What do you think are the greatest Civiliations in history?

[St Exupère]

If you would have read the whole article (like click on the link for the Basque), you would have seen that your doubts are indeed explained as well.

I did see.

Basque are "perhaps" one of the few indegeneous people of Europe, although other hypothesis regarding their origin exist.

My point was "what makes Albanian the oldest surviving people than Europe?" Is there any more evidence than for the Basques?

You will agree that if there is a lot evidence than for the Basques (who don't have enough to make them the oldest for sure), then it's even less likely the Albanians are the oldest.

Granted, if Basques are not called indegenous to Europe then Albanians (whoever that is), or Celts, or Franks, probably cannot be. My point is that, from what we know of History, all are indigenous to Europe to some extent - if one people becomes indigenous when it sedentarizes.

 

[Steph]

Granted, if Basques are not called indegenous to Europe then Albanians (whoever that is), or Celts, or Franks, probably cannot be. My point is that, from what we know of History, all are indigenous to Europe to some extent - if one people becomes indigenous when it sedentarizes.

Agreed, hence why I asked why Albania is greater than other civilizations in history because "it's the oldest surviving people of Europe"
I'm sometimes suprised by the incredible bias of some posters. Or was it irony??

 

[St Exupère]

I'm sometimes suprised by the incredible bias of some posters. Or was it irony??

Similar thoughts here.
I was not reacting to this, simply a tad baffled by the wiki link (as all too often).

 

[Steph]

Wiki is good to quickly get a starting point, but requires further reading and cross checking.

 

[Kao'chai]

China

why?
1. after 5000 years , China is still standing .
2.China never had wars of religons , and in China every religon was treated equally
3.China controlled a lot of land as well today
4.China invented silk , porcelain , tea , paper , abacus , compass , gunpowder , fireworks .
5.China was the most advance country before .

for now I have this . Next is Rome/Greece followed by Arabia

BTW , where's Korea

 

[Plotinus]

in China every religon was treated equally

That's not true historically (for example, Buddhism was persecuted in the ninth century) or today (some religions, most famously the Falun Gong, are currently proscribed, and others, such as Christianity, are severely restricted).

 

[scy12]

Hellenic is the greatest civilization in history. If only diadoxoi didn't screw up.

 

[cybrxkhan]

That's not true historically (for example, Buddhism was persecuted in the ninth century) or today (some religions, most famously the Falun Gong, are currently proscribed, and others, such as Christianity, are severely restricted).

well, at times it was true, to an extenet. Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism coexisted peacefully, though im not sure what happened to other religions... there were also muslims, jews, and other religions in there, and at certain times i know they weren't being presecuted or being mocked or whatever...


and for the Albanian... hes nationalistic, so i can understand.

 

[Steph]

4.China invented silk

Wasn't it invented by the Worms first?

BTW , where's Korea

In a peninsula to the North East of China, across the sea from Japan

 

[cybrxkhan]

BTW , where's Korea

In a peninsula to the North East of China, across the sea from Japan

i didn't put Korea in the poll because i ran out of space. 25 poll option limit, so Korea would fall under the "Other" category.


anyhow, so far, it seems most people prefer China, Rome, Hellenic, and England/Britain. i am surprised that Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India aren't doing so well...

 

[Yui108]

Do not think is good question but anyways I chose

America


China



Rome

 

[NYHunter]

I am going to be called an egocentric American but I have to say America.

But honestly it is hard I mean there is also
China
Rome
England
Arabs
Spain

All of those are very strong contenders.

 

[dutchking]

I am going to be called an egocentric American but I have to say America.

Watch Sicko (the Mike Moore Movie), it'll change your mind...I saw it tonight, now I want to move back to either of my following motherlands:
France
UK
Netherlands
OR Canada(but I'm not from there)
He went around and asked people how much they payed for health care there and all of them said "nothing". They don't have insurance or anything, the government pays for it with the citizens tax dollars! No $ for all the big companies and doctors...It's a much better system... Just see the movie, I don't care if you like Mike Moore or not...there's not a lot of Bush-Bashing if you're a conservative, it's a good movie...pretty funny too...

