11-07-2004, 09:23 PM
OK, if you interpret "civilisation" to include any group of non-savage peoples past the hunter-gatherer level, you have a point. Under this definition I mean Roman Civilisation, which brought huge long term benefits to the populations brought within its borders, too obvious to list.<br>
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Who can doubt that had the Romans continued to expand into Central Europe indefinitely that the subsequent history of the world would not have been so much more "civilised"?<br>
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Even as it was when has Western Europe ever since enjoyed 400 years of internal peace? That to me is what "civilisation" is all about, the bringing of peace and stability to regions previously wracked by tribal wars and external invasion.<br>
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Our existing culture could never guarantee us peace from now until say 2404 AD could it? That was the Roman achievement to me.<br>
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Back on topic, Alexander was just a Greek speaking Attila, bringing the Greek language and culture, sure, but at the cost of mass murder, enslavement of whole populations and a heritage of bitter civil wars fought out by foreign mercenaries over regions that had enjoyed true "civilisation" for centuries. (IMO) <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Who can doubt that had the Romans continued to expand into Central Europe indefinitely that the subsequent history of the world would not have been so much more "civilised"?<br>
<br>
Even as it was when has Western Europe ever since enjoyed 400 years of internal peace? That to me is what "civilisation" is all about, the bringing of peace and stability to regions previously wracked by tribal wars and external invasion.<br>
<br>
Our existing culture could never guarantee us peace from now until say 2404 AD could it? That was the Roman achievement to me.<br>
<br>
Back on topic, Alexander was just a Greek speaking Attila, bringing the Greek language and culture, sure, but at the cost of mass murder, enslavement of whole populations and a heritage of bitter civil wars fought out by foreign mercenaries over regions that had enjoyed true "civilisation" for centuries. (IMO) <p></p><i></i>
