5 most potential and influential empires/civilizations

[DarthJF]

The Hellenic "civilization" is a bit undervalued here imo.

Yup, though it's hard to distinquish between them and Romans since much of Rome's importance comes from their spreading of Greek culture.

And if one counts Persia as a singular civilisation then they are definitely among the top and criminally underrated. From their importance during ancient period to their contributions to Islamic world.

 

[XYN]

Greco-Roman shouldn't be separated into 2 civilisations, I think.

And if one counts Persia as a singular civilisation then they are definitely among the top and criminally underrated. From their importance during ancient period to their contributions to Islamic world.

Suffix -stan lives in memes!

 

[Tufto]

And if one counts Persia as a singular civilisation then they are definitely among the top and criminally underrated. From their importance during ancient period to their contributions to Islamic world.

Much as I disapprove of the exercise, this is definitely true .

 

[Fishman786]

Much as I disapprove of the exercise, this is definitely true .

Persia is basically a primitive tribal zone by any reasonable measure of civilisation, assuming of course that holding Vilnius is the only reasonable measure.

 

[Henry IX]

Persia is basically a primitive tribal zone by any reasonable measure of civilisation, assuming of course that holding Vilnius is the only reasonable measure.

Which it clearly and self evidently is.

 

[Krajzen]

If by empires you mean exactly "empires", states, then in random order IMO

Roman Empire
Achaemenid Empire
Han Dynasty
Rashidun Caliphate
Carolingian Empire

Honorable mentions:
*India of course, enormously important as a whole but almost never really united for a prolonged amount od time
*Similarly Greeks as a whole, Alexander was insanely important but I decided to put Persia before him.
*Arabs, Persia, China as a whole
*Mongols, Byzantium, Babylon, Egypt
*France, Germany, England, Spain - but I put Charlemagne in the top 5 as a personification and fundament of European civilization in general

 

[Fire_Unionist]

Persia is basically a primitive tribal zone by any reasonable measure of civilisation, assuming of course that holding Vilnius is the only reasonable measure.

Great Empires in History:
--Republic of Lithuania
--Soviet Union
--Germany
--Poland
--Russian Empire
--Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
--Grand Duchy of Lithuania

 

[Greenskyguy]

Great Empires in History:
--Republic of Lithuania
--Soviet Union
--Germany
--Poland
--Russian Empire
--Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
--Grand Duchy of Lithuania

I believe all of those states at one point controlled Lithuania or parts of it.

 

[JodelDiplom]

I believe all of those states at one point controlled Lithuania or parts of it.

Do you?
Search your feelings. You know it to be true.

 

[Gerle]

I believe all of those states at one point controlled Lithuania or parts of it.

Excuse me, pardon me, what about Sweden, hmm? Not just part of Lithuania, actually the prized jewel herself, Vilna!

 

[pithorr]

Excuse me, pardon me, what about Sweden, hmm? Not just part of Lithuania, actually the prized jewel herself, Vilna!

Short time period occupation doesn't count. Sweden cannot into empire

 

[Fanstar1]

Short time period occupation doesn't count. Sweden cannot into empire

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/LocationSwedishEmpire.png

 

[pithorr]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/LocationSwedishEmpire.png

Vilnius is out of your map

 

[DarthJF]

At best Sweden counts as a minor footnote in the history of glorious Vilnius.

 

[Fanstar1]

Vilnius is out of your map

I was just saying Sweden can into empire

 

[pithorr]

I was just saying Sweden can into empire

Without Vilnius they can't. You didn't read this thread carefully.

 

[WJLIII3]

Any list of the greatest civilizations which doesn't include China, universally the most populous, for 90% of human history also the most powerful and prosperous polity, is obviously wrong. It is the only empire mentioned in this entire thread which still exists, for example. It is also the first one founded.

 

[Fishman786]

Any list of the greatest civilizations which doesn't include China, universally the most populous, for 90% of human history also the most powerful and prosperous polity, is obviously wrong. It is the only empire mentioned in this entire thread which still exists, for example. It is also the first one founded.

The Akkadian empire predates the Chinese empire by quite a considerable length of time, and the Chinese empire doesn't still exist today, the only surviving ancient empire is that of Japan. Also China never ruled Vilnius.

 

[WJLIII3]

There's still a China, it still has an empire, I'm not seeing the distinction.

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

the only surviving ancient empire is that of Japan.

This begs for the definition of the words "ancient", "empire" and "Vilnius".

There's still a China, it still has an empire, I'm not seeing the distinction.

Would you characterize Iranian Empire a 2500 year old state that still exists in modern times? That would arguably make Iran older than China as well. Like Iran, China lacks continuity.