“The world was more fragile than most people understood. A thousand years ago, civilizations were dispersed – they were separate pockets of humanity that were mostly isolated from one another. The problems of one civilization didn’t affect the others. But it was different now. Problems at one location on the planet were felt globally, and instantaneously communicated throughout the world. Advances in communication and transportation technologies had made the situation what it was. Progress had its advantages and disadvantages.”