Which civ was the most powerful in all history?

[Lung]

Seeing as Wulfram is so adamant that his own country is pathetic and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and always was, i thought we should have a poll

I'm restricted to 16, so you may have to specify

You can pretty much use your own criteria, as some civs were more powerful at a given time, but perhaps only briefly, while others were less spectacular, but lasted longer. You may also give weight to lingering culture if you feel it's relevant (which i happen to think it is!)

[orange]

I would say the English, Chinese, Spanish, and Germans represent the majority of culture on this planet.

I picked English, as some of the most dominant nations (militarily, culturally, or economically) in this world have roots in English culture.

UK
USA
Canada
Australia
India(Pakistan)
Israel
Egypt
South Africa
Singapore

For China you've got 1/6 of the world population, as well as a civilization that has pretty much ALWAYS been dominant (in save a few invaders, like Mongols and Japanese)

Germany - hell the Western World IS Germanic!

Spanish - an entire continent (well, not Brazil technically...but if you include Central America and Mexico, this is made up for) has Spanish as the national language, as well as tons of Spanish culture. Spanish were dominant from late 15th century until the late 19th century (when they were truly taken out of the game).

All worthy civs, though Spain isn't in the game

[Faeelin]

USA. Because hwile the British may have invented Democracy, the US took it to where it is today.

[d_dudy]

this is just gonna start a fight..........and i'm fine with that!


USA!!!!!

[tleilaxu]

just off the top of my head....
relative to the power of other cultures at the time i'd have to say the most dominant culture in the world would have to be.....

Tang China (7th-10th centuries)

[Lung]

Originally posted by Faeelin
USA. Because wihle the British may have invented Democracy, the US took it to where it is today.

That's debatable. More like industry, military and economic. Oh, and McDonalds for the cultural factor Seriously though, i think your last election showed how flawed your democratic model is. Australia's model is arguably better, but not without it's flaws either. Perhaps East Timor, as the world's newest democracy, is the best

I'm glad to see that my inclusion of the Spanish has been vindicated

[ranskaldan]

I was really inclined to vote for Rome, Arabia or China. They were waaaaaay ahead of their time in terms of culture and technology.

However, in the end I voted for USA... because although its technology or culture isn't that way ahead, it is the only civilization in the world that has been consistently able to meddle/contribute/bully in every and any other corner of the world.

[jasev]

I've voted for the spanish. Why? Because I'm spanish, just like US posters are voting the americans. Did you think you were the only true-blind-patriots in the world?

[Wulfram]

Seeing as Wulfram is so adamant that his own country is pathetic and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, and always was, i thought we should have a poll

Insignificant, not pathetic there's a big difference.

In pure power ratings it goes, Romans, Mongols, then Persians. The USA doesn't get in for three reasons, first it shouldn't be a civ, second China is more powerful, third Russia or China could obliterate it and no country can be called powerful if it is so vulnerable.

[jdd2007]

either rome or usa. there was no counterbalance to either of them. if rome put its full power to fight against a country of its time, it would win easily (when it was in its prime). today, post-cold war, there is no single country that can stand against usa.

[jerkwaterbox]

USA should not be on here, this is about most powerful in history, they have only been around for 200 years

[fezick31]

Originally posted by jerkwaterbox
USA should not be on here, this is about most powerful in history, they have only been around for 200 years

so when does history start? The US has shaped the world as it exists today. There isn't a nation on the panet that set foriegn policy without considering the Americans reaction. Just because the US isn't as old as Rome or China doesn't mean it is any less powerful.

[Dauphin]

The US has shaped the world as it exists today

I disagree, the world is as it is because of numerous factors. But based on most notable contenders:

American influence only began on a global scale ~ 50 years ago. Before that the "British" were the primary influence for ~125 years.

England blackboarded the current state of the world, the US is remoulding it.

[ranskaldan]

either rome or usa. there was no counterbalance to either of them. if rome put its full power to fight against a country of its time, it would win easily (when it was in its prime). today, post-cold war, there is no single country that can stand against usa.

I don't think there's been any country in the world ever that was able to win 'easily' against any other country, even in their prime....

[Roland Ehnström]

English, well, maybe... but USA???

This just proves what I've always thought: The greatest civ on the earth is The Dolphins (and I'm not talking about the Miami Football team! ).

But my vote goes to the Romans, just ahead of the Chinese and the Arabs.

Peace!
-- Roland