Ancient History

[Memphology]

Okay, I know this isnt a debate...but it just seems it deserves to be in here. I know Redneck likes some of it and I just read Milgod loves it so here we go...Are you intrested in ancient history? If so, whats your favorite civilization to learn about and what is the most boring aspect of ancient history in your opinion? This is just to discuss various ancient cultures.I personaly love the Romans and Hellenistic age. I also like to read about the ancient cultures in the northern africa region. Particularly Ancient Egypt and Nubia. I love reading about the rivalry between the two. I think its just amazing that the Greek Nations have influenced us so much...they influenced the Romans and the Roman/Byzanytine Empire was basicly the father of Europe....we still see unfluences in our gonverment today. My favorite person from history who intrigues me is defiently Augustus/Octavius. Very intresting person and alotve mystery surrounds him.The Dark Ages isnt very intresting to me at all except seeing hoe Europe regressed so much during that time period...

 

[l?ckdown]

Atlantis

 

[Pacers fan forever]

Byzantines. I think they are very underrated in terms of recognition. They were experts in large war weapons, especailly the trebuchet. They were very powerful and dominated a lot of Europe. They had a great navy and cavalry too.

 

[redneck]

For me its definatly Rome and Greece which I like learning about. but I also like learning about Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Parthia, Egypt, Carthage, The Aryans and other groups. I also like learning about the American early civilization such as the Fremont, Anasazis and other western tribes.For me Eastern civilizations are somewhat boring, most things I've read about the early civilizations in the Ingus, Ganges, and Yen valleys are just boring.I actually don't consider the Byzantines as an ancient civilization, they're more of a dark ages civilization. They didn't rise to prominance until after the sack of Rome, which is really the boundry between the Ancient and Dark ages. also, the Byzantines share a lot more charecteristics with Dark and Middle Age civilization.

 

[Memphology]

True, but the Byzatanines were somewhat overlapped and basicly the Eastern Empire of Rome was Byzantine, so I really consider it dated back during the late Romans times before the sack of Rome. Many people say that Rome really last longer up until only a couple hundreds of year ago because of the Byzantine Empire, but IMO, from the sack of Rome up to the Byzantines Empires later ages, it was a completely different culture but from what Ive read and seen on TV, the Byzantine Empire(Eastern Europe) actually thribed during the Dark Ages, which was really hitting hard in Western Europe.I have my moods about the Asian and American ancient cultures. Alotve Native American history is boring for the simple fact we dont know many people, leaders or particular wars that occured thousands of years ago in the North American region. I like reading about the Incas, Mayans and especially the Aztecs..the usual large civilazations of the Americas, but we've talked so much about them in school im somewhat sick of it. The ancient Asian cultures are intresting too, but the intresting stuff is around the Mediterranean area.

 

[primetime]

I like the egyptians and late BCs. my best class in high school was surprisingly World History.

 

[Milgod]

What civilisation isn't amazing! Love pretty much everything about history. If I had to pick an era I'm most interested in the Greeks (including Alexanders and his Empire) would be top. I'm reading a great book at the moment about the Peloponnesian War. I would like to know more about Chinese history, and will be hopefully getting some books about it for my birthday tomorrow (fingers crossed). The Persians are also pretty fascinating, will be reading 'Persian Fire' as my next book. When reading about history I love reading about individuals as well and how they affected things.

 

[Memphology]

Im reading Mythologies right now. Really gives insight on how the Greeks thought about their gods...very good and intresting book, I suggest you pick it up.

 

