- This topic has 8 voices and 15 replies.
-
Posts
-
What do you think? Greatest ancient civilization pre-Rome? Also, tell how you are defining “great” in your assessment.
Ancient history is not in my area of expertise, but I would have to go with Greece. The architecture rivals anything before or since, as does their literature, art, philosophy. And at their pinnacle their armies were unstoppable. They were the first or at least pioneered so many different things. The longevity of their impact on human existence testifies to how great a civilization they really were. To this day mankind stands in awe at what was accomplished so many centuries ago.
I would have to agree with you on this one. Hands down, I think that along with Rome, the Greeks have had the most influence on Western Civilization of any ancient population. Alright then, what's the second greatest ancient civilization? This one might be a bit tougher.
Alright then, what's the second greatest ancient civilization?? This one might be a bit tougher.
Defiantly tougher. At this time do you consider their impact on future civilizations or how great were they at their pinnacle? Babylon? Assyria? Medo Persia?If you wanted to argue their impact on future civilizations, what about the ancient nation of Israel? The Hebrew/Jewish culture had a major impact on history and still does, just turn on the news.
I think that Israel is a pretty good choice. For as small as it was, it really formed the basis for Christianity which eventually covered Europe.I think that Alexander the Great's empire might have been the greatest. I think this might be called the Macedonian or Post-Macedonian empire, but from what I understand it covered the majority of the known world in ancient times. This is quite a phenomenal feat on many levels - political, cultural, military, etc. Think about how difficult it would have been to coordinate any movements spanning hundreds or thousands of miles, let alone dozens of miles. I don't know how he did it, but it must have been amazing.
I Think about how difficult it would have been to coordinate any movements spanning hundreds or thousands of miles, let alone dozens of miles.? I don't know how he did it, but it must have been amazing.
I wonder at all their accomplishments. When I complain about having to go to the store in my heated car because it's snowing, I need to think about what people had to deal with a hundred years ago or a thousand or two thousand years ago. Then, like you said, they put together some military campaign that nearly conquers the world? Mind boggling.
I think that sharing information – which is vital for cohesion within an empire – alone would have been difficult. Think about how vast Alexander's empire was. How did he do it? Likely it was through a system of transportation and/or roads and messengers which helped his cause. Later on the Romans would excel in road building, which helps to explain their ability to move information and troops from place to place. I believe the Incans also had a good system of roads in the Andes Mountain area.
I think that sharing information - which is vital for cohesion within an empire - alone would have been difficult.? Think about how vast Alexander's empire was.? How did he do it?? Likely it was through a system of transportation and/or roads and messengers which helped his cause.?
Maybe the pony express wasnt all that ground breaking. 😐
Aside from Greece1) Persia2) Egypt
It's my understanding that Egypt wasn't actually all that significant in the ancient world. It has been romanticized in modern times (dating perhaps to the Industrial Revolution), probably because of its contributions to the arts and engineering.Perhaps I should just ask - why did you include Egypt here?
I'm not sure of this, but it seems the Greeks borrowed more from Egypt than they did the Near Eastern empires. I don't think Egypt has been romanticized in just modern times. Herodotus spoke very highly of them and dedicated a whole book explaining their history and relationship to Greece. If Herodotus was embellishing or inaccurate, it will probably take me years to figure it out…so bear with me until then. ;D
Aside from Greece1) Persia2) Egypt
Agreed. I would add Babylonians, and Asyrians as well. Further east there were Chinese. Mohenjodaro civilization flourishes in Indus Valley(modern day Pakistan-India), but their impact on the rest of the world was minimal as they were regionalized civilization.
I'd definitely agree with Greece in response to the original post, but that seems to be a given, so I'll consider the second best!EGYPT was a very inward-looking civilisation for most of its history, so it's not clear how much of an impact it had in its day. Nevertheless, it's architectural and artistic achievements, on their own terms, remain incredible, and both Greece and Rome were deeply inspired by their vision of Egypt, however romanticised and misled their vision might have been!PERSIA was significant for the political unity it brought to the whole Middle East region, and for giving us the Cyrus Cylinder, a very early declaration of human rights. On the down side, it was a very derivative civilisation, taking much of its iconography, organisation and art / architecture from earlier Mesopotamian powers.SUMER gave us civilisation. (Unless you're one of the growing number of archaeologists who believes the Harrappan civilisation of Pakistan got there first!) Also the first literature (the earliest stratum of Gilgamesh is Sumerian). All taken together, I'll go for Sumer!
The Sumerians were way ahead of their time (they had their Renaissance about 2000 BC 😀 ) and had libraries and scholars in addition to making advances in agriculture and architecture. However, they built most of their structures out of mud bricks and to answer the second part of your question (and conflict with my first answer) they failed to do what seems to be the primary attribute we look for in ancient cultures before we bestow greatness upon them - they didn't move any really big rocks. ;D
