What 5 Civilizations Should Always Be In Civ?

[intj_rational]

China
India
Rome
America
Germany

China and India because they have stood the test of time until now, and particular China because of important inventions such as paper and countless others which were later developed by westerners.

Rome changed the face of Europe.

America: I think I can be safe to say that there is at least some trace of American influence (culture, products, etc) in most countries today.

Germany: I just think I had to choose another European civ and my favourite's Germany.

 

[intj_rational]

sorry for double posting, my mistake.

 

[WorkerMan]

Egypt
Babylon
India
Greece
China

The 4 regions hailed as being the "beginning of civilization" are the Nile River Valley (Egypt), Mesapotamia (Babylon), Indus River Valley (India) and the Yellow River Civ (China). So those are the most crucial in my opinion.

For the 5th pick, I chose Greece because it is probably the most influential civilization in History.

 

[Elmstr]

1 Rome
2 Egypt
3 China
4 Greece
5 Aztec
I think persia should be in it to but i could only choose 5

 

[MilesGregarius]

Egypt
Babylon
India
Greece
China

The 4 regions hailed as being the "beginning of civilization" are the Nile River Valley (Egypt), Mesapotamia (Babylon), Indus River Valley (India) and the Yellow River Civ (China). So those are the most crucial in my opinion.

For the 5th pick, I chose Greece because it is probably the most influential civilization in History.

If you're going for the independent original civilizations you have to include Mesoamerica (Aztecs) and the Andes (Inca), though, admittedly, these aren't the original from their respective regions:

1. Nile Valley - Egypt
2. Fertile Crescent - Persia (Sumer or Babylon would be better, but Persia is as close as is in the current edition of CIV).
3. Indus Valley - India (Harappan would be better, but India will do).
4. Yellow River - China
5. Mesoamerica - Aztec (again, Olmec or Zapotec or Teotihuacan or Maya would be better, but...).
6. the Andes - Inca (Tiwanaku, Chimor, or Wari would have been preferable).

If I were picking ONLY five, I would have to go with:

1. China, for having the longest continuous civ, 1/5 of the current world population, and the potential to again be a dominant civ in the near future.
2. India, for similar reasons to China.
3. Rome, as the culmination of the Mediterranean/Egyptian/Mesapotamian cultural region and the seed culture for much of the modern Western world. (Sorry Greece, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, et al).
4. England or America, as the dominant civs of the past three centuries.
5. either Aztec or Inca to represent the New World.

Have to admit, it's really hard not to include Egypt or a Mesapotamian civ.

 

[Wodan]

Well, none of them are "original" because they were all either settled by the forerunners, or contanimated by AI interference. There's no other way to explain things such as religious and engineering similarities.

Wodan

 

[puglover]

1. China, for having the longest continuous civ, 1/5 of the current world population, and the potential to again be a dominant civ in the near future.

Perhaps, but I voted Mongols because they had more of an impact on world affairs than China. China had battles in its own region, but never really expanded outside of Asia. The Mongols, while their empire was only temporary as opposed to the continuous Chinese, had an incredible influence on the world as a whole.

 

[Khemos]

i was unoriginal and picked

1. Rome. of course.
2. Greece. can't have Rome without Greece
3. Egypt. because.
4. India. go Gandhi!
5. China. it did to the East what Greece did to the West.

 

[nickont]

1 Greece
2 Rome
3 Egypt
4 China
5 Aztec

I'm not going to explain my picks. But as i 've read in this thread a lot of our civ friends must read History.

 

[TM Moot]

Tough choice, I ended up going for

China - ancient, long lasting, out muscled japan and india for a place
Rome - largest of the classical age, even if it was an Grecian offshoot!
England - 1000 years of history, largest empire ever..
Inca - to represent the Americas, bigger and longer lasting then the Aztecs (i think)

and lasting

Egypt - built the only Ancient Wonder still standing, edged out France in 5th place

 

[zsq732]

China(Of course i am chinese)
Egypt(Of course)
England(il a un fils qui s'appelle état-unis)
Rome (Of course)
which is the culture Arabia? I choose it.

 

[zsq732]

Perhaps, but I voted Mongols because they had more of an impact on world affairs than China. China had battles in its own region, but never really expanded outside of Asia. The Mongols, while their empire was only temporary as opposed to the continuous Chinese, had an incredible influence on the world as a whole.

