Why is there an "American" civilization??

[KrikkitTwo]

This Could be a valid debate if the south had won the Civil War (creating a seperate society that was called Americans as in Confederate States of America) In that case it might be more appropriate to say Union or Yankee v. Confederate or Rebel, and America would be inappropriate.

However, the civilizations have their names based on Common usage (see Persia v. Iran thread), and Americans/America is the primary terms for talking about the United States of America (especially American as the description of the people, US is occasionally used as the adjective or the noun for the state, but never the noun for the people.)

And actually Lord Shadow is wrong, Gazaridis is right.

There are 2 continents, North America and South America, and properly are called "The Americas" when lumped together. There is no single continent called America.

 

[basser]

As to why the United States of America was included in the game I can not say, but the reason that they are referred to as Americans, is because there is really nothing else to call them, and that is what they call themselves. As for other nations of the American continent allegedly being deprived of the right to be called American by people from the United States, it doesn't matter to me. I'm from Canada, I call myself a Canadian, in fact to be honest I'd probably be slightly annoyed if somebody referred to me as American. I can't speak for those in Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Bolivia ect.. but I know I would much rather be referred to as Canadian than American, because there are differences between Canada and the United States as their are differences between other countries.

 

[pbfeio]

America, or USA - whatever you want to call it - is one of the most dominant cultural entities of all time. That is why it's a "civilization" in the game. Whos currency and language is the worldwide currency of business? Whos culture is the most immitated and borrowed from? Guess which 2nd languages we learn in American schools? Zero (if you study other languages as I did it's entirely optional). How many Europeans and others learn english? How many Europeans post on this forum in english? It surely isn't because of England.

We're not entirely lacking for military might either (one of the most powerful, and likely the most advanced, militaries on the planet able to strike anywhere, anytime, and a decent track record of military effectiveness).

The good ol' USA may not control the world via military conquest but its influence (and spread of culture) is undeniable - and that's why it's worthy of being a civ in the game.

Debate, doubt, or be jealous all you want. It doesn't change reality.

Obviously you don't have to have roots in ancient times or have existed forever to be a "civilization" in game terms. Many of the civs in the game are most well known for relatively short bursts of extreme behavior (conquest, achievement, whatever) even if they lingered forever. America, or USA if you prefer, has accomplished quite a bit in its relatively short existence.

Oh yeah, the people that made the game we all love happen to live here too.

Jealous? Of what? What are you talking about?
You are a very amuzing guy...have you read any of the previous posts? Please do...
No one is questioning the "valor" of any civilization that the USA may have created. After all... the game creators are from the USA, so i understand they want to include their own country. It's logic.
The point is that there is no such thing as an American civilization, but at best a civilization of the USA. Just that.

OFF-TOPIC:
****
About the language... you do know that the USA don't even have one official language...don't you? Some of your states have official languages... but not your country. It's because it's inhabitants come from lots of diferent places... very few are native americans... It's because you have several cultures within the USA... like in so many other countries in the world.
The only original culture in your country is the one from your native americans. The rest was borrowed. Nowadays...that happens in every country with decent comunications...it's called Globalization.

If you only learn only one language at school it's your own problem... but i asure you if you'd learn more about other cultures you would understand the rest of the world a little better.

Anyway I do agree that your country achieved many great things since it's birth. And many others things not so great. It's like that in MOST countries in the world... Not that it matters for the current discussion... so i'm going to stop explaining.
****

 

[tcjsavannah]

Dude, if the Elephant topic can get closed, then this one needs to. This is what, the 50th time we've seen this type of thread started in the last year?

 

[pbfeio]

As to why the United States of America was included in the game I can not say, but the reason that they are referred to as Americans, is because there is really nothing else to call them, and that is what they call themselves. As for other nations of the American continent allegedly being deprived of the right to be called American by people from the United States, it doesn't matter to me. I'm from Canada, I call myself a Canadian, in fact to be honest I'd probably be slightly annoyed if somebody referred to me as American. I can't speak for those in Argentina, Brazil, Guatemala, Bolivia ect.. but I know I would much rather be referred to as Canadian than American, because there are differences between Canada and the United States as their are differences between other countries.

You're right...I my case, since i'm an european, I would be very angry if the German (for example) would say that they are "the European". But that's probably just me. In the same way that I don't assume that when someone speaks of European's they are just speaking of the inhabitants of the European Union... The majority of the Russian people are european...

So I was assuming the same thing would happen in American continent (or continents).

 

[Jecrell]

OFF-TOPIC:
****
About the language... you do know that the USA don't even have one official language...don't you? Some of your states have official languages... but not your country. It's because it's inhabitants come from lots of diferent places... very few are native americans... It's because you have several cultures within the USA... like in so many other countries in the world.
The only original culture in your country is the one from your native americans. The rest was borrowed. Nowadays...that happens in every country with decent comunications...it's called Globalization.

I KNEW this would happen if you kept posting that it would turn into something truly offensive. And I KNOW you don't see it as offensive, but as an American I am red in the face over this, and I don't even consider myself a nationalist.

I'm going to sit down and try to relieve myself with some reading; Your words truly make my blood boil.

[EDIT]
It comes off -- almost to say that my country has no culture, if you are truly not seeing why.

