Why is it important to understand why seemingly successful and strong civilizations fail?

i see, would you mind putting it as one?

in 1859, brown and 21 of his followers attacked and occupied the federal arsenal in harper's ferry. their goal was to capture supplies and use them to arm a slave rebellion. brown was captured during the raid and later hanged, but not before becoming an anti-slavery icon. abolitionist and insurrectionist

explanation:

establishing a new settlement &   the furs that they would bring back to france & sell