I was thinking in terms of "percent of the population of the world that they effected and to the extent that they effected them"...
and a bit of an explaination of your answer...
I've been looking at the Roman Empire lately and thinking about it compared to America's influence today is what got me to thinking about it... but I'm sure there are other empires that also had great influence too...
2007-03-22 19:14:30 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
oh yes, it's horribly vague, agreed... I hoped the "vageness" would open it up to many different kinds of answers, but it may be too vague for even it's own good...
feel free to take the topic as you will...
2007-03-22 19:36:03 · update #1
Broad question. I think it'd be hard to answer without being more specific.
Past empires have generated lasting cultural legacies, but the current American empire is perhaps the most influential empire ever in the sense that it currently affects the entire globe, something past empires only came close to doing.
2007-03-22 19:22:06 · answer #1 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Roman Empire is what I believe has influenced the most people. They brought Democracy and many of the political practices that much of the world uses today. As well as spreading the world's largest religion, Christianity. While other empires have been crucial to the development and discovery of the world, according to the guidelines of the question the Roman Empire is without a doubt the most influential.
2007-03-22 19:59:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It'd depend on so many ways in which you could qualify the question.
India gave us the symbols we use to represent numbers (1,2,3,...) as well as most clearly defining the concept of zero. Because of India we have a universal language for everything from pure mathematics and physics to trading money for goods around the world.
We have China to thank for paper and printing. Books, paper money, legal documents, tabloids, all of these, and so much more, depend on paper making techniques that have changed little since first developed by China. Printing techniques have changed in that they have changed with the technology available. None of which would be possible with out printing techniques first put into use by the Chinese.
Our systems of governments are, all, as influenced by the Middle East as they are by Rome.
Medicine takes from more cultures than anything.
The arts are, truly, universal.
The Roman empire was, certainly, influential and extensive but, remember, that most of its influence comes from cultures that it had assimilated. In that it does compare most to America because of how very dependant it was on the cultures that made up its empire.
2007-03-22 20:56:29 · answer #3 · answered by ophelliaz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that the roman empire had alot of influence in lots of different ways. But i think most answers are going to be subjective. England and the US also ahd alot of influence on a large part of the population.
2007-03-22 19:25:03 · answer #4 · answered by misoma5 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question...
Considering the effects on Western thought, I would have to choose the Roman Empire. But if you consider the shaping ot those who lately moved to Europe and later formed the Roman Empire, I would choose Media and Persia.
2007-03-22 19:25:12 · answer #5 · answered by Yiya 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the british empire controlled over a quarter of the world and population directly and had great influence on many other countries. in 1900 the royal navy was superior to any two other navys combined. and was unchallenged on the open sea for over 100 years after the battle of trafalgar in 1805. many of the worlds railways were built by the british, english is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world many of the world legal and banking systems are based on british sytems. and practices.
2007-03-22 23:04:44 · answer #6 · answered by supremecritic 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The British Empire without them America,Australia,Canada,,NZ and many more wouldnt exist as the countries they are today and the English language is one of the most widely used today.
2007-03-22 19:51:27 · answer #7 · answered by molly 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely the Holy Roman Empire. They brought Christianity to almost the entire inhabited world. You really can't get more influential than that.
2007-03-22 19:23:00 · answer #8 · answered by tipp10 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Roman Empire, mainly their impact on Christianity and its lasting impact on today's society. Look at all the centuries of lasting impact and variations that have come from the decisions made by the councils in this era. For example the officially recognized divinity of Jesus was decided by councils held by Holy Roman emperors--the council of Nicea.
2007-03-22 19:59:10 · answer #9 · answered by Sue S 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Greece of course. The mother of civilazation! Greece developed all kind of sciences, arts, architecture create democracy and athletic events. Greek is a perfect language, just think all these words and term that are greek origin: democracy, philosophy, mathematics, physics, astronomy, psychology etc.
Without Greece world would still be a banch of barbarians
2007-03-23 07:44:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