal age to assume adult responsibilities (debt) and reproductive rights. Interesting note: the 25 year length for the Greatest Generation and the 1901–1926 date would exactly match the sixth generation of Glubb’s ten 25 years per generation model. Twenty five years of age being thought of as the optimal age for starting a family.