[redneck]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BluffCityBlue @ Jul 15 2007, 03:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>True, but the Byzatanines were somewhat overlapped and basicly the Eastern Empire of Rome was Byzantine, so I really consider it dated back during the late Romans times before the sack of Rome. Many people say that Rome really last longer up until only a couple hundreds of year ago because of the Byzantine Empire, but IMO, from the sack of Rome up to the Byzantines Empires later ages, it was a completely different culture but from what Ive read and seen on TV, the Byzantine Empire(Eastern Europe) actually thribed during the Dark Ages, which was really hitting hard in Western Europe.I have my moods about the Asian and American ancient cultures. Alotve Native American history is boring for the simple fact we dont know many people, leaders or particular wars that occured thousands of years ago in the North American region. I like reading about the Incas, Mayans and especially the Aztecs..the usual large civilazations of the Americas, but we've talked so much about them in school im somewhat sick of it. The ancient Asian cultures are intresting too, but the intresting stuff is around the Mediterranean area.</div>While it's true that Constantinople began to differntiate themselves from Rome as early as the 360s, it wasn't until the sack of Rome and the end of the communication networks that Constantinople began to get its own unique flavor. And yeah the Byzantines did florish in the dark ages, but thats because they kept many of the same ideas that the Romans had, such as bathing, education, civil services and militarism. These ideas also spread to neigboring civilizations such as the Islamic Calaphites, so these allowed the exchange of ideas between to the two. in contrast in Europe that wasn't the case, everything was centered around religion and there was no education. plus the social structure of Europe hindered trade, so there wasn't a lot of Weath beyond the upper castes, and there were no connections between differnt groups of people so ideas couldn't change. I am one of the people who agrees that the end of the Roman empire happened in 1453 when the turks captured Constantinople.I like the American cultures because I live in the west, and there's still a lot of their ruins. especially in the four corners area.

 

[Memphology]

I got into the whole Egypt thing becuase of where I live. I remember I was like 7 or 8 and I asked my dad what The Pyramid was for and why was there one in Memphis...so he told me about the whole cousin city thing, Nile/Mississippi...that whole thing. We were actually on our way to the library so when we got there he helped me pick out an childrens Ancient Egypt book and it all started there. As I got older, I read more and more about the Nubian and Roman connections to Egypt and it all branched out from there...

 

[.cabangbang]

Mayans. Easily the most advanced civilization in its time.

 

[Strike3]

All ancient civilizations are very interesting to learn about. Id love to learn more about Babylon though.

 

[redneck]

if you're interested in Babylon/Mespotamia a good show to check out is Kings: from Babylon to Bagdadh. its one the history channell and is about two hours long, and goes from the start of civilization until the recent Invasion of Iraq. it's a very good show and has a lot of stuff from the early Mesopotamic civilizations.

 

[Memphology]

I actually watched that show from about 1880s up...I missed the beginning. I might need to check it out....After seeing 300, ive gotten very intrested in the Persians and how Alexanders conquest influenced them so much...and of course Babylon is veyr close to the Persian cultures. I watched a couple documentrys on King Darius II....very intresting person also...

 

[The`Dream]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CABANGBANG @ Jul 15 2007, 06:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Mayans. Easily the most advanced civilization in its time.</div>Agreed here, they were easily the most advanced civilization during their time and for them to be so isolated from the rest of the world was amazing.

 

[Pacers fan forever]

Here's Wikepidea's section on the Byzantines. I don't know why but I just love the cicilization

 

[the_pestilence]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The`Dream @ Jul 15 2007, 08:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Agreed here, they were easily the most advanced civilization during their time and for them to be so isolated from the rest of the world was amazing.</div>well the isolation was benificial to them, as they didn't have as many countries to compete with for resources.

 

[Milgod]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The`Dream @ Jul 16 2007, 04:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Agreed here, they were easily the most advanced civilization during their time and for them to be so isolated from the rest of the world was amazing.</div>Well they were certainly advanced in many ways, but I'm not sure I would call them the most advanced. Surely the Egyptians would be considered more advanced during the early years of the Mayan civilisation. Then the Greeks & Romans after that. During the 'classic' period then the drak ages were coming in Europe so maybe then the Mayans could be thought of as more advanced.

 

[SirLaker]

The Incas of Peru. I am half peruvian (other half Italian) But I just love the culture. I have been to Peru multiple times, and their beach is great. Anyway, I am just very intrigued by the Inca civilization and Machu Pichu, which is now one of the wonders of the world, might I add.

 

[The`Dream]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Milgod @ Jul 16 2007, 04:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well they were certainly advanced in many ways, but I'm not sure I would call them the most advanced. Surely the Egyptians would be considered more advanced during the early years of the Mayan civilisation. Then the Greeks & Romans after that. During the 'classic' period then the drak ages were coming in Europe so maybe then the Mayans could be thought of as more advanced.</div>The Egyptians weren't nearly isolated as the mayans though. The Egyptians picked up alot of their ideas and sciences from the Nubians and other societies and integrated them into their culture. The Mayans were the first of their kind, especially in math. It could be argued they had a better idea of math then the Spanish did when the conquistadors came.