<p><by skeam=""></by></p>
<p>Though I did delineate that the choices will be ancient, I will add two Middle-Age empires just to widen the range of choices. </p>
<p>I was hoping to do a poll but since that opportunity is not open, I will simply list the choices:</p>
<p>~Rome --------- 11 (31.4%)
~Greece --------10 (28.6)
~India -----------6 (17.1)
~China ---------- 4 (11.4)
~Egypt ----------2 (5.7)
~Persia ----------1 (2.9)
~Mongol Empire---1 (2.9)
~Mesopotamia --- 0
~Mayan Empire ---0
~Arab Empire -----0</p>
<p>Voters: 35</p>
<p>We are judging by art, science, overall contribution (none scientific), and overall power.</p>
<p>To keep it organized, I suggest you put your choice at the top of your reply, and then (if you wish) write an explanation of why under it. If you're lazy or tired, just write one word.</p>
<p>Take the poll and participate in discussions! The deletion of previous thread, though killed many great posts, gave us the chance to start the new peaceful and constructive discussion. Basing on the deleted posts I want to mention you some distinctions and achievments of these civilizations.</p>
<p>1) Rome & Greece
**<by baller4lyfe="">* The Romans were the first to develop a Public Health System
The Romans were the first to build roads and use them for transportation
Julius Caesar can be accredited as being one of this world's most INFLUENTIAL individuals, he was "as great as a man can be without being moral" (sir Ronald)
Roman culture has practically left an everlasting positve effect in Europe for centuries.
<by thermodude=""> ...the Greeks contribute plenty to the arts, culture and philosophy, but their mathematical contributions were crucial to the devolpment of mathematics during the 17th Century onwards.</by></by></p>
<p>Greece vs. Rome
<by coureur=""> It's true that Rome borrowed heavily from Greece. They recognized this themselves. But thinking and talking gets you only so far. The Greeks had ideas. The Romans made plans.</by></p>
<p>In addition to high achievements in engineering and all the humanities, particularly sculpture and architecture, Romans also had the highest levels of literacy (>90% could read and write) the world would ever see until modern times. They bathed daily too. Compared to the unwashed and unlettered civilizations that came before and after them, they look pretty good.</p>
<p>Romans treated their women better too. Women couldn't vote or hold political office in Rome, but they were educated, they could own land, run a business, inherit wealth, divorce their husbands, and live independently if they chose.</p>
<p>None of that was true for the Greeks. A Greek woman was barely more than a slave. Once she married she basically dropped out of sight behind the walls of her house. She had no independent existence. She lived under the rule of her father, husband, or son. If she had none of those she was out of luck --> out on the streets.</p>
<p>Rome's contribution to modern civilization is enormous. One example: the alphabet all these posts are written in --> Roman.</p>
<p><by angrod=""> While Greece did start a lot of the literature, culture, and art that Rome later picked up on, it was Rome that improved upon these things to make themselves the greatest nation in the known world. Most importantly though, Rome spread all of these things all over their empire (=world at that time). So while Greece came up with a lot of the original ideas, the Romans are the ones who gave it global impact, so I have got to give it to Rome.*</by></p>
<p>2) Egypt</p>
<p>**<by ibclass06="">*
First to invent medicine (later, the Greeks worshiped Imhotep as a god)
First monotheists- much of the monotheistic religions today rely heavily on ancient Egyptian culture
First indoor plumbing
Oldest free-standing structure
First mummies...and so well-preserved, too
First tombs...decorated, as well
First solar calender
Several first games, including primitive forms of bowling and checkers
First fortified outposts (debatable)
Large territory- Syria, Palestine, Nubia, and Punt
Oldest life-sized statue
Oldest identifiable stone statue
Oldest legal documents (wills)
Egypt had one of the longest lives of any civilization (exceptions are China and Assyria).*</by></p>
<p>3) Persia</p>
<p>**<by baller4lyfe="">*The Persians were the very first to create an enormous world empire</by></p>
<p>They also were the very first to create a monotheistic religion (prophet Zoroaster) - Judaism Christianity and Islam have all been derived from it.</p>
<p>Cyrus the Great also created the FIRST DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, hence, set the basis of humanity (very important).</p>
<p>Many cultures/hertiages have been influenced heavily by the Persian arts.</p>
<p>Persians were one of the most tolerable empires that existed (e.g. Cyrus noted as a liberator rather a conqueror).</p>
<p>4) Mongols</p>
<p><by celebrian25=""> They impacted eastern and central europe so dramatically. And they were stinky. They must of had a great stench to be remembered for such a thing. And they were powerful, like the vikings, but far more feroucious and cruel in their ways.</by></p>
<p><by bigjake587=""> While the Mongols did build one of the largest empires in history, they did not contribute anything culturally other than perhaps creating the Mongol Peace through the suppression of other cultures. This allowed trade to flourish along the Silk Roads for a few hundred years. However, the Mongols just adopted to whatever civilizations they conquered. China's culture was already in place. India's culture was already in place. Russia was just starting out and quickly threw off Mongol rule.*</by></p>
<p>Come on!</p>