What ancient civilization should we look up to the most?

**Populus Romanus** · 07-16-2011, 08:19

No one has mentioned the Roman Republic yet? Shame, shame.

**Skullheadhq** · 07-16-2011, 10:54

Originally Posted by Populus Romanus

No one has mentioned the Roman Republic yet? Shame, shame.

Economics weren't that good (exodus of the plebeians, Grachi etc.), laws were basically 12 stone tables with very primitive social structure being enforced in it. Customs (gladiatorial fight, debt slavery etc.) weren't things to be proud on either. Roman laws started to become somewhat good with the Codex Iuris Civilis which was issued around 520 by the emperor in Constantinople and economy in the eastern part of the empire was better anyway, which was only acquired in the late aftermath of the republic (inheritance of Pergamon, Pompeius in the east) which took place 300 to 450 years after the founding on the republic. Not only that, but the political system of the (late) republic was as corrupt as Italy.

**InsaneApache** · 07-16-2011, 12:15

The Greeks. Not the current lot, their forbears.

Great philosophers in Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, (sounds like the Brazilian footy team

) etc.

They used reason and maths to try and explain the world around them, rather than superstition. They even got within a few miles of the circumference of the Earth.

Mathematicians like every schoolboys chum, Pythagoras. With an honourable mention to Eratosthenes.

Not to mention the Demos and the Kratos that I am so fond of.

A truly remarkable people.

**Skullheadhq** · 07-17-2011, 17:25

Originally Posted by InsaneApache

Not to mention the Demos and the Kratos that I am so fond of.

I prefer the Monos and the Kratos.

**Vladimir** · 07-18-2011, 14:55

Originally Posted by Skullhead

I prefer the Monos and the Kratos.

I prefer the Homos and the Kratos on one particular island.

**Kralizec** · 07-17-2011, 22:20

Originally Posted by Skullhead

Economics weren't that good (exodus of the plebeians, Grachi etc.), laws were basically 12 stone tables with very primitive social structure being enforced in it. Customs (gladiatorial fight, debt slavery etc.) weren't things to be proud on either. Roman laws started to become somewhat good with the Codex Iuris Civilis which was issued around 520 by the emperor in Constantinople and economy in the eastern part of the empire was better anyway, which was only acquired in the late aftermath of the republic (inheritance of Pergamon, Pompeius in the east) which took place 300 to 450 years after the founding on the republic. Not only that, but the political system of the (late) republic was as corrupt as Italy.

The Codex Justinianus was just a gathering of pre-existing statutes in a single, comprehensive book of law. As a codified lawbook it was a milestone, but didn't change the substance of Roman law. The same for the other parts of the corpus juris (case law and writings from respected lawyers); the contents existed long before but it was bundled into a single package.

Please illustrate why you think that Hebrew law was "better" than early Roman law

**Arjos** · 07-17-2011, 23:29

Persian (with them must add Babylonian and Egyptian, as they kinda carried their legacy) and Indian, easily the most influencial...
Chinese close behind, but their "protectionism" made them a separate world...

**Populus Romanus** · 07-17-2011, 23:46

People do not take into account how these civilizations treated 50% of their population. How can someone possibly look up to the Greeks or Chinese when they treated their women like slaves? That is why Rome is good, for though they can hardly be said to have treated women equally, they were better than most of the rest.

**Arjos** · 07-17-2011, 23:58

Imo when I look at the Chinese's achievements and the Romans', is completely matchless...
Obviously all ancient civs compared to the modern one are "less free", but for example with the Chinese only Daoism, Confucianism and literature are a huge portion of modern thinking...