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I am usually intrigued by the topic of ancient civilizations. It's always fun too me to learn how these people lived and how there daily lives went.
The Greeks is probably the civilization I most admire. Many philosophical and political structures that are used today were started by the Greeks. Some of these include democracy and parliament.
However, the most exciting about the Greeks to me is their architecture and religion. I am always fascinated by the stories of Greek mythology, as the elaborate architecture.
Other civilizations I also admire are the Romans, Egyptians, Aztec, Mayans, Indus and the Han Dynasty.
The Celtic Civilization comes to mind first...their territory spread all over Europe and beyond, not just Britain and Ireland..The next would be the Goths..not because they were "nice guys" but they saw what they wanted and got it.
My most recent interests were with the Chinchorro people of Peru, the Tarim basin (caucasians in China) cultures and the Tiwanaku culture of Bolivia.
I am also very interested in Ancient Chinese history too. My favorite historical time frames are the Han, Tang and Zhu dynasties. I'm particularly fascinated with the semi-fantasy work "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and the reign of Wu Zetan (the only female emperor of China)
I REALLY want to dig up Qin Shi Huang and Wu Zetan's tombs. Of course, it will never happen, but I can't imagine how much cool stuff you would find if someone ever did.
Look what they found in "Lady Dai's" tomb from the Han Dynasty! Everything was perfectly preserved, even down to Lady Dai herself, still fleshed out and juicy.
I've always admired the Greek civilizations too; I'm actually reading Plato's Republic right now. For awe-inspiring admiration though, nothing tops Rome. Of course, the two civilizations were closely linked and often referenced as one.
Greece succeded in originality, but Rome perfected the Greek innovations through practicality and magnitude. The infrastructure, organization, and complexity of the Roman empire were unsurpassed. Likewise, the sheer expanse of Rome's territory created a huge melting pot of commerce, cultural exchange, and domestic security (away from the empire's borders at least). It's a testament to the Greco-Roman civilization that much of Western culture and thought can be directly traced to ideas generated 2000-3000 years ago.
Traditionally the San were an egalitarian society. Although they did have hereditary chiefs, the chiefs' authority was limited, and the bushmen instead made decisions among themselves, by consensus, and the status of women was relatively equal. In addition, the San economy was a gift economy, based on giving each other gifts on a regular basis rather than on trading or purchasing goods and services. ---Wikipedia
The Celtic Civilization comes to mind first...their territory spread all over Europe and beyond, not just Britain and Ireland..The next would be the Goths..not because they were "nice guys" but they saw what they wanted and got it.
Like any ancient history major worth the powder it would take to blow him away, I admire much in many ancient cultures. But I have to agree with you about the Goths, a virile and fierce people with many virtues I try to incorporate in my own life. Fritigern the Visigoth destroyed what was for all intents and purposes the last Roman army worthy of the name. Alaric the Visigoth made Roma Eterna his [term for the female canine]. As one might say in Ebonics, "Tha' boy wa' bad."
The Celtic Civilization comes to mind first...their territory spread all over Europe and beyond, not just Britain and Ireland..The next would be the Goths..not because they were "nice guys" but they saw what they wanted and got it.
Yes, the Celts...more particularly the Celtic culture in Ireland in the period just short of the arrival of Christianity. I have loved reading the Cycle of the Kings, though its been quite awhile since I looked at it. Right now I am reading Medieval Ireland: the Enduring Tradition, which deals with the period right after this.
Or maybe a lion during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian: cheered by thousands and well fed.
Sparta
While they were very harsh, they were among the first, if not the first to give rights to females.
And very few screwed with them and lived to tell of it.
When I was a kid, my mother read extensively about this civilization, her favorite among other prehistoric cultures she enjoyed reading about. She'd go on & on about it all but I was too much of a dork to listen. Now I have a better understanding of her interest, as she was agnostic & a lip service Catholic to keep family harmony.
She's too out of it to talk about this stuff anymore, so it's too bad the table is turned on me by my own shortcomings of the past, to enjoy her intellect now that I'm ready.
The Celts would also be of interest but it seems anything really relevant was destroyed by 500 AD. Thanks for nothing, Christian forefathers!
Don't really have a favourite, but am very interested in learning as much as possible about their cultures, religions, technologies, etc. The Celts, pre-Columbian American continent civilizations, African, and Far Eastern are at top of my interest list... lol, yea, that narrows it down!
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