When in history...

[Cash Staks]

Come to think about it, that list also doesn't include the Athenian Empire, short-lived as it was. Maybe it isn't every empire in history.

Well, as some have said, empire is a pretty loose term. So I'm sure there would be much debate between people as to what constitutes an empire and then what "empires" could actually be called such.

[Benandorf]

That's a long list of Empires! And it's mildly depressing that the majority of human history was just broken down into about 50 lines...

[bovi]

Human history is only about empires ?

[Bootsiuv]

Well, not only about empires....but I'd say they've played a pretty central role in people's lives for most of recorded history.

BTW, wasn't there an Israelite Empire around 900 BCE?

[Zaknafien]

No, there wasnt. Recent archaeology has disproven most of the claims laid out in the Torah about the 'kingdoms' of David and Solomon. Jerusalem in the era was really only a backwater town with no real influence, while the Kingdom of Israel in the north was somewhat stronger, but still only a local power. In reality the Egyptians controlled most of that territory for centuries into the supposed time of the Israelite kings.

[fallen851]

Human history is only about empires ?

When you live in the United States, where everything is about being bigger and better than everyone, yes.

If you live in Norway, whose power hasn't been great for a long time, probably not.

[Bootsiuv]

Why would you feel the need to take a crack at the US? Isn't there enough of that in the political mudpit on TWC? Go over there and do that stuff....let's leave the US bashing for another forum, yes?

BTW, have you ever been to America? I assume your from Norway. I do so love how people from Europe just think they know everything about us....I've heard so many stereotypes about the american people, it's getting really old.

@Zaknafien

Oh, really? That's very interesting. Thanks for your help! :)

[Sassem]

@Bootsiuv

Belgian Empire (1901 – 1962)

Wow Yesterday on the news I heard they ha(ve)d political problems something between the Vlamingen and the Waloniers (sp) I know the news is lagging a little bit behind but 45 years thats a bit too much

Do I miss something or can I drive down there and put my flag in the ground

[Bovarius]

Sassem, try us!

We kicked you out once, we'll do it again

And the troubles in Belgium are just something that has been a problem from the start of Belgium. Its quiet normal that a country in which you have 2 different people speaking two different languages (Vlamingen and Walen) you can have issues. But politicians can sometimes blow the matters so much up, together with the media that it looks like a country is falling apart. If so, it has been faling apart for 176 years, not that bad i thing.

PS: STOP MAKING HEINEKEN, its horrible!

[bovi]

Why would you feel the need to take a crack at the US? Isn't there enough of that in the political mudpit on TWC? Go over there and do that stuff....let's leave the US bashing for another forum, yes?

BTW, have you ever been to America? I assume your from Norway. I do so love how people from Europe just think they know everything about us....I've heard so many stereotypes about the american people, it's getting really old.

Err... I think he was referring to me being Norwegian. Your remark, generalizing all of Europe, is not appreciated. Let's leave it at that.

[blitzkrieg80]

Arg!!

And here I was seriously challenging the definition of "empire" in people's minds based on language... And somehow people have to talk some nonsense, insulting Norway, not the US, and yes, let's get back to the point.

Armenia. A good point there... as someone else said, where's that on the list?... now if Armenia is to be defined an empire, what is the title it's leader took? Can something greater than king be found, because if not, it's not an empire. Empires involve sub-kings, but the definition of kings is vague so that sub-dukes are entirely possible too, but merely being King and successful and having different peoples is not enough. Now, I'm not saying the amazing effort of ancient Armenia was not enough, but somebody elucidate this.

PS- the kingdom(s) of the ancient Israeli were still interesting and worthy of mention... the point was that the exagerated propoganda isn't supported by evidence... I'm not talking about religion by the way, before any sensitive types explode

[Bootsiuv]

Err... I think he was referring to me being Norwegian. Your remark, generalizing all of Europe, is not appreciated. Let's leave it at that.

Well, his remark, generalizing all of America, was not appreciated. Let's leave it at that.

EDIT: BTW, I don't have anything against Europeans....look at the threads I've started and you'll see that I'm trying to increase community involvement. I just have something against the Europeans who think all americans are crack-smoking imperialists who drive SUVs and eat at McDonald's everyday.
EDIT2: After re-reading my post....I didn't even generalize all of Europe....I said people from Europe, which doesn't imply all people from europe....take a chill pill guy.

That dude just implied that every american is an imperialist. That's simply not the case. Allright I'm going back to being my usual nice self, and I hope we can just put this behind us.

No hard feelings, Bovi?

[bovi]

I don't think anyone ever said there wasn't more to human history than empires, unless I'm missing something.

That's a long list of Empires! And it's mildly depressing that the majority of human history was just broken down into about 50 lines...

Okay, not exact. He said majority, not all. There's the attitude though. Fallen thinks so certainly, from his *cough* friendly response. Although that was prompted by my post.

I'll exit this thread now, so I don't derail it once more. See you in another discussion.

[Bootsiuv]

Oh....I see now. You are quite right. :)

[Gazius]

I've been musing around the idea of something like a realistic 'civ' and having played both Civilization: BTS, and waaay too many Paradox games, I was heading at this question from what one might consider a great achievement in history; the creation of the state. Empire in many forms, monarchy in others, democracies and republics, the projection of power far beyond what a single man can do.

However this is the wrong approach. Or at least I can't think of any plausible way to do. Once must approach it EB style: By realizing that at the head of it all, it's a bunch of guys convincing others to follow their pied pipers of byzantic traits through history. Of course, in say the late republic/early Roman Empire, the state still mattered to some marginal degree, but really, it was the delightful Augustus and Nero who defined the times. Model any empirical game after the oligarchy. If you have a senate, fine, give those senators lives. Let their interests conflict. If you have a monarchy, let the madman run naked down the street with the constitution in hand. Anything beyond the traits of a person is just tech research and your laze/labour ratio.