 

[cybrxkhan]

okay... now i would like to post some thoughts...

here are the civs that received one or NO votes:

- Iberia
- Japan
- Inca
- Hebrew
- Ethiopia
- Mongolia
- SE Asia
- West Africa

to me, some of these are a bit surprising, but not unexpected. the Mongols, for example, were one of THE most important peoples in the Medieval era, although they weren't much of a civilization. the Iberian culture has spread throughout pretty much one and a third continents - that itself is impressive, important to history, so i am a bit surprised on this...

anyhow, so far here are the higest:

1. Rome (28)
2. China (23)
3. England/Britain (19)
4. Hellenic (16)
5. America (11)

 

[SkippyT]

1. Importance to History
That must be Rome. Europe was formed by those guys.

2. Military Power/Influence
Mongolia gets the gold medal here for quite obvious reasons.

3. Political Power/Influence
China. Southeast Asia..and pretty much all of eastern Asia was (and is) heavily dominated by Chinese culture. (I don't really understand this question though)

4. Cultural Power/Influence
America without a doubt. There are probably 1 billion people who live according to American culture; watch TV while surfing the internet

5. Scientific and Innovative Achievements
Great Britain. Endless things they've invented.

6. Cultural Longetivity
Ethiopia and China fight for this title but Ethiopia gets it because they're much older

7. Economical Power/Influence
Germanic. Today we are the richest nations this world has seen.

8. Architectural Achievements
Egypt, Egypt, Egypt.

9. Capability to Destroy
Many nations have had golden ages where no-one could beat them in battle. Mongolians, Greeks, Germans, Vikings, Aztecs etc. No clear winner here.

10. Humanity
Germanic. I can't really say the Vikings were humane people (although most of them were). We are the leading civilization in people's rights and environmentalism. Women are equal to men like nowhere else and we give most to charity per capita.

I voted:
German - extreme nationalistic bias (btw, shouldn't it be Germanic?)
Ethiopia - first people to climb down from the trees (seems like I'm the only one who voted for them)
China - obvious reasons.

close up:
Rome, India, England.

 

[Marla_Singer]

4. Cultural Power/Influence
America without a doubt. There are probably 1 billion people who live according to American culture; watch TV while surfing the internet

Well, I don't want to join that kind of debate as all this is very highly subjective. However, I can't resist asking:
What exactly is specifically American about watching TV while surfing the internet??

 

[Falk]

1. China
2. Rome
3. Hellenics

The first two were obvious choices for me. I wasnt sure about rank three though - Hellenics for their importance for the Western culture and its entire history. Or England for the Commonwealth? I also considered ze Germans (though i dont get why you included the Vikings - if you meant "Germanics" the English are surely part of that group!).

America? . .. .. .. . yeah! No, sorry, I dont see how the USA can compete with almost all the other civs on the list. Less than 100 years of being a powerful nation among others including less than 20 years of being the most powerful nation of all doesnt mean anything historically. There's only one thing that makes me consider America: the Declaration of Independence, one of the greatest things men ever accomplished. However, I still dont think that's enough.

 

[Appassionato]

For me it's a close call between China (superpower throughout several millenia), Hellenic culture (art, philosophy, architecture, politics and religion) and Germanic culture (outstanding achievements in philosophy, literature and music app. 1600-1930).

It might be biased by my strong preference for sublime, long-lasting and high-impact achievements in art and philosophy rather than military might and empire-building (hence Rome, USA and Great Britain would be placed in 4th to 6th place).

Empires fall but great art and thought live on.

 

[Yui108]

Yeah, Germanic culture, all of Central Europe, despite being on communisms door held out. Except for East Germany, but not really their fault. Also about China. China dominated Asia They never extended their influence outside of Asia, and even their area of Egypt. Also, they never had any competition

I'd say now

#1: Rome- Shaped Modern Civilization, ruled most of the ancient world ( domination victory anyone )

#2: America- The undisputed superpower today. First time in many, many years that there is one undisputed global powerhouse. Probably not for long as America slightly declines, China becomes more powerful and the European Union is likely formed into one nation. When has there been one great global power? Late Nineteenth century England? Ish? The only that I think is undebatable in the past thousand years is the Mongols. Also the numero uno Economic power even before U.S.S.R folded up. And America has human rights.

#3: Germanica: From the Rhine peoples victories over Rome, to the European gothic domination, to widespread Viking Conquest, to European powerhouse, to WWI most powerful nation( and NOT aggressor ), to WWII most powerful nation ( and aggressor ) , to new world economic miracle and back again, the Germanic people have likely done more with less then anyone else.
#3:

 

[Izipo]

Germanica : WWI most powerful nation( and NOT aggressor )

You're kidding, right ?