The Great Collapse

The Great Collapse is the term for a worldwide economic depression that began in the early 3220s, and the subsequent political, economic, and cultural revolutions which followed.

Exhaustion of resources
The 32nd and early 33rd centuries were marked by a rapid increase in the use of limited and nonrenewable resources. By 3220, this consumption was beginning to take its toll, with both phosphorus and fossil fuels becoming increasingly rare - and hence, more valuable. However, the current systems were over-reliant on those resources to the point that they were unable to adapt to the shortages quickly enough.

Early period
The food industry in particular was heavily dependent on phosphorus, and was the most affected by its increasing lack of availability. The prices of food began to climb, which caused wages and thus all prices to rise, which caused the price of phosphorus to rise even more. This turned into a vicious cycle, and by 3223 turned into hyperinflation.