Which historical civilisation is your personal favourite? And why?

Question

This question is just for interesting fun It is to me anyway!!! =)

Would like respondents to contain their answers to which and why. We're all capable of research, particularly if informative links are pasted. =)

Personally, the Minoan civilisation was my favourite. They sure as hell weren't flawless and do appear to have been unhealthily female dominated *which was a contributing factor to their demise in my opinion, a perfect civilisation would be totally equal* but were so progressive i think we could learn from them now.

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MINOA/MINOANS.HTM

That is a very useful link, go to the home page too, plenty of info on many civilisations.

I will always choose the best answer, it's my question and a best answer can differ from my own view if it's well reasoned. Also, all forums attract a greater proportion of *bunny boilers* than are in the general population, i ain't going to let that be a factor

LOL, merely employing the popular label Felicity, all words are only labels.

As to defining what is civilisation really is, that would be another question. I might ask it. =)

Great answer Bill, no way am i saying female domination is less healthy than Male domination tho. They both suck!!! Evidence of sexism in Minoan culture tho, women do appear to have been unhealthily dominant until their last chapter where massive cultural/spiritual change happened too.

Thanks for so many great answers all, i'm really enjoying this, hope you are too. =)

I do mean Civilisations Hans Laxman Raj, some of whom were Empires too.

Interesting answer. =)

Way to go Grumpyinthemornings!!! Bronze age/ Iron age British civilisation was highly developed and progressive!

Have you read Manda Scott's Boudicca quartet? Fictional and speculative but very well researched, i recommend them if you haven't read them. =)

Another right on answer DeSaxe, the late *Victorian/ Edwardian eras* were very progressive times. Teddy Roosevelt was a stand out personality to me, apart from his engagement in the Phillipines.

And no, it doesn't have to be an Ancient Civilisation, just prior to our own times.=)

Many stand out answers here, of course choosing a favourite civilisation is purely subjective.

Cracked up laughing at Bobby L's answer, the Assyrians were a very scary people, not the kind to mess with at all. In identifying fears "What's your personal Assyrian?" would be very a very pertinent question. =)

Answer 1

Do you mean historical "empire" or "ancient" civilisation??? If you mean empire, I would say the British empire. If you mean ancient civilisation I will say either the ancient Chinese or the ancient Greek civilisation. The reason is due to the sheer innovation and progres made under these. Unlike the Ottomans, they weren't obsessed with converting all their subjects to Islam or they weren't concerned with plundering their conquered lands but they actually developed and civilised their lands and their subjects.

Answer 2

I thought long and hard about this question. At first, I was agreeing with the other people in that the Mayan, Incan, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations were the best. However, as I thought deeper into the question, a new and much more unique answer came to me. The Mongol Empire is my favorite civilization. Why? Why would a barbarian emperor such as Ghangis Khan be my favorite leader? Why would a nation known for is barbarianism be my favorite nation of all time? Well, though the Mongol Empire has had the reputation of being barbaric thanks to European scholars writing the history of the Mongol Empire (the Europeans were afraid of the Mongols, so the European scholars portrayed the Mongols as evil and monsterous), the Mongols were actually far more civilized than Europe. During the time when people in Europe were being persecuted, murdered, and slaughtered for having "infedel" or "paganistic," the Mongols were already developing a civilization where women were seen more as equals. Ghangis Khan tried to give all children an education, not just the rich. Khan believed that women play a vital role in society and therefore should be treated with respect. The Mongols developed military tactics far more advanced and brilliant than anything ever seen. The Mongols created brilliant inventions such as the comp bow, bowl catipult (not the rope catipult, which was much less effective and couldn't go as far). They were the first to use gunpowder and fireworks in battle (though it was the Chinese who invented gunpowder and fireworks). Mongols learned to ride on the side of the horse at full speed while firing arrows so that the Mongols could still shoot while not being in harms' way (the enemy arrows would hit the horse instead of the rider). The Mongols were the first to perfect the "moving cities," where as many as 100,000 people would simply pack up their belongings and travel with the army. The Mongols conquered more land and in less time than any other nation on Earth ever for the exception of England and Nazi Germany (England conquered more land than The Mongols but did it slower, the Nazis conquered less land but were even quicker than the Mongols). During the Dark Ages, the Mongol Empire was the only nation that was pulling out of barbarianism rather than becoming more barbaric. With all of their innovations, inventions, and triumphs, I consider the Mongol Empire to be the most successful (even though it was short lived) Empire in history. The Mongols did more to advance humanity than any other nation previously. Therefore, I must admit that it is the Mongol Empire that is my favorite civilization (even considering the feats of Rome and Greece).

Answer 3

I don't know much about it but the Minoan civilisation is interesting. (I might be wrong here I'm just speaking off the top of my head from what I remember reading history), They appeared out of the mists of time on the island of Crete(?) through their colourful and stylish wall paintings, and then they disappeared, never to return probably due to volcanic activity. I didn't know they were female dominated, how can that be more unhealthy than male dominated?
My favourite is the Sumerian civilisation. The first recorded settled towns as we recognise them today. You know why? because of the little statuettes and models of themselves that they have left behind from all these centuries ago. My favourite is in one of the Houston museums, it's about nine inches high and in perfect condition, it's big eyes and charming ambiguous smile gives it an ageless expression, they seem to be a peaceful people unlike the Assyrians and/or Akkadians who conquered them.

Answer 4

Originally I thought the Roman, being a wealthy Roman citizen would be interesting. Bit being wealthy in any civilization would be nice. But then there the chance that one would be a slave which would suck.
Egyptian, no not really, the chance of having to drag racks across the desert is to great.
Greek, again if one is wealthy it would not be bad. Since I do not see ancient or former in your question I would like to have been in the earlier American post colonial era. Reason unless born a slaves one had the greatest opportunity to advance and create and live decent life. Allot of the ancient civilization were fairly bloody and unless of high or noble birth one ability to progress and live a decent life was severally limited.

