Greatest Civilization in the World - Hurt or Heal?

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by General Ludd
4 - USA
10 - Inca
8 - Mayas
8 - Germany
18 - England/Britain
14 - France
12 - Spain
28 - Rome **** off rome. Jesus why are people voting for the model totalitarian military state?
16- Greece
12 - Byzantium
20 - Egypt
14 - Persia
8 - Arabia
10 - Babylon
20 - China
14 - India
14 – Japan

I dunno, why are you voting for a civ that practiced human sacrifice?

[Imran Siddiqui]

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

Echoing, Ozzy. How in the world can you ding a cultural and military hegemon like the United States, regardless of its short time frame as that hegemon, and then think that, say, Japan should be exalted. I realize people like ninja's and all, but come on!

[Kontiki]

You can only vote once a day.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well then add them in 7 hours .

[Hueij]

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

Echoing, Ozzy. How in the world can you ding a cultural and military hegemon like the United States, regardless of its short time frame as that hegemon, and then think that, say, Japan should be exalted. I realize people like ninja's and all, but come on!

Whoah! The US must be #1! They even managed to cut the normal 24 hour day in half

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Well then add them in 7 hours .

Can't be done. In 7 hours the US may well be gone from this list

[Barnabas]

Incas gave you potatoes! can you imagine your life without potatoes? Eliminate the mayas first!


Edit: And coca and llamas!

[LordShiva]

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

Fixing Imran's cheating

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Maquiladora


I dunno, why are you voting for a civ that practiced human sacrifice?

Wars on behalf of the nation state or church are human sacrficice on a mass scale. The mayans where quite tame compared to most of the others on that list.


I'm simply voting for the Mayans and Incas because they're the only two non eurasia cultures on the list.

[LordShiva]

India is not Eurasian (teh Indian Continent is separate from teh Asian one)

[General Ludd]

I was actually tempted to vote for india, if only for originating laughing yoga, but the incans and mayans are being neglected, as usual.

[Barnabas]

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

Pre columbian waaar

[Kuciwalker]

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

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Civs aren't made simply by their longevity, but by their power, influence and reach of their culture. For that the United States is in a league alone with Rome and Britain IMHO. All corners of the globe are influenced by our military, our commerce, our technology, our government and our culture.

The USA deserves a nod not just for the breadth of our influence to touch all corners but for the depth of our influence. We aren't a one trick pony like a great military power only, or a culturally innovative society that didn't match up in other areas. The USA is absolutely dominant in every category. You may not like American culture or cuisine, but no matter where you are you don't have to go far to find it. That says something.

It isn't even close either. Second place in many categories is well beneath us. Not bragging, just stating the facts.

The main complaint seems to be that the United States just hasn't been around long enough. Personally I don't think this country is going away any time soon, but you can't compare a modern civ to ancient civs in this respect. Everything is faster now, so shorter time periods count for so much more. An ancient invention may take decades or even a century to exert influence on surrounding cultures. Now it can be done in months. So 150 years of American influence and dominance should really be compared to 1,000 years of an ancient civ.

Go back 5,000 years, and the average person's life doesn't change all that radically one century to the next. But every aspect of our global society has been radically transformed over the last century and the United States is responsible for that. That surely, in my opinion, makes the USA a top 5 civ.

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.

[General Ludd]

This is about the greatest civ, not the civ with the biggest impact. A civ can have a huge impact and still be ****ing awful. Infact, that's usually the case as the most common way of making a huge impact is through imperialism and hegemony.