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siredgar
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New York, NY
Nov 2001 time: 00:19
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quote: Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
quote: They have also had the largest amount of territory in the world by far for the past few hundred years. |
Alaska is by far the largest state in the US, but I doubt it is that important in the US. The same with Russia, it is a large land mass, but most of that land is inhospitable.
According to your list 8 out of the top 11 are European civs. That is a lot for such a small place. Africa, the Americas and Asia are far larger.
Quality not quantity is the key. |
Yes, and Alaska has abundant natural resources and a strategic location that gives the U.S. key advantages far beyond its population value. It did not turn out to be "Seward's Folly" after all...
Likewise, Siberia has provided the Russians with key natural resources such as timber, fur, oil, and other mineral deposits as well as strategic access to Asia helping them establish a powerful nation.
Eight of the top 11 civs are European because this part of the world has dominated global affairs for the past 500 years and modern history is more relevant to most of us than ancient history. The colonies the Europeans established abroad more than make up for the relatively small amount of space they occupied back home.
Europe also gave birth to some of the most powerful and influential civilizations of ancient times, too, such as the Greeks and Romans. The territory they controlled was significant, too.
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Ecthy
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Zhonghuà Rénmín Gònghéguó
Mar 2000 time: 06:19
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Would someone be sos kind as to explain me how Russia would have been greater than Germany over time?
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siredgar
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New York, NY
Nov 2001 time: 00:19
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quote: Originally posted by Serb
Blah,
First, of all we are part of Europe, you should learn geography better.
Second, just give me a little time and your thread we’ll be invaded by Russians who will laugh on you and your silly list. Esp. about 4th position in your list. You still didn’t answered why do you think you have right to be in 4th place while Greece is only 8th? |
I'm sorry to say this since I defended you on this matter before in another thread, but my geography is a thousand times better than your English.
I put "Europe" in quotes meaning an idea of a cultural sphere. You cannot deny that many Russians have an identity crisis figuring out if they are "European", "Eurasian", or "Russian". The last time I heard, according to a poll, more than half of all Russians picked the last two choices instead of wanting to be called "European". Anyhow more than two-thirds of Russia is in Asia.
The Greeks never had worldwide influence. They did have a tremendous impact on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, but their territory was still smaller than the top 12 I have listed. But because of their great contributions, I have put them ahead of a few of these. Anyhow, their rule over the larger part of the lands they conquered was "relatively" short-lived.
Which brings me to another matter. Do you read carefully the posts of others? Do you know what the word "relatively" means? Just to help you, I will tell you that it means "in relation to". Compare the lands conquered by the Greeks to the wide and expansive territories ruled and settled by the English, Chinese, French, Spanish, etc.
Tell the Russians to come and invade this thread. I'm sure they will crumble to logic and reason, just like their form of government did.
Judgment:
No changes to list warranted.
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siredgar
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New York, NY
Nov 2001 time: 00:19
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quote: Originally posted by Ecthelion
Would someone be sos kind as to explain me how Russia would have been greater than Germany over time? |
Russia consolidated years before Germany did. They have controlled much more territory for a much longer time, too. The Russians truly had and still have an impressive empire. The Germans only had a couple of colonies. While the Germans have made significant contributions to science, music, philosophy, etc, so have the Russians and in many more fields. Also, the Germans have never quite had the global impact that the Russians did. Anyhow, Germany lost two world wars, Russia sided with the winners in both (even though WWI and the Bolshevik Revolution hurt them badly). Thus, Germany failed key opportunities for greater power, while Russia succeeded in at least one.
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Ecthy
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Zhonghuà Rénmín Gònghéguó
Mar 2000 time: 06:19
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quote: Originally posted by siredgar
Russia consolidated years before Germany did. They have controlled much more territory for a much longer time, too. The Russians truly had and still have an impressive empire. The Germans only had a couple of colonies. While the Germans have made significant contributions to science, music, philosophy, etc, so have the Russians and in many more fields. Also, the Germans have never quite had the global impact that the Russians did. Anyhow, Germany lost two world wars, Russia sided with the winners in both (even though WWI and the Bolshevik Revolution hurt them badly). Thus, Germany failed key opportunities for greater power, while Russia succeeded in at least one. |
Bah, just look how they're off nowadays! 
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The Vagabond
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of realpolitik and counterpropaganda
Jan 1970 time: 05:19
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As for the list in general (here I refer to the second version of the list), I agree that the English, the Chinese and the Romans warrant the first three places. Perhaps, not necessarily in the order given by siredgar, but they definitely form the leading group. As for the second group (places from 4th to 8th), it is also reasonable. Well, again, one could argue about the particular place distribution within this group, but IMHO all the civs of this group are rightfully there.
As for the American Civilization, it is actually counted twice in the list. First, it counts as a legacy of the English Civilization. It's only due to this legacy that the English deserve the first place in the list. On the other hand, it counts as a civilization by itself. 
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morb
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San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA
Nov 2001 time: 21:19
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08-05-2002 08:49
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#52
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What are the greatest civilizations of all time?
