What are the greatest civilizations of all time?

[SpencerH]

It's in recognition of the Russian scientists that I know, and know of, who are totally under-appreciated by the medical/scientific community.

[jdjdjd]

Here's an interesting one:

The Italians...please excuse all misspelled names...sure they did not form into a unified state until 1870's, but look at the influence on science (Galileo, Davinci), world exploration (Marco Polo, Columbus), the arts (Michelangelo, Dante), politics (many popes, Mussolini, Macchiaveli) and religion.

Also, during the time following Marco Polo, many of the Italian city-states, like Florence, Milan, Venice, were very very wealthy on trade with the East. This was a direct impact on world exploration pusued by Spain, Portugual, Britain, etc.., after all they were went explored for wealth, primarily, that they saw the Italians were raking in. Their culture has a direct impact on much of what the current world looks like, even though they never had much of an empire in size of territory like the Brits and Spanish...The Italians were not much in fighting wars, I mean they had trouble with Albania, but military is not the only thing to consider when judging a culture and its greatness.

Well thats my two cents....

Oh by the way, to the discussion on England having many German rulers and thus making Germany a greater civ, should we then consider that many of the American Presidents were once British subjects or came from British decent?

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by jdjdjd
(many popes, Mussolini, Macchiaveli) and religion.

So many popes would fit well in their company.

[siredgar]

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

Dearest Ribannah, your list puts India ahead of England, America, Germany, Russia, and (not surprisingly) Spain. And that's just the beginning of it. I'm not sure if Tiahuanaco should be ahead of Portugal either. Love, Sir Edgar

[siredgar]

Originally posted by SpencerH
I feel like I'm having a Deja Vu! I thought we went through this just the other day

If you're gonna decide on the greatest civs shouldn't you put forward some definitions of greatest?

I told you:

World Impact + My Opinion - My Education = Results

I guess you could replace "World Impact" with "Greatness" for some civilizations.

Is it alright if I take the discussion further on a separate thread? Is it, Mr H?

[siredgar]

Originally posted by Serb
P.S. Ok, Siredgar now I fell that I’m satisfied. My revenge is over. I’ll stop trolling, I’m promise. Chease-fire?

I didn't know there was a war.

Anyhow, sure, I like cheese or chease as you call it.

I guess I'd forget what it was too if I hadn't had it in a while.

Well, there's no shortage of cheese here in America. Especially if you take into account Britney Spears, et al.

USA USA USA

[Giovanni Wine]

Originally posted by jdjdjd
Here's an interesting one:

The Italians...please excuse all misspelled names...sure they did not form into a unified state until 1870's, but look at the influence on science (Galileo, Davinci), world exploration (Marco Polo, Columbus), the arts (Michelangelo, Dante), politics (many popes, Mussolini, Macchiaveli) and religion.

Also, during the time following Marco Polo, many of the Italian city-states, like Florence, Milan, Venice, were very very wealthy on trade with the East. This was a direct impact on world exploration pusued by Spain, Portugual, Britain, etc.., after all they were went explored for wealth, primarily, that they saw the Italians were raking in. Their culture has a direct impact on much of what the current world looks like, even though they never had much of an empire in size of territory like the Brits and Spanish...The Italians were not much in fighting wars, I mean they had trouble with Albania, but military is not the only thing to consider when judging a culture and its greatness.

Well thats my two cents....

I was hoping for somebody to nominate us!
You did a good analisy of us. But unfortunatly in Civ-terms territory is the most important thing.
But i think that just like Greece, we deserve to be at least in the top32, personally i think also in the top10..... but I'm Italian.... so maybe i think too much of my country.

Here I have a little story that happened to me and my friends while exchange students in Seattle (USA).

In my school of course I was not the only exchange, there was also a guy from Graz (Austria). We became friends very quickly, especially during the time we watched the Winter Olympics on TV, where we were competing with each other.
One thing that may surprise you is that, almost everybody knew what is Italy and where is Italy (beside some really ignorant guys), but, surprisingly, not very many knew about the existance of a country named Austria!!!!
But if we think it on territory terms, Austria possesed for many centuries much more territory than the Italian states, and for centuries they dominated Northern Italy, only after WW1 The Austrian left Italy.
You can't imagine his face when tha kids there were sayng.... Austria??? What is that?

Saluti

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by siredgar


Is it alright if I take the discussion further on a separate thread? Is it, Mr H?

Dont get your knickers in a twist dearie! Didnt you see the little smilie face thingy?

[Whoha]

the first nation to conquer the equator is the greatest of all time, they have to hold it for atleast the span of 1 life time though

[jdjdjd]

Originally posted by Giovanni Wine



I was hoping for somebody to nominate us!
You did a good analisy of us. But unfortunatly in Civ-terms territory is the most important thing.
But i think that just like Greece, we deserve to be at least in the top32, personally i think also in the top10..... but I'm Italian.... so maybe i think too much of my country.

Here I have a little story that happened to me and my friends while exchange students in Seattle (USA).

