alternatehistory.com

Hey all.
So I was looking at this map of supposed modern civilisations out of boredom, and of course Northern Europe (the Celtic, Slavic and Germanic stuff) is included in "Western Civilisation". Which makes sense and all- why wouldn't it be? But isn't Western Civilisation based at its core off the Graeco-Roman societies (although they in turn were based off earlier ones, but let's not go that deep because you get the point).

Anyway, it's funny that Northern Europe is Western Civilisation when you think about it, because originally they had totally different cultures, religions, languages, aesthetics, architectures and general perceptions of the world to the Graeco-Roman mediterranean world.

So, let's say the Romans don't decide to bother Northern Europe for whatever reason. What do the Celts, Germanics and Slavs to with minimal Graeco-Roman influence? What kind of political entities, religions, aesthetics, traditions, architectures and such to they end up developing? Do their end up forming very tribal, clan-based societies and forming a Japan-like political structure? Do they adopt a more North European agricultural package of crops? Do they stay a technological backwater or eventually catch up with the rest of the world? What does a North European civilisation of its own look like and turn into?

Sorry if this question seems vague, but I think it's very interesting and holds a lot of possible outcomes. Especially alternate aesthetics; what does a purely North European aesthetic look like?

And how would North European theological ideals evolve with the victory of organised religion in history? The Arabs made Islam out of Abrahamic religion, what would the men of the north do with Abrahamic beliefs given their own prophets?
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