Richter scale of culture


 * You may also be looking for the Richter magnitude scale or the Ritter scale.

The Richter scale of culture was a method of describing cultural achievement in use during the 23rd century.

Prior to learning the true nature in 2267, Federation experts rated the Organians at level "D minus" on this scale; presumably, this corresponds to an agrarian culture with hand or animal powered machinery. 

Apocrypha
In the TOS novel Prime Directive, Doctor Alonzo Richter invented the Richter scale of culture in the early 2200s to monitor a civilization's progress.