In my school of course I was not the only exchange, there was also a guy from Graz (Austria). We became friends very quickly, especially during the time we watched the Winter Olympics on TV, where we were competing with each other.
One thing that may surprise you is that, almost everybody knew what is Italy and where is Italy (beside some really ignorant guys), but, surprisingly, not very many knew about the existance of a country named Austria!!!!
But if we think it on territory terms, Austria possesed for many centuries much more territory than the Italian states, and for centuries they dominated Northern Italy, only after WW1 The Austrian left Italy.
You can't imagine his face when tha kids there were sayng.... Austria??? What is that?

Saluti

I think I only scratched the surface...if you consider Italians, post-Rome, then their culture has spanned more time than some of the other Civs included in Civ games. And so on.....

Oh, Not to mention the gorgeous women, great food, wine, etc.

I told you not to mention that.

[siredgar]

Originally posted by SpencerH


Dont get your knickers in a twist dearie! Didnt you see the little smilie face thingy?

Spence, have you been peeping through my window again? To think that anyone knew my secret love of wearing 19th century British panties...

[TheBigTurkey]

My Top 5:
1. Chinese (invented so many things: the printing press, the compass, gunpowder, etc., and they have a lasting cultural impact as well as a very long history)
2. Greeks (one of the first people to believe the earth was round, invented Pythagorean Thereom, among other mathematical concepts, Olympics, and was a key influencer to every other culture in the area, including the current political systems of the world)
3. Romans (took all of the Mediterranean and much of the known Atlantic under their control, had an organized military, and were highly advanced in building grand structures)
4. Arabs (Created chemistry and algebra, acted as a bridge between Europe and Asia, were the best warriors of the time, and created works of grandeur that are mathematical masterpieces)
5. England (Brought about the start of the Industrial Revolution and had the biggest colonial empire in the world in the late 1800's-early 1900's)

Feel free to bash, peace out

[Ribannah]

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

Originally posted by siredgar
Dearest Ribannah, your list puts India ahead of England, America, Germany, Russia, and (not surprisingly) Spain. And that's just the beginning of it. I'm not sure if Tiahuanaco should be ahead of Portugal either. Love, Sir Edgar

India is the origin of the Peace Movement, invented Chess, initiated TWO world religions and then some and produces more movies than the rest of the world put together.

[Fayadi]

For my list of the greatest civilization Earth

1.Chinese- Come on nobody had become a superpower for so long from the the time of Han Dynasty(Romans existed at this time I believe Han Dynasty is superior than Roman) to Qing Dynasty they continues to be the world's only superpower (or some period one of the superpowers).The Chinese Medieval technology is the best until the European had the scientific Revolution. Chinese also is the richest country in the world for over 2000 years,their manufacturing output is 1/3 of the world's total production during 1750(Amazing thats the early period of Industrial Revolution yet the whole Europe still loses).The whole of WEST had only 19 % of the world's. IT is one nation rules!They are more powerful than the whole continent of Europe for many periods.Remember during 1750 China was doing only ok,thats not even its golden age.During China's golden age,Tang DYnasty,its Capital Changan was the most glorious city on medieval times surpassing even Rome(claimed by lots of history books),why? Many People from around the world go there and live there .Arabs,Indians,Jews,Japanese,Egyptians,Mongols and the city population exceeds 1 million. Rome had only half a million and not so many nationals went there.
But i have to admit China weakened A lot during 1800's ,incompetence leader.so many wars during the century bring down the prosperity of China. And FINALLY China is coming back to the world stage again.....

2.English-Industrial Revolution that Changed the west if not the West will not what become what it is today.Invented machines and steam engine.World superpower since 1800's to the end of WOrld War II.Colonised so many countries with effective management.

3.Russian- I love those great conquerors since 1600 AD their empires stretches as far from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean from bordering with Germany to border with China and America.Look I know Size is not everything for a Civilization's greatness but remember it wasnt easy for Russia to manage such a large for centuries.They are the first one to go to space ,expanded the potentials of missiles

4.Indian- The first one to predict earth takes 365.25 days to revolve around the sun.Their settlement and way of living probaly is the best during their Indus times and guess what their style of living 4000 years ago is better than now(I heard from an Indian historian's opinion)!Another thing good about India is that their manufacturing output for many periods of the history is the second after China with 25 % during 1750.I didnt know the correct figures during the earlier time but i know they are more productive than the West


I didnt put Roman and Greece because now they are a small country with a little infuence ,their empires is so short lived... .I only pick Civs that has a powerful entity for a long period of time

[Giovanni Wine]

3.Russian- I love those great conquerors since 1600 AD their empires stretches as far from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean from bordering with Germany to border with China and America.Look I know Size is not everything for a Civilization's greatness but remember it wasnt easy for Russia to manage such a large for centuries.They are the first one to go to space ,expanded the potentials of missiles

From ATLANTIC to Pacific???
Where in the world do they touch the Atlantic..... they touch the Baltic sea and the Black sea..... but the Atlantic????
Still a very big country thou.

I didnt put Roman and Greece because now they are a small country with a little infuence ,their empires is so short lived... .I only pick Civs that has a powerful entity for a long period of time

Yeah... I guess that over 1000 years in which both, Greece first and Rome later dominated the known world (culturally and militaristcly) for far more than 1000 years each of them..... is a very short period of time!

That's alla I have to say....

I perfectly agree on putting China first!

Saluti