University of Sankore Confirmed PLUS Images of the Bezerker and MORE!

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by molly bloom
(complete and utter owning of Autotropx Sox)

[johnmcd]

Originally posted by Yosho


Yeah, I really can't agree with that either.

It is true that culture can spread through conquest, but how many countries around the world has America really conquered and then try to remake in it's own image? If I were to really strech a point, I could possibly name Japan and Germany after WWII, or perhaps the millitary "influence" America excerted over parts of South America, but that's about it.

I would say that the reason American pop cultrue has been so popular is more because a country with a great amount of wealth has chosen to devote a huge amount of it's resources towards pop culture. How much does a Hollywood movie cost? How much is spent on music CD's every year?

Why is it that musicians from all over the world are fighting to "break into" the American market? Because that's where the money is.

When America is willing to spend 100 million dollers on making one movie, and because of the money paid to people in the movie making buisness they have attracted a great deal of talent in those fields from all over the world over the years, both acting, directing, and scriptwriting, it's no surprise that they produce a movie that people all over the world want to watch.

Unless it's changed recently, I believe that the second biggest producer of movies in the world right now is India, (the whole "Bollyworld" movie thing), and you could hardly say that's because India has been conquering people. Some types of Japanese pop culture have become popular in America recently; is that because Japan is a millitary superpower?

While it's presented in a very abstract way, I would say there's something to the idea in civ games that resources spent on culture can allow one nation to gain some kind of "cultural influence" with other nations. I don't really think millitary power has much to do with it at all.

In Lugalbanda, the oldest extant story in the world (300 years older than Gilgamesh, still Sumeraian though), Lugalbanda's father is going to conqueor some rival city, but the Gods will not grant him permission to win the city until he promises to preserve the carvings and palaces of the city, and to keep safe the masons and carvers.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Autotropx Sox

but you'll find plenty of people who have never used the Internet and don't give a damn about Bach's music

Ignorance does not make something not true.

But that seems to be your claim in regards to the university of sankore.

I guess it's only your ignorance that is excusable.

[Solver]

No need for personal attacks against an already banned user.

[Nikolai]

I wonder if we'll ever see Astro again. If we do, I just hope he learnt something.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Nah.. he's probably cursing this "PC" forum .

[LordShiva]

Maybe he's hanging out with Dev Tej Kohli somewhere...

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Nah.. he's probably cursing this "PC" forum .

It's odd, because I've never thought of this forum or site as being particularly p.c. , nor as 'Civilization' or its makers and developers as striving after some illusory and ill-defined p.c. market- though the suspiciously dark Cleopatra in Civ III was a wee bit dodgy.

If they were furiously attempting to corner this Fata Morgana of a p.c. market and p.c. world, then we might not have as many wonders linked with Roman, Hellenistic and Judaeo-Christian civilization, or as many 'Western' powers in the game.

I'd say rather that the game and its knowledge base have become somewhat less Western orientated and I'd hope in part that's precisely because of well-informed comments and discussions on this site and others.

This is an exhibit from the American Metropolitan Museum of Art's Islamic collection. Interestingly enough the Victoria and Albert Museum is reopening its Islamic Art exhibition- the Jameel Gallery- too.

The Jameel gallery will be among the most beautiful in the Museum and will house treasures from the V&A’s collection of more than 10,000 Islamic objects from the Middle East. These include such famous pieces as the “Ardabil Carpet” from 16th-century Iran, which is not only one of the largest and finest carpets in existence but also the earliest dated, and an exquisite rock crystal ewer from 11th-century Egypt.

Other masterpieces will fill in the story of how Islamic art developed in the Middle East and beyond from the great days of the Islamic caliphate in the 8th and 9th centuries AD. The displays will encompass carved ivories from Islamic Spain, superb inlaid metalwork from medieval Egypt, Iznik ceramics from Ottoman Turkey, tilework from 14th-century Uzbekistan and oil paintings from 19th-century Iran.

The touring exhibition of the V&A’s Islamic treasures is designed to increase awareness and appreciation of Islamic art.

Well we can hope.


I think this 13th Century piece is not bad craftsmanship or technology for 'desert barbarians' who only 'copied' work and never innovated or added anything to the sum of human knowledge, don't you ?

Astrolabe, dated 1291; Rasulid
Yemen

Brass, pierced and engraved; Max. W. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm), Diam. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm), Th. 1/4 in. (0.6 cm)
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891 (91.1.535a-h)

[Alexander I]

Originally posted by molly bloom

It's odd, because I've never thought of this forum or site as being particularly p.c. ,

Indeed; quite the contrary.

Originally posted by molly bloom
nor as 'Civilization' or its makers and developers as striving after some illusory and ill-defined p.c. market- though the suspiciously dark Cleopatra in Civ III was a wee bit dodgy.

Though they did remedy that before it went gold.
And the pasty white, bald Wang Kon somehow grew hair...
The current "blazing error" leaderhead would have to be Ragnar's horned helmet, though that really has very little to do with being PC.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You just wanted to post the picture of another astrolab, didn't you molly? Admit it!

[Urban Ranger]

I don't mind, nice workmanship

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
You just wanted to post the picture of another astrolab, didn't you molly? Admit it!

One of the Rasulid rulers actually constructed an astrolabe himself...

But yes, as well as being scientific instruments I think they're also magnificent works of art.

And if Chaucer can write a treatise on it, it's good enough for me.


More desert barbarian stuff. An 11th Century rock crystal ewer from Fatimid Egypt:

[MRT144]

i forgot religion wasnt part of Civ IV.

[Senethro]

Noone expects you to be Mr. Memory-Man, just not Mr. Thread Necromancer.