RE: The Forgotten Kingdom
October 28, 2013 at 1:53 pm
(This post was last modified: October 28, 2013 at 2:25 pm by Anomalocaris.)
I had an affinity for that Rome in which a legion was a legion and Jupiter stomped all over monotheistic pretenders to "god".
For me the most fascinating ancient civilization was that of Rome during the period when a legion was still a legion and Jupiter stomped all over monotheistic pretenders to divinity.
The runners up are:
1. The Hittites - the first great Iron age empire, the first major Indo-european empire, and ancester to Rome by 1100 years.
2. China between the Han and Tang dynasties - not a period of great imperial expansion, to be sure, but a period of civil war that profoundly influenced the later cultural, military and administrative traditions of all of East Asia.
3. Andean culture culminating in the Inca Empire - a civilization that defied the old world stereotype of what is required for an empire and how empires can be administered.
Unless you are christian, then history is written by whiners.
Well, the later roman army manage to combined the worst traits of a rapacious mercenary army and a disloyal national army.
(October 28, 2013 at 1:36 am)The Germans are coming Wrote: What is in your opinion the most fascinating ancient civilisation?
For me it is Carthage.
For me the most fascinating ancient civilization was that of Rome during the period when a legion was still a legion and Jupiter stomped all over monotheistic pretenders to divinity.
The runners up are:
1. The Hittites - the first great Iron age empire, the first major Indo-european empire, and ancester to Rome by 1100 years.
2. China between the Han and Tang dynasties - not a period of great imperial expansion, to be sure, but a period of civil war that profoundly influenced the later cultural, military and administrative traditions of all of East Asia.
3. Andean culture culminating in the Inca Empire - a civilization that defied the old world stereotype of what is required for an empire and how empires can be administered.
(October 28, 2013 at 2:16 am)Minimalist Wrote:(October 28, 2013 at 1:49 am)The Germans are coming Wrote: Yet Rome stole it`s secrets and learnt the buisness of how to be an empire from Carthage.
And the most fascinating thing about Carthage is that we hardly know anything about it. Only from the biased view of Roman historians who painted an image of a foe.
History is written by the winners, yes.
Unless you are christian, then history is written by whiners.
(October 28, 2013 at 1:23 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Yes...recall Machiavelli's comment upon mercenaries.
Quote:...if one holds his state on the basis of mercenary arms, he will never be firm or secure; because they are disunited, ambitious, without discipline, unfaithful; gallant among friends, vile among enemies; no fear of God, no faith with men; and one defers ruin insofar as one defers the attack; and in peace you are despoiled by them, in war by the enemy.
Well, the later roman army manage to combined the worst traits of a rapacious mercenary army and a disloyal national army.
