Your favorite non Greek civilization?

[sDimitrije]

Japanese and egyptian... I am afraid to think what the Egyptians acheived such a long time ago... They were insane! :D

[DeVilMaYcRy]

I like the ninja's haaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiigiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Prokomenos]

Originally Posted by DeVilMaYcRy
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I like the ninja's haaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiigiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Hahaha lol

[really]

I like the Ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations. It amazes me that the Chinese civilization is the only one that has retained basically more or less the same language as in ancient times, maybe that's how it has managed to survive continuously for 5,000 years. I think the Chinese were lucky that their country was unified pretty early in their history by the Qin Emperor (their first emperor), as there was a lot of fightings between the different small kingdoms. Yes, I agree that Chinese civilization and history is fascinating, it is also so different from Western civilizations.

The Mongol Empire is also interesting, although it lasted only a short period of time. I read that the Mongols destroyed the cities and then rebuilt them better than before, and there was a period of peace and safety where young women carrying jewels with them can travel unharmed from one side of the empire to the next. The Mongols also invented the use of paper money so that they don't have to carry gold around. There are also other inventions but I can't remember what.

I personally find the Romans pretty much barbarian with their Colosseum.

[Megale]

Originally Posted by really
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I like the Ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations. It amazes me that the Chinese civilization is the only one that has retained basically more or less the same language as in ancient times, maybe that's how it has managed to survive continuously for 5,000 years. I think the Chinese were lucky that their country was unified pretty early in their history by the Qin Emperor (their first emperor), as there was a lot of fightings between the different small kingdoms. Yes, I agree that Chinese civilization and history is fascinating, it is also so different from Western civilizations.

The Mongol Empire is also interesting, although it lasted only a short period of time. I read that the Mongols destroyed the cities and then rebuilt them better than before, and there was a period of peace and safety where young women carrying jewels with them can travel unharmed from one side of the empire to the next. The Mongols also invented the use of paper money so that they don't have to carry gold around. There are also other inventions but I can't remember what.

I personally find the Romans pretty much barbarian with their Colosseum.

So you thought Ghenges Khan was civilized??

[Hellenika]

Originally Posted by really
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I like the Ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations. It amazes me that the Chinese civilization is the only one that has retained basically more or less the same language as in ancient times, maybe that's how it has managed to survive continuously for 5,000 years. I think the Chinese were lucky that their country was unified pretty early in their history by the Qin Emperor (their first emperor), as there was a lot of fightings between the different small kingdoms. Yes, I agree that Chinese civilization and history is fascinating, it is also so different from Western civilizations.

The Mongol Empire is also interesting, although it lasted only a short period of time. I read that the Mongols destroyed the cities and then rebuilt them better than before, and there was a period of peace and safety where young women carrying jewels with them can travel unharmed from one side of the empire to the next. The Mongols also invented the use of paper money so that they don't have to carry gold around. There are also other inventions but I can't remember what.

I personally find the Romans pretty much barbarian with their Colosseum.

You are wrong about the Chinese civilization being the only one that has retained basically more or less the same language as in ancient times. The Greek language has barely changed either since ancient times.

[really]

No, Genghis Khan was not civilized for killing people, of course not, much as any conqueror or colonialist who built an empire through the use of arms. I mentioned some elements of the Mongol empire that were worthy of notice and therefore interesting, to me at least.

Is that right that the Greek language has barely changed since ancient times? I have always thought there is what is called ancient Greek and modern Greek, so I am glad that you clarified it for me. Can the Greek people then read "ancient" Greek and understand it? I know people used to study ancient Greek and Latin in school. Fortunately, I did not have to study them.

[Megale]

Originally Posted by really
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No, Genghis Khan was not civilized for killing people, of course not, much as any conqueror or colonialist who built an empire through the use of arms. I mentioned some elements of the Mongol empire that were worthy of notice and therefore interesting, to me at least.

Is that right that the Greek language has barely changed since ancient times? I have always thought there is what is called ancient Greek and modern Greek, so I am glad that you clarified it for me. Can the Greek people then read "ancient" Greek and understand it? I know people used to study ancient Greek and Latin in school. Fortunately, I did not have to study them.

Ancient Greek looks like Modern Greek, same letters and alphabet, but the meaning is different. Its still Greek but its a different form of Greek. Yes, there are separate courses ancient and modern. Think of it like this, its the differences like modern english from lets say middle english.

[Ellinas]

The Greek language is one, but with many different forms. I would not say the classification in "ancient" and "modern" which is used by many people is absolute, as they are many different forms of the Greek language, ancient and modern.

For example in the 5th century BC the most spread forms were Attic and Doric Greek, in 3rd century BC the most spread was Koine, today the most spread is Demotic. Demotic Greek is the official language of the Greek state nowadays, Katharevousa was the official language some decades ago. Other forms such as Pontian or Tsakonian are used by some people in parts of Greece nowadays.

All these forms of Greek use the same alphabet. Someone who has fluent knownledge of Demotic Greek can read a text in any other form of Greek and understand many parts.

[really]

Would those different forms of Greek be different dialects then? I assume depending on which region is more powerful that their dialect then becomes the dominant one that is spoken and written in a certain period. I can understand that the alphabet is the same, as I have seen some letters on archaic monuments or documents, but how can people of different dialects understand each other?