A thought experiment, which I came up with many years ago while studying for my Classics A-Level...
How might Western civilisation be different now had Cleopatra and Mark Anthony beaten the Romans at Actium?
4
Enjoy being online again!
Welcome to the community of good people who base their values on evidence and appreciate civil discourse - the social network you will enjoy.Create your free account
8 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.
I wish I knew. I'm not up to snuff on history.
AstralSmoke
Level 8
Oct 4, 2018
1
I don't see how this would have changed the timeline on the fall of the Roman Empire. The collapse of the Roman Empire had more to do with over extended resource supply lines than it had to do with politics, armies and whole civilizations for that matter need to be fed and the situation eventually became untenable as the empire reached its peak.
Surfpirate
Level 9
Oct 4, 2018
3
Actually you can attribute a large portion of their failure to the massive system of lead pipes they used for their water supply. To this day their descendants still suffer from the effects lead had on their minds and bodies.
@CheshireWarcat Although that theory is pretty much consigned to the myth bin now, you might read Scarborough's essay on that topic. There are several good reads out there that detail how empires collapse when they run out of energy, be that calories contained in wheat to run labour pools to oil to run machines, when the furnace that drives an empire runs out of fuel the whole system collapses.
Recent Visitors 41
Photos 169 More
Posted by PiratefishSeasons greetings, you heathens.
Posted by SurfpirateA photographic collection of pagan costumes associated with the winter solstice. [dangerousminds.net]
Posted by MoonTigerIIAncient Evenings Fun!
Posted by AnonySchmoose[cell.
Posted by AnonySchmoose[cell.
Posted by AnonySchmoose[cell.
Posted by EyesThatSmileThis sculptor is amazing. [boredpanda.com]
Posted by DruviusWell preserved 500 year old ship found at bottom of Baltic Sea. Way cool find, hope we have the means to properly investigate it. [sciencealert.com]
Posted by qpr81there's a small island in front of the temple site and they found artifacts even there.
Posted by qpr81there's a small island in front of the temple site and they found artifacts even there.
Posted by qpr81there's a small island in front of the temple site and they found artifacts even there.
Posted by qpr81the hole in this image -according to the guide- was a window to let the sun rays hit a certain spot announcing the summer/winter etc.
Posted by qpr81Trajan's column in Rome. Shame they put a pope on top of it. Even though this is a monument raised over a genocide it's still something worth seeing.
Posted by qpr81Trajan's column in Rome. Shame they put a pope on top of it. Even though this is a monument raised over a genocide it's still something worth seeing.
Posted by qpr81Trajan's column in Rome. Shame they put a pope on top of it. Even though this is a monument raised over a genocide it's still something worth seeing.
Posted by qpr81Ħaġar Qim temple in Malta. Stunning even if a bit of walk...