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Well i wouldn't list the vikings as ancient (800's -1000's) however i agree with you Celticviking ... about having a strong interest in them as they fascinate me especially about how they designed and built their hulls and sails that allowed them to basically ''hydroplane'' across the water at super fast speeds and for great distances and also how they weather proofed their clothing to keep from freezing to death in the scandanavian/northern european winter months out traversing on the frigid sea.
If we define 'civilizations' as cultures with monumental architecture, complex social stratification, a writing system, etc., then the Celts and their cultural inheritors (Celt-Iberians, Gaels and Britons) and the medieval Norse and relations (Vikings and Anglo-Saxons) must be ignored.
That being the case, I would have to choose the Roman Republic followed by the early Greeks and Minoans.
Yeah, you can say the Greeks were original thinkers. But the Romans managed to be inventive while borrowing the best ideas of a lot of cultures. Further, the Mediterranean world enjoyed a long period of peace and stability. What's more, the Romans ruled, for the most part, humanely--far more so than anybody else. And the Byzantines, the last outpost of the Roman Empire, lasted until 1454, surviving repeated onslaughts from barbarians, Islam, the Turks, the Huns, etc. etc., and preserving many of the Classical thinkers until the Renaissance made their study important once again.
So much of our law, culture, alphabet, religion, language, etc. etc. etc. stems directly from Rome. I cannot imagine how I could pick anyone else.
What's more, the Romans ruled, for the most part, humanely--far more so than anybody else...
i think chinese civilization (multiple dynasties) lasted longer.
So much of our law, culture, alphabet, religion, language, etc. etc. etc. stems directly from Rome.
agree...for those in the west. doesn't apply for those in the middle east/east
Well, if you count from the beginning of the Roman Republic to the final fall of Constantinople, then that's 2000 years.
All when you realize how many principles of economics, communication, law, engineering, etc. etc. have been transmuted worldwide and adopted by various cultures, I would offer that the contributions of the Romans were far more universal than any other culture.
Well, if you count from the beginning of the Roman Republic to the final fall of Constantinople, then that's 2000 years.
All when you realize how many principles of economics, communication, law, engineering, etc. etc. have been transmuted worldwide and adopted by various cultures, I would offer that the contributions of the Romans were far more universal than any other culture.
China has the world's oldest continuous civilization. Has written records dating back 4,000 years and archaeological evidence dating back over 5,000.
I think that's subjective and hard to quantify. Can't really say Rome made x numbers of contributions and Persia made x number.
Tang China. They were a large and dynamic civilization that left a great legacy of art, literature, and philosophical works. They also implemented one of the world's first meritocracies with government positions (somewhat ironically) going to those that performed the best on standardized tests.
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