Answer 5

The British Celtic civilisation. They were so far advanced in their outlook that we're only just beginning to catch up with them today. They had advanced medical knowledge (including surgery), and highly evolved laws which protected women, the disabled, the mentally handicapped, the down and outs of society. They had a very organised educational system from infancy through to various levels of university degrees, organised health care, and a very effective penal system which didn't involve locking people up. They were also well known for their hospitality and tolerance of incomers who had different cultures and viewpoints. OK - so they also fought a lot, but then, who didn't? - and they did have a complex setup of diplomatic avenues to try to settle disputes between clans. Dratted Romans pretty much wiped all this out with their barbarism.

Answer 6

the Native American tribal nation the Powhatan Indians
engenderd is a of special interest to me.
I am linked via a lineage through my Mother's family..on both sides. .. only live an hour away from the area in
along the Chesapeake Bay in Eastern Virginia. There is a special connection Iand and feel a measure of heritage in the once great culture and region they formerly claimed as their domain .

There were six different tribes to originally coalesce under Chief "Wahunsunacock's Powhatan Confederacy were: the Powhatans (proper), the Arrohatecks, the Appamattucks, the Pamunkeys, the Mattaponis, and the Chiskiacks. He added the Kecoughtans to his fold by 1598"
that grew to about 30 different tribes inter-connected.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powhatan_Confederacy

The Powhatans settled along the rivers of the region sustained life by hunting, the bountiful shellfish and fishing resources of the Chesapeke region and farming . The English settled in Jamestown in 1604..which provided the benchmark for history to be documented through the account of Sir William Raleigh..and the Jamestown settlers.
The famous story of Pocohantas..Powhatan's daughter and Captain John Smith who was captured by her brother..is a popular episode in American colonial history.

The English were the factor that within two decades put an end to the culture through genocide and dominance

"In 1622, lead by their new leader, Opechancanough, the Powhatans staged an attack on English settlements throughout Virginia. The settlers retaliated and waged an all out war on the Powhatan people. For over a decade, the English systematically razed villages, seizing or destroying crops, killing men and women, and capturing children. The English expanded their empire as the Powhatan empire declined. In 1644, Opechancanough rallied his people for a final attempt at forcing the English off their land. Hundreds of colonists were killed, and Opechancanough was captured by the English and shot. Finally, treaties were made with Opechancanough's successor, severely restricting the Powhatan people's territory and confining them to small reservations. By 1669, the population of Powhatan Indians in the area had dropped to about 1,800 and by 1722, many of the tribes comprising the empire of Chief Powhatan were reported extinct."
http://www.baydreaming.com/powhatan.htm

what began as a respecting relationship changed very quickly through the Imperialistic nature of the British
and their desire to stake claims for the Crown.

Answer 7

Well it's hard to choose between the ancient greeks romans and egyptians! I find the ancient greeks facinating, i was captivated by thier amazing resourcefulness such a long time ago! The mystery and wonder of thier civilisation still baffles professionals today, for that alone i think they're amazing. The romans because they carved a way to the future, the way they battled, thier culture and society was all so great that it saddens me to think that so much of thier awe was lost after they fell and was only gained back in the renecanse(sorry cant spell). And the ancient greeks because their findings are still true today, platos works, pythagoras, trigonomatory, hippocrates-all are still remembered today. I think that a truely great civilisation who are rememberes thousands of years later. They're all great but i picked my favorite 3 (probably the most common) bacause to me they are unforgattable!

Answer 8

Ours is a civilisation not founded on violence and slavery? I beg to differ, colonialism? Thought that was pretty much the major factor in the establishment of our current civilisation?

My faves are the Greeks. Philosophy, mathematics, engineering, democracy, oh and the comic / film 300.

Answer 9

If it is an essay question, smack you instructor for being too obscure... in case you advise oldest then attempt China, Iraq or Egypt ... all 5000+ years of existence And PEACHY... to retort... If I had to %. a maximum historic usa, however, it may be my very own united statesA. We pioneered greater stuff than everybody... by potential of a few distance, in the previous century. - whilst you're basically observing the previous century then it rather is ineffective... and various of the main crucial innovations of this century weren't American ... television, telephone (i comprehend that's 1800's), internet, and a score of scientific remedies ... We bailed out greater helpless, hopeless countries from doom... by potential of a few distance, than the different usa. - lower back... the U. S. has brought about almost as many wars as the different usa on the earth ... and bailing out... i anticipate all you're speaking of is France in WW2. perhaps you may count quantity Korea. we've led the way in scientific remedies... by potential of a few distance, than the different usa. - lower back ... many countries have had many greater scientific advancements that the U. S.... Scandanavian countries, uk, Canada... i could circulate into the U. S. lead place in organic and organic conflict... yet for some reason i'm ranting already. i'd desire to circulate on and on, yet i don't choose to look predjudiced. info are info, however. - calling some thing a fact does not make it so. the U. S. has dome some great things... yet has not executed from now on than the different usa in the way of recuperating the international it purely sounds like it has because of fact maximum of thoughts are coopted by potential of them ... i'm particular somebody already has claimed that the telephone became into invented by potential of an American... yet he wasn't ...

Answer 10

So, just for fun, define civilisation! If it means buildings and artifacts, then probably the Egyptians, who discovered the zero, the Greeks or maybe the Incas. If it's humanitarian considerations, I don't think anyone was/is particularly civilised. A point goes to the ancient Greeks, who at least pondered the philosophy of being civil.