Alternate history discussion, which ancient culture had the best chance of survival?

The Minoans? They could survive as culture if not collapsing and assimilated by Greeks

I could see Minoan ghettos in Phoenician/Greek enclaves around the Meds. If they don't get out of Minos island itself, their fall is a given.

Sumeria lacks any natural defences and the only way for Sumerians to survive would be isolated mountain or swamp pockets. However, even they are more likely to speak Akkadian than Sumerian, as Akkadian phased out Sumerian sometime in the 2nd millenium BC.
 
I could see Minoan ghettos in Phoenician/Greek enclaves around the Meds. If they don't get out of Minos island itself, their fall is a given.

I disagree...the Minoans could survive as culture on their island, under certain favorable circumstances... way up to the raise of Christianity.

Sumeria lacks any natural defences and the only way for Sumerians to survive would be isolated mountain or swamp pockets. However, even they are more likely to speak Akkadian than Sumerian, as Akkadian phased out Sumerian sometime in the 2nd millenium BC.

Agree... Sumeria is way too exposed so their population could survive, in a Sea of migratory tribes and population. They could not assimilate all of them.
 
I disagree...the Minoans could survive as culture on their island, under certain favorable circumstances... way up to the raise of Christianity.

Their island is way too close to the Greece. Also with the widespread piracy on the Med, any random pirate raid can do them in if they're only limited to this one island. Having them survive in such circumstances would be ASB.
 
Going back to the Phoenicians, if Carthage beats Rome in the Punic Wars (though maybe not a drastically as Rome beat them OTL), could they reverse colonise Phoenicia and that be how the Phoenicians "survive"?
 
Going back to the Phoenicians, if Carthage beats Rome in the Punic Wars (though maybe not a drastically as Rome beat them OTL), could they reverse colonise Phoenicia and that be how the Phoenicians "survive"?

Carthage isn't likely to beat Rome, and even if they do, all Rome loses is a couple of outlying territories. In long term, Carthage isn't likely to survive. However reverse colonization is certainly plausible and probably the best thing they can do considering.
 
I could see Minoan ghettos in Phoenician/Greek enclaves around the Meds. If they don't get out of Minos island itself, their fall is a given.

Sumeria lacks any natural defences and the only way for Sumerians to survive would be isolated mountain or swamp pockets. However, even they are more likely to speak Akkadian than Sumerian, as Akkadian phased out Sumerian sometime in the 2nd millenium BC.

Well I wouldn't say no natural defense. The Sumerians were simply not equipped nor knowledgeable in how to use their environment. Various states, such as the the so called Sultanate of Batihah which fighting within the swamps with small numbers, resisted the Buyids for decades.
 
Carthage isn't likely to beat Rome, and even if they do, all Rome loses is a couple of outlying territories. In long term, Carthage isn't likely to survive. However reverse colonization is certainly plausible and probably the best thing they can do considering.

As I said, not as drastically as Rome won (nearly impossible), but it would mean Rome would be unable to project power in the eastern Mediterranean. Which means Carthage might find a way to gain control over the Phoenecian cities and thus reverse colonise them and revive Phoenician culture there.

Carthage might as well have been the first example in OTL of a colony surpassing the motherland to such a dramatic degree. I think they could do something interesting if their interests targetted Phoenicia once they've gotten Rome out of the way (at least temporarily).

I disagree...the Minoans could survive as culture on their island, under certain favorable circumstances... way up to the raise of Christianity.

Agree... Sumeria is way too exposed so their population could survive, in a Sea of migratory tribes and population. They could not assimilate all of them.

If the Minoans can somehow survive up until Christianity, then they can survive that too.

But Sumeria? I've heard a theory that the homeland of the Sumerian language was the same region flooded by the Persian Gulf as sea levels rose. Meaning their culture was pretty much doomed to be supplanted by another culture before long.
 
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