Greatest empires of all time

[Sonic]

Heresson, do you mean there is no difference between Lithuania and Poland?

Also, Lithuanians are nation of Lithuania so I don't see the reason Polish should be second language (I know now you'll appeal to history but it has nothing to do with present times in fact - in betweenwars Lithuaniapeople already talked Lithuanian, not Polish.

[Heresson]

OK. Western Lithuanians wanted to create a state based on Lithuanian language - nothing to it. But why did they want to include Polish Eastern Lithuania in it when it wasn't Lithuanian ethnically?

[Faeelin]

Originally posted by Heresson
I have nothing against decline and Arabic conquests in the
west...

As that would prevent the decline and western conquests of the east?

[Heresson]

Mostly because of that, but that I am a student of arabistics play some role here too...

[Saras]

--"OK. Western Lithuanians wanted to create a state based on Lithuanian language - nothing to it. But why did they want to include Polish Eastern Lithuania in it when it wasn't Lithuanian ethnically?"

Get some help.

[Heresson]

You should if You can't defend your opinion.

[Saras]

It's not an opinion, it's a rejection of your unbased tripe and I don't need to defend against that.

[Dominikos]

Well I say Heresson, Sonic, Saras: I was born in Gdansk (that's Danzig for you Germans), Poland. I'm partially German myself as well as Greek. I just felt I had to say that. Now I feel better.

I did research on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in my senior years at university and the Commonwealth did not have much of a significant impact on the world stage, at least not directly.

Heresson and his two Lithuanian buddies have seem to outlined the history of the region already (albeit, with mistakes) so I'll spare myself the trouble of going into details.

The Commonwealth did however have a few unique attributes. The Liberum Veto was of-course one of the most significant factors in bringing down the Commonwealth. I don't believe anything like the Liberum Veto was in existence in any other part of the world.

I feel compelled to say that the Commonwealth did have potential and (call me a romantic if you like) but I have a deep sympathy for the Lithuanians as well as the Crimean Kossacks and I will always think that these people all had a common destiny with the Poles, but somewhere a wrong turn was made. It could have been something great and long-lasting but it fell apart due mainly to the anarchy and un-cooperative environment within.

It is perhaps the most interesting period in the history of the region. It was a unique chance at creating a multinational state in that part of the world. The Khanate of the Crimean Tatars always comes to mind. Such a romantic term.

Oh well, overall the Roman Empire scores high on my list as far as legacy is concerned.

I will always find it difficult to choose a winner since there is quite a time difference. How can one compare the Roman Continental Empire to the British Colonial Empire? Enormous difference in time, hence, in technology, politics, thought, economy etc.

------------------
~Dominik - Lord of the Putumayo~

[Heresson]

Saras, I understand Lithuanian rights and demands for Vilnius I just can't agree that Lithuania was the only one to have any rights to it as Sonic seems to claim.

Crymea generallly was agressive bandit state in my opinion.

[Sonic]

Vilnius was for very long time Lithuanian GD capital, cultural and military center and it was built by Lithuanians. It also had history under rule of Poland-Lithuania but even at a time Vilnius was at Lithuanian side of Zecpospolita. Yes it had some time under Polish rule but it was quite small time if compared with the time Lithuanians controlled Vilnius. And you say Polish had equal rights to Vilnius as Lithuanians...

[Heresson]

Lithuania had bigger historical right for Vilnius
(it is questionable but I can agree with that,
but ethnical right was on the side of Poland.

[Saras]

Originally posted by Heresson
Lithuania had bigger historical right for Vilnius
(it is questionable but I can agree with that,
but ethnical right was on the side of Poland.

Bull. Vilnius is the CENTER of Lithuanian culture. Always was, always will be. Just because you guys used brute force after WW1 and took it and colonised it does not give you any grounds for this statement of yours.

[Heresson]

We didn't have to colonise it, it was Polish with addition of Polish Jews and Byelorussians...
Even if it was some centre of Lithuanian cultural life,
it was a center of Polish culture the most.
We have taken it by force after Lithuanians did that,
created a separate state of it a parliament of which
united with Poland later. Definite majority of population supportat that.

[Saras]

--"We have taken it by force after Lithuanians did that,
created a separate state of it a parliament of which
united with Poland later. Definite majority of population supportat that."

Just like to commies in 1940

[Capt Dizle]

Got to appreciate the Mongols. Genghis was direct and to the point. Ride in and butcher the men, rape the women, plunder and burn. Ride out.

We could use some men like that in the Senate now.

When I think of the money we spend on missles to bomb desert caves I appreciate the cost effectiveness of Mongol technology. They sure got a lot of mileage out of some ponies and the stirrup.