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Got spare money?
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quote: Originally posted by siredgar
I put "Europe" in quotes meaning an idea of a cultural sphere. You cannot deny that many Russians have an identity crisis figuring out if they are "European", "Eurasian", or "Russian". The last time I heard, according to a poll, more than half of all Russians picked the last two choices instead of wanting to be called "European". Anyhow more than two-thirds of Russia is in Asia. |
that's just silly. of course there is the 'traditional' western europe which practicly everyone in the west thinks of when just "europe" is mentioned. gee, why would that be?
As far as the poll, well, of course if given the choice between the three most would probably say Russian. If mexicans were asked "are you mexican, north-central american or american" which would you think they would choose? that's just a stupid poll.
The fact is, Russia is is in europe and more than 90% of its population resides west of the Ural mountains. There is no "identity crisis." We know who we are, but you don't. And that's the difference.
quote: The Greeks never had worldwide influence. They did have a tremendous impact on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, but their territory was still smaller than the top 12 I have listed. But because of their great contributions, I have put them ahead of a few of these. Anyhow, their rule over the larger part of the lands they conquered was "relatively" short-lived.
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the Greek Empire under Alexander the great had more terretory and more influence than did the roman Empire. They conquered all of Persia and mid east for goodness sakes. look at a map and tell me the romans had more territory at their peak. That the empire was not stable after Alexander is what led to the conquest being short-lived, but its culture has taken root as far north as Russia, west into rome (who incorporated it and spread it again), south to egypt etc. All those cultures that were influenced just propegated the bits of greek culture which they have assimilated. If you want to think of it in a more modern context, ever have to find the area or circumference of a circle? ever work with triangles in a geometry or trigonametry class? a millennia later we still use pythagorus' and Archimedes' math. what about the word "alphabet" and the first two letters of it in almost all european languages? constellations and fret houses? the greek culture lives on today in the most real ways. if there were no greece, you couldn't complain about civ3 being released as a "beta", could you? If that's not "world-wide" influence, then what is?
lastly, it seems that the russians have taken more offence about greece being in such a lower spont than anything that's been said about russia here. 
Last edited by morb on 08-05-2002 at 09:58
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Serb
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Siberia, Communist party of Apolyton
Nov 2001 time: 11:19
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quote: Originally posted by siredgar
I'm sorry to say this since I defended you on this matter before in another thread, but my geography is a thousand times better than your English. |
Oh, sure.
quote: I put "Europe" in quotes meaning an idea of a cultural sphere. |
Silly boy.
You think I didn’t understand this? I just had to answer it somehow, so I’ve answered like I did (to piss you off a little. ).
quote: You cannot deny that many Russians have an identity crisis figuring out if they are "European", "Eurasian", or "Russian". The last time I heard, according to a poll, more than half of all Russians picked the last two choices instead of wanting to be called "European". Anyhow more than two-thirds of Russia is in Asia. |
Crisis?
Why should I deny truth?
We are unique civilization-we are European on half and Asian on another half. Our geographical location and our history make us unique.
quote: The Greeks never had worldwide influence. They did have a tremendous impact on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, but their territory was still smaller than the top 12 I have listed. |
Blah,
The Greeks dominated over all known world of that time.
Their territory was smaller then territory of Arabs, Germans, Babylonians, Egyptians and French?
Look at modern map if you don’t have any ancient map. Every city with name Alexandria form Egypt to India is founded by Greeks. The spread of Hellenism on those territories had huge impact on cultures.
quote: But because of their great contributions, I have put them ahead of a few of these. Anyhow, their rule over the larger part of the lands they conquered was "relatively" short-lived. |
It brings us to the question I’ve asked TWICE and still didn’t receive an answer.
Greek’s rule over those territories lasted for centuries. They made a huge scientific and CULTURAL legacy. You put them on 12 and later on 8 places. At the same time you put USA on 4 th place. The USA becomes more or less powerful country only after WW2 and even after this time it was not a single super power. You become a single super power only after collapse of the Soviet Union. It means that your rule as super power last only 11 YEARS. In compare with CENTURIES it’s nothing. From historical perspective you suck as civilization. If you created poll about the greatest countries ever, then your list might have some sense, but you asked about CIVILIZATIONS. As CIVILIZATION you suck. In compare to Greece you deeply suck. They scientific and cultural legacy is huge. What your “civilization” left for humanity? Britney Spears and Spiderman? You even don’t have your own alphabet.
Succkkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers.
Perhaps in say year 2502 A.C. some might say about USA as about civilizaton, but not today. As civilization you are children now.
quote: Which brings me to another matter. Do you read carefully the posts of others? Do you know what the word "relatively" means? |
Sure I know what it means. It seems that you don’t understand its meaning.
quote: Tell the Russians to come and invade this thread. |
They are already there. Hi guys.
quote: I'm sure they will crumble to logic and reason, just like their form of government did. |
Oh sure.
You are the only one who denies logic here.
P.S. Perhaps I should call for Paiktis to enlighten you about Ancient Greece?
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