What are your favourite civilisations from history?

66Mustang

I like the Romans and I think I would want to live as a Roman if I had to choose a civilisation from around that far back. They seemed quite advanced for their age (engineering, military and also their social structure and rights for citizens).

I also find the Vikings very interesting but I absolutely wouldn’t want to be a Viking or be anywhere near them!

What about you?

leeCal

Egyptian I think, but I’d have to be a non manual worker, far too hot there for moving huge great heavy lumps of sandstone about! Pyramid designer would do, oh, but I wouldn’t want to be involved in any secret chambers, far too risky. Actually forget it, I’ll be a Roman too. 🤣

Alex_Alumni

As someone who studied Egyptology and Ancient History at university, you can take a good guess that my favourite is the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans  

While I have an interest in all different types of older civilisations, the interactions between those 3 shaped a lot of things we use today in western society, like you've mentioned @66Mustang.

Obviously no civilisation is perfect, and a lot of them sort to conquer and rule over others, and to erase other cultures to elevate their own, but their impact is certainly lasting!

66Mustang

@leeCal hehe good points

@Alex_Scope if you want to answer/have time to, what is your favourite fact about each of those 3 that we probably don’t know?

Alex_Alumni

That's okay, it's a good test of my very rusty knowledge @66Mustang

Egyptians: If a man divorced his wife, he had to return her dowry (if she had brought one) and pay her a fine; if she divorced him, there was no fine.

Greeks: In ancient Greece, the unibrow was fashionable, a symbol of beauty and intelligence!

Romans: When the Roman's invaded Egypt, they actually adopted many of the countries cultural ideas, such as temple design, and even some gods/goddesses. 

janer1967

@leeCal @Alex_Scope

Have you ever been to Egypt? I've been couple of times and just in awe of hos they built all those structures that are still standing now with the limited tools they had at the time 

Also that the pyramids are just across the road to urban street and not in tr middle of expensive part of desert 

66Mustang

Thank you @Alex_Scope, really interesting 

Alex_Alumni

I have been, to Luxor and a Nile cruise to the south, so not the Northern parts. I'd like to go back one day

It's certainly impressive @janer1967, some of my favourite memories are seeing some of the paint they used in temple decoration has survived this long too!

Biblioklept

My first thought was Roman too but then I don't think women were treated very well and I'd be too outspoken about that so probably wouldn't get on very well. 
I think I'd need to research and find one!

Biblioklept

I was obsessed with Egypt growing up so maybe ancient Egyptian, but a quick Google pointed to Etruscans or Spartans would maybe suit me

66Mustang

@Biblioklept I may be wrong but I think Viking women were treated well for the time at least, not the enemies obviously but the actual citizens. I read that they had the same rights to property etc as men and could have power if they came into it. Like I said may be wrong though. 

Biblioklept

That's interesting to know!

I wonder if anyone from those civilisations could see us now (and get over the shock), whether they'd choose to live here in our world / civilisation?

66Mustang

That’s a good question!!! “What we can’t have slaves? How rubbish is that?”

On a kind of similar note I often wonder is what we are currently doing that is acceptable today that in say 500 years will be unacceptable.

For example 500 years ago it was totally normal to treat certain groups badly and they wouldn’t have known that in the future it would become unacceptable. I’m sure we are doing things today that in 500 more years will be just as unacceptable if that makes sense?

I reckon maybe eating meat may be an example? But that’s just a random wild speculation lol.

Biblioklept

I think eating meat will probably be one of them yeah. 

Things seems to change very quickly especially the last 100 years. Even more recently. Things that were common usage and pretty accepted when I was in school aren't now.

Even what people consider acceptable in terms of clothing has changed massively in last 100 years. Look at bathing suits!

66Mustang

Yes that’s a good point that things are changing much more quickly these days. Some of the things I heard at school and, dare I say it, some of the words I used myself, would be totally inappropriate today!