Most Influential Civilization?

[pastro243]

headshot91 said:

pastro243 said:

headshot91 said:

Kasz216 said:

Well... lets take a look at the list.

 

1) British Empire... too young.

2) Roman Empire... not counting the Byzantines, it doesn't really work.

3) Spanish Empire... again too young, and largely influenced by others.

4) USA... Also, too young... with the one caveat being that the "American" way of life does seem to be permiating across the world in was even the British Empire didn't when they actually OWNED most of the world.   Not yet... If the USA stays on top for a while more though... all culture may be a hybrid of US culture.

5)  Islamic Empires/Dynasties... Maybe... they did di a lot, but a lot of it didn't end up working well... a lot of stuff having to be rediscovered.

Those off the Board.

 

1) China... too inturned on themselves.

2) Greece... Alexander the Great... did do a lot.  Still... doesn't seem like enough.  They influenced the Romans... but the romans did all the real legwork.

3) Mongol Empire.  The largest land empire in the world... and debatibly the biggest in the world. 

4) Akkadians, Precursors to Bablyon and pretty much the Islamic Empire.

5) Persian Empire... Huge Empire.  Powerful... etc.

 

 

I'm going Mongols.  Why?

1) Yuan Dynasty.

2) Mughal Empire

3) They caused a crapload of destruction where they came.  This was greatly infuential... in the demography greatly changed... and you could definitly say your country wasn't the same if the Mongolians came in.

4) The Mongols lead to the rise of Moscow, and effected why Russian history ended up.

5) Greatly expanded europes knowledge of the world, which lead to colonilization and trips like Columbus.

 

What? The langauge of English permeated across the world from India to North America to Australia because they were colonies of the British at one time or another. Also, the British empire has had a MASSIVE political, linguistic (mentioned) and cultural legacy. I mean, the english langauge is the language of the world, english law is the basis for many different countries judicial systems and dont even ge tme started on the cultural aspect- Football, cricket, tennis, golf, literature,architecture, education have all been higely influenced by this empire. And also you know, the industrial revolution, and the basis of many scientific principles today was started in Britain, and spread across the world via our trade!

I think roman law has had a bigger impact. And most of those things can be said of most guys on the list, spanish empire had almost everything in america and passed spanish(castellano) as a language.

Britain had an impact on politics, but so did france, USA, Greeks and romans.

So I think the one that made most, if that can be decided, are the greeks in the way of thinking and organizing and the romans in terms of putting those things in a lot of people with later empires expanding on that. Of course this is for western civilization since I think China and Japan have also played important roles.

Also, romans did a lot, but they kinda got stuck in their last part in technology, art, economy, etc... at least the occidental part.

British law is actually the basis of say the Australian and US law, it used certain parts fom roman law, but UK law was much more global etc.

USA has impact on politics, but that really only started happening in the early 20th century. Britain has had an impact for hundreds of years prior too.

Also i think the fact Britain started the industrial revolution influences me in saying they were the most influential society, as this led to ttodays consumers product led society and globalisation up to a point.

Of course we all know everyone has an opinion and so people may agree/disagree

Well british law has things that come from roman right, and USA, France and Britain are influence for modern constitutions and liberal democracies. The whole idea of constitutional supremacy comes from the US.

It really isnt important to establish who is the most influential as to know how they influenced and why, so I agree people can have different opinnions, but anyway Id trace most western way of thinking to the greeks and the important spread of these to the romans with each civilization helping after.