Which was better, Byzantine Greece, China, Pre-Muslim Persia or Ancient Rome?

Well?

  • Pre-Muslim Persia

    Votes: 8 10.5%
  • Pre-600AD China

    Votes: 7 9.2%
  • Byzantine Empire

    Votes: 25 32.9%
  • Roman Empire

    Votes: 23 30.3%
  • Some other pre-600 AD civilisation

    Votes: 9 11.8%
  • Ask Thande?

    Votes: 4 5.3%

  • Total voters
    76
It covers the era prior to Islam...the purpose...not much other then the fact it was a defining border line.


Not that I doubt it, but I know very little about then...what is the main attraction of the Byzantines?

I thought so - and I hope we're not gaining another relentlessly ideological Islamophobe - and you should know that the Byzantine Empire was mostly post-Islam - in ended in 1453. A more usual defining point in that era is the end of the Western Roman Empire.
 
I thought so - and I hope we're not gaining another relentlessly ideological Islamophobe - and you should know that the Byzantine Empire was mostly post-Islam - in ended in 1453. A more usual defining point in that era is the end of the Western Roman Empire.
No, I am in no way an Islamophobe:).....at least, no more then to the extent of my dislike of Abrahammaic belief in general.

Your poin on the Byzantines is quite right, I didn't think the thread through that well I suppose.
 
No, I am in no way an Islamophobe:).....at least, no more then to the extent of my dislike of Abrahammaic belief in general.

Your poin on the Byzantines is quite right, I didn't think the thread through that well I suppose.

I guess it still counts since it started before 600 AD! Sorry for my statement in the above post.
 

Sargon

Donor
Monthly Donor
I can't vote for the Byzantines AND Romans since the poll does not allow me to do so.

But as they are one and the same anyway, that's the one I choose.


Sargon
 
I can't vote for the Byzantines AND Romans since the poll does not allow me to do so.

But as they are one and the same anyway, that's the one I choose.


Sargon
Perhaps...in the same way the China of 150 years ago and now is one and the same.
 
I can't vote for the Byzantines AND Romans since the poll does not allow me to do so.

But as they are one and the same anyway, that's the one I choose.


Sargon
Perhaps...in the same way the China of 150 years ago and now is one and the same.
 

Sargon

Donor
Monthly Donor
Perhaps...in the same way the China of 150 years ago and now is one and the same.

The Byzantines considered themselves Romans - it was unthinkable for them to consider themselves anything else and rightly so - they were the direct continuation of the Roman state and the line of Emperors went back to the very first, Augustus. The modern day usage of the word 'Byzantine' didn't exist back then.

If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. :p


Sargon
 
it's a tie between pre-Muslim Persia (Sassanids and Zoroastrians are awesome), and Byzantines (no explanation needed).
 
The Byzantine Empire. Though the Roman Empire would've come close behind. I especially dig the period of the fourth and fifth centuries.
 
I voted for Byzantium out of reflex, though in retrospect I wish I had considered Persia. I mean, I love Byzantium, as any AH.commer should, but Pre-Islamic Persia doesn't get very much press around here, unless they're fighting someone else.

Bonus points if it's the Archemeid empire.
 
The Byzantines considered themselves Romans - it was unthinkable for them to consider themselves anything else and rightly so - they were the direct continuation of the Roman state and the line of Emperors went back to the very first, Augustus. The modern day usage of the word 'Byzantine' didn't exist back then.

If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. :p


Sargon
Ummm...didn't the first Ottoman sultan have some kind of claim to be Roman as well? In which case, by your logic, the Ottomans were Roman as well.
 
Ummm...didn't the first Ottoman sultan have some kind of claim to be Roman as well? In which case, by your logic, the Ottomans were Roman as well.

You mean the first Ottoman Sultan who governed from Constantinople ?

Well, the Ottomans did had a long term relationship with the Byzantine Empire before they took Constantinople (and they weren't the only Turkish state who did). Some Byzantine Princesses had certainly married to Turkish beys and emirs in the past....
 

Sargon

Donor
Monthly Donor
Ummm...didn't the first Ottoman sultan have some kind of claim to be Roman as well? In which case, by your logic, the Ottomans were Roman as well.

Yes, you're right there old chap, Mehmet II took the title Kayser i Rum when he took Constantinople, and therefore was legitimate Emperor of the Romans, thus leading to a line of them until 1922.

And before anyone asks, that is no less legitimate than any guy taking the title by force as they did so many times before.

One could argue that not only are the Russians and Greeks heirs of the Roman Empire, but the Ottomans as well. So yes by my logic, that's how I see it, and I'm not the only one who does so if my Byzantine history class membership amongst others at least is anything to go by. ;)


Sargon
 
Yes, you're right there old chap, Mehmet II took the title Kayser i Rum when he took Constantinople, and therefore was legitimate Emperor of the Romans, thus leading to a line of them until 1922.

And before anyone asks, that is no less legitimate than any guy taking the title by force as they did so many times before.

One could argue that not only are the Russians and Greeks heirs of the Roman Empire, but the Ottomans as well. So yes by my logic, that's how I see it, and I'm not the only one who does so if my Byzantine history class membership amongst others at least is anything to go by. ;)


Sargon


In fact I dare to say that after the fall of Byzantine, Ottoman Empire was the most (East) Roman of all ;):cool: !
 
Top