 

[tmarcl]

I think the whole deal with this is simply the fact that the US has come to be known as "The United States". Truly, the name of the country is America, and it is made up of states, which have united to form a country. The term "united states" is an adjective, not a name. Similarly, if I were to declare an Independent Republic of Flanders, what would its name be? "The Independent Republic", or "Flanders"?

Actually, the true name of the country is "The United States of America."

As others have pointed out, the civilization is called "America" for simplicity's sake, mostly. The other reason, of course, is because we were the first country on either continent to form it's own country (I am referring, of course, to the colonies after Columbus, not pre-Columbian civilizations), and as such, we were given the first dibs on choosing a name. The "United States of America made sense ("State," of course, meaning an independent, governed body). We were (originally) 13 independent "states". We became united in one cause (first with the Revolution, then with the Constitution). As such, we were the "United States". Since we were on the North American continent, it made sense to call us the "United States of America". Since (as others have already pointed out) "United Statesians" doesn't make sense, we chose to call ourselves, "Americans".

In addition to this, we were also the first area in America (colonized America, I mean) to identify ourselves as being different from the Mother Country (England, in our case). This further gave us the 'right' to differentiate ourselves by calling ourselves, "Americans."

Marc

 

[tmarcl]

Actually, you know what? I've thought of the perfect answer to this question.


Because we're better than you, that's why

Marc

 

[Tarascan_King]

I will give you that tmarcl, I had not thought about that one, the US did get first take on the name since they were the first independent country in the hemisphere.

Oh yeah, sure youre better than everybody else, last time I checked we were all human.

 

[Mujadaddy]

I will give you that tmarcl, I had not thought about that one, the US did get first take on the name since they were the first independent country in the hemisphere.

Oh yeah, sure youre better than everybody else, last time I checked we were all human.

Yeah, HE certainly isn't better than anyone else

 

[Gazaridis]

Techincally, Im a European too as Im on the continent of Europe. However, I still refer to "Europeans" as meaning the rest of them. I, like many British people, do not see myself as a "European", even though technically I suppose I am.

It is ridiculous to say that a civilisation has no culture apart from that of its native people. Almost every country has been invaded, conquered and interbred by some other country. The English for example came from Germany, were raped and pillaged by the Vikings, and were conquered by Romans and the French. There was no such thing as English civilisation until about 800 years ago. The native people of these islands are tribes such as the Celts and Picts (now largely the Scottish Welsh Irish and Cornish). The Angles and Saxons came from what is now Germany. So pbfeio could quite easily make the same argument about how there is no such thing as English culture, but that would be obviously ridiculous.

 

[timon]

The only true reason why it is the American civilization is very very easy. It had been in Civilization always been the American civilization. In my oppinion don't fix it when it's not broken

 

[elderotter]

I KNEW this would happen if you kept posting that it would turn into something truly offensive. And I KNOW you don't see it as offensive, but as an American I am red in the face over this, and I don't even consider myself a nationalist.

I'm going to sit down and try to relieve myself with some reading; Your words truly make my blood boil.

[EDIT]
It comes off -- almost to say that my country has no culture, if you are truly not seeing why.

As a fellow American all I can say is that the attitude of many of the Europeans(and not by any means all europeans project this attitude btw) is of of jealousy and immaturity. I guess I should point out that the US did save their collective asses in WWI and WWII. This is not to say Russia wasnt also an European as- saver in WWII but we helped them by sending supplies and such(and they won sevral amazing and german destroying victories).
I guess all we can do is ignore those anti-american post coming from Europeans and when the game comes out kick their glorious a--es in multiplayer.

 

[Mujadaddy]

As a fellow American all I can say is that the attitude of many of the Europeans(and not by any means all europeans project this attitude btw) is of of jealousy and immaturity. I guess I should point out that the US did save their collective asses in WWI and WWII. This is not to say Russia wasnt also an European as- saver in WWII but we helped them by sending supplies and such(and they won sevral amazing and german destroying victories).
I guess all we can do is ignore those anti-american post coming from Europeans and when the game comes out kick their glorious a--es in multiplayer.

Not me! This American is playing Egypt!

 

[ehBeaver]

Saved out asses in WW1? The French held the line for 2 years, and with the help of other countries (not US), slowly we were getting victories vs the enemy. You just helped out.

And why did you wait many years to help?

lol I wont continue this thread....

 

[Mujadaddy]

The only true reason why it is the American civilization is very very easy. It had been in Civilization always been the American civilization. In my oppinion don't fix it when it's not broken

Good answer, but go back one more step -- Sid = American.

 

[Mujadaddy]

Saved out asses in WW1? The French held the line for 2 years, and with the help of other countries (not US), slowly we were getting victories vs the enemy. You just helped out.

And why did you wait many years to help?

We were waiting until we could walk across those trenches on the dead Frenchmen

 

[timon]

Good answer, but go back one more step -- Sid = American.

You are so right. Hmm but hey guys. Let's forget the past and concentrate on the future. Think 3 days or so and then it's play time

 

[elderotter]

We were waiting until we could walk across those trenches on the dead Frenchmen

I agree in part but think I would have stated my case a tad more sensitively....holds head in hands and groans.

 

[Mujadaddy]

I agree in part but think I would have stated my case a tad more sensitively....holds head in hands and groans.

I know, I know...sorry