Civilization Most Overrated in Influence.

[Damnyankee]

Which Civilization do you guys think was the most overrated in Influence?

 

[Tee Kay]

Hmmm tough choice... My pick at the moment would be the Byzantines (can't think of any others)

 

[Mirc]

Hmmm tough choice... My pick at the moment would be the Byzantines (can't think of any others)

I think it's one of the most underrated.

 

[Bast]

Possibly China. It was too isolated for too long a period in world history. Sure it was a great civilization but it doesn't mean it was influential in other parts of the world.

Compare it say to India and you'll see how much more influential India is.

 

[cybrxkhan]

I wouldn't say China, i'd say China is actually underrated. I'd actually say...

Hmm... pretty hard... but maybe the Americans, in proportional influence (meaning they only influenced the world for 50 years, not for centuries, although that doesn't mean they are the greatest influence now)...

 

[Plotinus]

Probably Egypt, in my view.

 

[Verità]

Can you define civilization?

 

[civverguy]

Can you define civilization?

Well there are many ways to define it. Maybe you can revive the What makes a Civilization thread.

 

[ohcrapitsnico]

I agree with Plotinus and I say the Byzantines because they were fizzling out their whole life. They were just a roman legacy and testamen to their influence.

 

[Mirc]

I agree with Plotinus and I say the Byzantines because they were fizzling out their whole life. They were just a roman legacy and testamen to their influence.

Well, the Byzantines had a different language, religion, fine arts style (painting, sculpture), music, architecture, cultural centers, philosophy and weaponry to the Romans. Suuuure.... just a continuation of the Romans. And Plotinus said Egypt...

 

[luiz]

China, by a very very large margin.

Yeah, they were very innovative and have existed for ages. But nowadays there is a trend to trace every single modern device to some chinese origin. "The chinese had a colourful box with a candle inside, therefore they invented television 2,000 years before the West!".

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Call to Power II.

 

[Infantry#14]

I would say America.

 

[Tee Kay]

Possibly China. It was too isolated for too long a period in world history. Sure it was a great civilization but it doesn't mean it was influential in other parts of the world.

Compare it say to India and you'll see how much more influential India is.

The only periods in history in which China was really isolated were certain periods of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. At other times China was really influential outside its own borders. Confucianism and Taoism for example spread far beyond its borders.

 

[scherbchen]

I am going to go with my own. Goethe, Bach, Friedrich II, Grass, etc... our culture was never that great. it was just our incomprehensible language that lead people to believe it was really deep. Really, if you can string a sentence on for over 2 pages it has to be deep..... well, it isn't really... it's a regular German sentence. we talk like that!

 

[scherbchen]

I would say America.

huh... good one and I would have to second it. I have been influenced by US media as much as anybody. I love it! reasons? I can understand it and it is easily accessible.

 

[cubsfan6506]

I'm gonna go romans they pretty much just spread greek culture.

 

[scherbchen]

yeah but they got us the aqueducts and peace and citizenship....

 

[cybrxkhan]

to support China: just the very invention of Gunpowder (and Rocketry along with it) is enough to make it one of the top influential nations in post-classical history, even if not culturally. If it weren't for that, there wouldn't an invansion of Iraq by America.


Actually, I think the post-classical Western World is overrated. Yes, i can say it is pretty influential, very, but its just that there is the belief that it was almost only the Western World that made history. HA. Ever heard of China, India, and the Muslim Civilizations? Or how abuot the Mongols? Their influence influenced the influences that the Western World would make.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

yeah but they got us the aqueducts and peace and citizenship....

I always thought the last thing the guy said was "kitties". Was it actually "citizenship"? I'm not sure I don't like my version better.