Yes , I agree with you. It's truth. Chinese don't like expanded outside of Asia.
But Mongols , they are very very strong. They control the chinese for many years in the history. They expanded even in Europe .

But compare with the culture of China , the Mongols is much small influence. The empire of mongols come in China, has to learn speak chinese and use chinese of language official.
What do you think about that?

 

[bloodogre]

My shortlist

England
France or spain
Greace
Egypt
China

England - rather ovious conqeured a huge percentage of the world, largest empire ever, first industral nation and the list goes on

France or spain - france conquerd large amout of north africa etc. Spain discoverd the americas

Greace - the first nation to think scienticly. they have developed many of our current medical ideas

Egypt - stood the test of time

China - same as egypt and huge pop of world is there peoples

there is 1 thing most on this thread agree
america is the last civ that should be up there!
some of the things some of the people said have just been so funny!
expecally about the US been responsiable for the widespread english language

 

[puglover]

Yes , I agree with you. It's truth. Chinese don't like expanded outside of Asia.
But Mongols , they are very very strong. They control the chinese for many years in the history. They expanded even in Europe .

But compare with the culture of China , the Mongols is much small influence. The empire of mongols come in China, has to learn speak chinese and use chinese of language official.
What do you think about that?

The Mongols had tremendous cultural influence. Think of what Russia would have turned out like if the Mongol invasion hadn't occured. And what about Marco Polo's expedition to the palace of Kublai Khan? Doesn't that count as cultural influence?

 

[GenMarshall]

Rome
England
America
China
Japan

 

[zsq732]

The Mongols had tremendous cultural influence. Think of what Russia would have turned out like if the Mongol invasion hadn't occured. And what about Marco Polo's expedition to the palace of Kublai Khan? Doesn't that count as cultural influence?

You're right. The mongols had tremendous cultural influence.

 

[xifeng]

1. Egypt
2. China
3. Babylon
4. Persia
5. USA

I like Greece and Roma too.

 

[Öjevind Lång]

Yes , I agree with you. It's truth. Chinese don't like expanded outside of Asia.
But Mongols , they are very very strong. They control the chinese for many years in the history. They expanded even in Europe .

But compare with the culture of China , the Mongols is much small influence. The empire of mongols come in China, has to learn speak chinese and use chinese of language official.
What do you think about that?

Also, Chinese inventions, Chinese goods and styles and Chinese sages and philosophers have had a tremendous impact on the world. All the Mongols did was kill a lot of people.

 

[Kushluk]

1.Rome
2.China
3.Greeks
4.England
5.Spain

 

[Tavenier]

I haven't read all the posts, only the first two pages. Somehow these thread/polls always end up with an arguement between Americans and Europeans. Europeans are amazed that Americans count themselves to be in the top 5 Civs. Americans react by stating WW2 would not have been won if it wasn't for them, and so on.

This always makes me think about the Greeks and the Romans. They were both jealous of eachother. The Greeks were in awe of the military and political power of Rome. Rome was envious of the history, culture and "Great Persons" of the Greeks.
You can compare this easily with nowadays Europe and the US. Europeans used to be the rulers of the world for centuries. Now that role is solely for the Americans. It is the American president or secretary of state that is most involved trying to wok out peace between Israel and Palestine. It is America that has by far the strongest military forces, best aircraft, most carriers, elite forces, and so on.
But the Americans envy European culture and history. Chicago, Los Angeles and New York sure are nice, but they are no Venice, Paris or Edinburgh. Europe has Rembrandt, Newton, Mozart, the Beatles, van Gogh, Marco polo, Beethoven and Erasmus. The US has Elvis, Bill gates and Tom Cruise. The USA have Washington, Lee and Patton. But they are no Caesar, Alexander, Rommel or Napoleon.

So these two-way envy will probably exist until China takes over the role as superpower.
I am a historian and am very thankful what the Americans did for my country, Holland. I know the American government did it just for political purposes, but the young men fighting at Omaha beach didn't. I love America (although I have never been there) for the things they do. I disagree a lot with foreign policies, but the world is probably better off with the USA as superpower then Persia, Arabia or Japan.

And of course, without America I would have never known Darth Vader or Jim Carrey!

My top 5 by the way are:
Rome
Greece
China
India
France
No explanation needed. They are already given by others who voted the same.