I'd give this a 3.5 if I could. This reminds me most of Asimov's Empire stories. Though those were novels, the giant leaps in time were similar. I found the stories a bit dry and bereft of emotion, but I appreciated what they were trying to say. I did, however, lament the complete absence of women save as wives of some of the men in the very first story. Typical of the times, I suppose.