What are the greatest civilizations of all time?

[siredgar]

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin

They have also had the largest amount of territory in the world by far for the past few hundred years.

Alaska is by far the largest state in the US, but I doubt it is that important in the US. The same with Russia, it is a large land mass, but most of that land is inhospitable.

According to your list 8 out of the top 11 are European civs. That is a lot for such a small place. Africa, the Americas and Asia are far larger.

Quality not quantity is the key.

Yes, and Alaska has abundant natural resources and a strategic location that gives the U.S. key advantages far beyond its population value. It did not turn out to be "Seward's Folly" after all...

Likewise, Siberia has provided the Russians with key natural resources such as timber, fur, oil, and other mineral deposits as well as strategic access to Asia helping them establish a powerful nation.

Eight of the top 11 civs are European because this part of the world has dominated global affairs for the past 500 years and modern history is more relevant to most of us than ancient history. The colonies the Europeans established abroad more than make up for the relatively small amount of space they occupied back home.

Europe also gave birth to some of the most powerful and influential civilizations of ancient times, too, such as the Greeks and Romans. The territory they controlled was significant, too.

[siredgar]

Re: Re: What are the greatest civilizations of all time?

Originally posted by Serb

*Super Herecy* The West is suck, Russia Forever!!!

Have a nice day.

You'll never be considered a part of "Europe" with an attitude like that.

Perhaps you should have all the Russians move to Siberia with you.

[Serb]

Re: Re: Re: What are the greatest civilizations of all time?

Originally posted by siredgar


You'll never be considered a part of "Europe" with an attitude like that.

Perhaps you should have all the Russians move to Siberia with you.

Blah,
First, of all we are part of Europe, you should learn geography better.
Second, just give me a little time and your thread we’ll be invaded by Russians who will laugh on you and your silly list. Esp. about 4th position in your list. You still didn’t answered why do you think you have right to be in 4th place while Greece is only 8th?

[Eli]

HEBREWS!

[Serb]

Originally posted by siredgar
While the Greeks had a glorious civilization, it was still relatively small and had only regional influence.

Blah, Blah, Blah.
Relatively small and had only regional influence?
You never heard that Alexander the Great was the Pharon of Egypt and the King of All Asia? That Greeks reached India, that they made a perhaps the biggest influence on all modern civ's?

[morb]

Originally posted by Serb



Blah, Blah, Blah.
Relatively small and had only regional influence?
You never heard that Alexander the Great was the Pharon of Egypt and the King of All Asia? That Greeks reached India, that they made a perhaps the biggest influence on all modern civ's?

plus they've got the biggest nuts.

[Ecthy]

Would someone be sos kind as to explain me how Russia would have been greater than Germany over time?

[siredgar]

Re: Re: Re: Re: What are the greatest civilizations of all time?

Originally posted by Serb

Blah,
First, of all we are part of Europe, you should learn geography better.
Second, just give me a little time and your thread we’ll be invaded by Russians who will laugh on you and your silly list. Esp. about 4th position in your list. You still didn’t answered why do you think you have right to be in 4th place while Greece is only 8th?

I'm sorry to say this since I defended you on this matter before in another thread, but my geography is a thousand times better than your English.

I put "Europe" in quotes meaning an idea of a cultural sphere. You cannot deny that many Russians have an identity crisis figuring out if they are "European", "Eurasian", or "Russian". The last time I heard, according to a poll, more than half of all Russians picked the last two choices instead of wanting to be called "European". Anyhow more than two-thirds of Russia is in Asia.

The Greeks never had worldwide influence. They did have a tremendous impact on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, but their territory was still smaller than the top 12 I have listed. But because of their great contributions, I have put them ahead of a few of these. Anyhow, their rule over the larger part of the lands they conquered was "relatively" short-lived.

Which brings me to another matter. Do you read carefully the posts of others? Do you know what the word "relatively" means? Just to help you, I will tell you that it means "in relation to". Compare the lands conquered by the Greeks to the wide and expansive territories ruled and settled by the English, Chinese, French, Spanish, etc.

Tell the Russians to come and invade this thread. I'm sure they will crumble to logic and reason, just like their form of government did.

Judgment:
No changes to list warranted.

[siredgar]

Originally posted by Ecthelion
Would someone be sos kind as to explain me how Russia would have been greater than Germany over time?

Russia consolidated years before Germany did. They have controlled much more territory for a much longer time, too. The Russians truly had and still have an impressive empire. The Germans only had a couple of colonies. While the Germans have made significant contributions to science, music, philosophy, etc, so have the Russians and in many more fields. Also, the Germans have never quite had the global impact that the Russians did. Anyhow, Germany lost two world wars, Russia sided with the winners in both (even though WWI and the Bolshevik Revolution hurt them badly). Thus, Germany failed key opportunities for greater power, while Russia succeeded in at least one.

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Whoha
only because alaska is cold, if it was all beach front property on the other hand, AND it was on the equator...

That was my point.

Yes, and Alaska has abundant natural resources and a strategic location that gives the U.S. key advantages far beyond its population value. It did not turn out to be "Seward's Folly" after all...

Likewise, Siberia has provided the Russians with key natural resources such as timber, fur, oil, and other mineral deposits as well as strategic access to Asia helping them establish a powerful nation.

So you agree that its not its size that is important, but what it has to offer in terms of resources, etc..


That was really the only point I was trying (and must have failed) to get across.

[Ecthy]

Originally posted by siredgar
Russia consolidated years before Germany did. They have controlled much more territory for a much longer time, too. The Russians truly had and still have an impressive empire. The Germans only had a couple of colonies. While the Germans have made significant contributions to science, music, philosophy, etc, so have the Russians and in many more fields. Also, the Germans have never quite had the global impact that the Russians did. Anyhow, Germany lost two world wars, Russia sided with the winners in both (even though WWI and the Bolshevik Revolution hurt them badly). Thus, Germany failed key opportunities for greater power, while Russia succeeded in at least one.

Bah, just look how they're off nowadays!

[siredgar]

Don't worry Ecthelion. When Serb starts up one of his fits (and he will), I'll move the Greeks and Germans ahead of the Russians.

[Ecthy]

hehe, how true.

anyway, despite all the Russian power and wealth, did you count in Prussian and Austrian dominance of (at least central) Europe as in 'power and greatness' of Germany?
and then there's all the musicians, thinkers, scientists... they got them too, but to a lesser extent

[Drake Tungsten]

Why hasn't Serb started his fit yet? I thought my post on Russia would set him off, but all it did was spark an intelligent debate. That isn't what I was going for...

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Ecthelion
Overall, Germany would have been more influential and great and wonderful than Russia.

Ecthelion, it seems you've got a kind of small/pns complex towards Russia.