Greatest Civilization in the World - Hurt or Heal?

[Dauphin]

If we want to go for "Greatest" then Great Britain wins. Clue's in the name, innit?

[Barnabas]

Ok, Yanks obviously speak English

But If I speak English, it is because of the USA, not because of England.

Before the USA became a super power, and exported rock music and movies and the internet, educated people as late as the 60´s, at least in latin america, would learn French, not english.

[Blake]

6 - USA
10 - Inca
6 - Mayas
8 - Germany
18 - England/Britain
14 - France
12 - Spain
28 - Rome
16- Greece
12 - Byzantium
18 - Egypt
14 - Persia
8 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

USA : "The culture which brought you obesity, global warming, etc etc". A lot of USA's influence on the world is going to have to be REVERSED.

China deserves to be voted down too, particularly for recent behavior. But they do have a much longer richer history than USA.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Dauphin
It entirely depends on what people consider to be important.

I think a lot of what you said is irrelevant. To me, longevity of a civ is unimportant, as is its military might, or its commercial influence. I also think your measures are chosen from an Americo-centric viewpoint.

For example, what language do you speak? That is something fundamental to your everyday life. And jokes aside, it ain't 'American'.

My measure of a civ is its lasting impact on the way we think, live, and carry on our existance. I don't think that the strength of the Babylonian army compared to say Persia is particular important to us in this day and age. I do consider the fact that we have 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour relevant. Thank the Babylonians for that cultural legacy.

The lasting influence of the US will not be bourne out because it has a large economy, or because it has a large military, or because there is a Starbucks on every corner, or even because people watch Hollywood movies. It will last because of the way it changes the way people think and live in centuries and millenia to come. It's hard to measure for a nation whose lasting influence is masked by its transient influence.

That's what I would measure things on if I took this poll seriously, as it is I am voting against the US to annoy Americans.

Most of the structure of the Internet is due to America. Chalk that up next to the number of seconds in a minute, etc. That has huge potential to be a lasting influence.

[RGBVideo]

Originally posted by Blake
USA : "The culture which brought you obesity, global warming, etc etc"

American "culture" has not brought either of those. To use polytubbie slang, those are BAMs. Perhaps you might want to explore the "etc" portion of your post throughoutly? I doubt you (or any of the en-masse downvoters from continental Europe) have anything to support your focused downvoting but knee-jerk anti-american prejudice.

A lot of USA's influence on the world is going to have to be REVERSED.

What, like democracy? If it weren't for 1776, there wouldn't have been '89. With no reform act of 1832, the special case of Britain would've stayed as a oligarchy of inbred upper class twits. No democracy with class society equals nonexistant social mobility, which leads to eternal technological stagnation. Monarchies of western Europe would've still imperialized rest of the world, but most of us would still be farming junk crops for our 18th century French style neo-feudal (or at best, 19th century Prussian style military dictator) overlords. There wouldn't have been a large group of middle class researchers pioneering technology, only rich slave-holders with time to spare on the occasional tinkering. With different consumer demands, the industrial revolution would've concentrated on very different areas. We'd have very specialized and perfected armaments industry with 18th century living standards.

8 - USA +2
10 - Inca
6 - Mayas
8 - Germany
18 - England/Britain
14 - France
12 - Spain
28 - Rome
16- Greece
10 - Byzantium -2
18 - Egypt
14 - Persia
8 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

[Kuciwalker]

VJ, I've been curious for a long time: is the quote in your post supposed to be a dig at me and OB, or just OB?

[OzzyKP]

Exactly VJ.

And if we are going to honor Babylon for their invention of a 60 second minute, then we should give due credit to the United States for the light bulb, the telephone, flight, the internet, and many other inventions that have radically changed our society.

I'm not saying that the US is the greatest civilization in history, but surely it makes it on a short list of finalists.

[Adrian Hon]

8 - USA
10 - Inca
4 - Mayas -2
8 - Germany
19 - England/Britain +1
14 - France
12 - Spain
28 - Rome
17 - Greece +1
10 - Byzantium
18 - Egypt
14 - Persia
8 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


Most of the structure of the Internet is due to America. Chalk that up next to the number of seconds in a minute, etc. That has huge potential to be a lasting influence.

That remains to be seen.

Technological developments have a habit of being completely replaced after a time, so am reluctant to use it as a chalk mark at the present time. Certain elements will no doubt remain but which ones I couldn't say. It will be about as relevant as the gauge of the railways used in Europe, America and elsewhere being based on British railway engineers of the 19th Century I would imagine. (i.e. strongly present)

[BeBMan]

8 - USA
10 - Inca
4 - Mayas
10 - Germany +2
18 - England/Britain -1
14 - France
12 - Spain
28 - Rome
16 - Greece -1
10 - Byzantium
18 - Egypt
14 - Persia
8 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

[Hueij]

8 - USA
10 - Inca
4 - Mayas
10 - Germany
18 - England/Britain
14 - France
12 - Spain
26 - Rome -2
16 - Greece
10 - Byzantium
20 - Egypt +2
14 - Persia
8 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

[OzzyKP]

9 - USA +1
10 - Inca
2 - Mayas -2
10 - Germany
18 - England/Britain
14 - France
12 - Spain
26 - Rome
16 - Greece
10 - Byzantium
20 - Egypt
14 - Persia
9 - Arabia +1
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Dauphin
That remains to be seen.

Technological developments have a habit of being completely replaced after a time, so am reluctant to use it as a chalk mark at the present time. Certain elements will no doubt remain but which ones I couldn't say. It will be about as relevant as the gauge of the railways used in Europe, America and elsewhere being based on British railway engineers of the 19th Century I would imagine. (i.e. strongly present)

It would be no mean feat to replace all the programming languages in current use, and the code base of most software used to run, well, everything. (All of which is written in English, or something designed for English speakers.)

[Kontiki]

7 - USA
10 - Inca
2 - Mayas
10 - Germany
20 - England/Britain
14 - France
12 - Spain
26 - Rome
16 - Greece
10 - Byzantium
20 - Egypt
14 - Persia
9 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

[DAVOUT]

7 - USA
10 - Inca
2 - Mayas
*12 - Germany
20 - England/Britain
14 - France
12 - Spain
26 - Rome
16 - Greece
10 - Byzantium
20 - Egypt
14 - Persia
*7 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
16 - India
14 – Japan

Bach alone is worth my two points for Germany