Rosacrux
06-14-2004, 14:59
Alternative history is fun, no?
So, let’s get alternative as it gets: What if Rome had succumbed, which city-state or state could create an empire as great (or at least comparable) as Rome’s?
My candidates:
- Some of the Macedonian successors
Alexander did conquer half the “known” world, Greek kingdoms spread from Cyrenaica to the Hindus river, but none of the successors made the break. If Rome didn’t grow huge, could they unite more than one of the successor kingdoms and make it really big?
- Athens
They lost their chance long before Rome become a decent power in Italy: By losing the Peloponnesian war, their empire building was stopped in track. To those who don’t know, Athens had an empire of sorts (comparable to the later Italian city alliance of Rome) that included 2/3s of the Aegean islands, a good chunck of mainland Greece, the bulk of the Ionian City/states, Cyprus, Byzantium and the surroundings, lands in Italy and even in Pontus (Scythia).
- Syracusae
The Greek superpower of the West. Syracusae under Dionysios build an impressive little empire, stretching throughout the whole of Sicily and southern Italy, to Illyria and the Ionian islands. Dionysos did leave only incompetent successors, though, so the empire was dissolved before it became a threat to Rome.
- Some other Greek
Pyrrhus of Molossia (Epirus) for instance, was one of the two generals who nearly got Rome on her knees. But he couldn’t replenish his losses, and he had to withdraw from Italy after defeating the Roman and Carthagenian armies in a series of battles. Alexander of Molossia had a fair chance too.
- Carthago
The one of the two grand contestants on this poll. Nobody came as close as Hannibal Barka in annihilating Rome and diminish its power for good. But nobody failed so tragically as he, having to live as a refugee after losing everything – and his homeland – to the Romans, who didn’t leave one stone upon another in the once glorious Carthago.
My vote goes to Athens, with Carthago a close second. What about you?
So, let’s get alternative as it gets: What if Rome had succumbed, which city-state or state could create an empire as great (or at least comparable) as Rome’s?
My candidates:
- Some of the Macedonian successors
Alexander did conquer half the “known” world, Greek kingdoms spread from Cyrenaica to the Hindus river, but none of the successors made the break. If Rome didn’t grow huge, could they unite more than one of the successor kingdoms and make it really big?
- Athens
They lost their chance long before Rome become a decent power in Italy: By losing the Peloponnesian war, their empire building was stopped in track. To those who don’t know, Athens had an empire of sorts (comparable to the later Italian city alliance of Rome) that included 2/3s of the Aegean islands, a good chunck of mainland Greece, the bulk of the Ionian City/states, Cyprus, Byzantium and the surroundings, lands in Italy and even in Pontus (Scythia).
- Syracusae
The Greek superpower of the West. Syracusae under Dionysios build an impressive little empire, stretching throughout the whole of Sicily and southern Italy, to Illyria and the Ionian islands. Dionysos did leave only incompetent successors, though, so the empire was dissolved before it became a threat to Rome.
- Some other Greek
Pyrrhus of Molossia (Epirus) for instance, was one of the two generals who nearly got Rome on her knees. But he couldn’t replenish his losses, and he had to withdraw from Italy after defeating the Roman and Carthagenian armies in a series of battles. Alexander of Molossia had a fair chance too.
- Carthago
The one of the two grand contestants on this poll. Nobody came as close as Hannibal Barka in annihilating Rome and diminish its power for good. But nobody failed so tragically as he, having to live as a refugee after losing everything – and his homeland – to the Romans, who didn’t leave one stone upon another in the once glorious Carthago.
My vote goes to Athens, with Carthago a close second. What about you?