The principle of the relationship between "diversity" and "stability" within the framework of historical retrospective

The evolution of the relationship between tradition and innovation from prehistory to the Middle Ages is examined. In primitive society, stability dominated as a principle and social ideal: knowledge obtained through great effort was collective and passed down through initiation rituals to prevent its loss. The first ecological crisis and Neolithic Revolution marked a turning point: the transition from appropriating resources to producing them required accumulation of strategic knowledge and formation of diversity value. The emergence of early civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt) represented a qualitative leap: writing, social stratification, and monumental construction stimulated innovations, but powerful religious superstructure worked to maintain stability, suppressing innovators (Socrates case). The Roman Empire achieved power due to unprecedented diversity (scientific, ethnic, cultural), yet the loss of unifying idea and inability to renew led to systemic crisis and collapse. Conversely, the Middle Ages returned to agrarian structure where cyclicality of agricultural work and religion's dominance, monopolizing knowledge, conserved society. Only with urban growth in the 8th-9th centuries forces for future breakthrough started to accumulate. The author concludes that development is an ongoing search for balance: any great acquisition (writing, urbanization) entails losses in stability or diversity, while domination of either pole inevitably leads to crisis.