I think that apogee of western civilization was in 19th century. And now we observing steadily decline. Why? Because we moved production to East, thinking 'they will produce goods for us'. Comfortable, don't you think?

Moreover we don't have ambitious goals. Only consuming... That's new religion, alas! When you consume so much you don't have time for creative activity. Similiar proceses happened in the past, that's true. Rise, apogee, decline.

It's important to have relatively equal competitors, like in medieval Europe, ancient Greece, Apennine Peninsula (8th to 3th century BC). If we have much stronger opponents then we probably will be conquered.

Language maybe will surive but civilization may collapse. When summerian civilization was only history, in Mesopotamia their language still existed 2000 years after! (higher culture). Civilizations falls but languages have chances to survive. We know ancient greek language but this civilization gone for good.

Nope. In 18th century draftsman wouldn't call himself artist. He could call himself craftsman. I have in mind those draftsmen who arrived in Egpit with Napoleon. They wanted only copy what they seen for scientific reasons (like Darwin).

I think that reason is very important. It's different when human want to express himself. Painting landscapes also.

Children can be very brutal but they are frank. We learn gradually how to lie better and better, eventually begin belive in our own lies. Like you can see in Nietzsche metamorphoses. We begin as camels, through lions, end as children (maybe). Question emerged: what we want? Sincerity or lies. Of course Nietzsche used metaphor. How can adult become child again? It's impossible. As a children we accept reality and don't really think 'how is?' because we then are who we are.