World's Greatest Empire? (poll)

[Shogun]

Hoping there's some history buffs in the COLI.

You can base your vote on whatever precondition you'd like (just please explain). I tried to include every worthy Empire, but if I left one out just back up your choice (I didnt have room for an "other" option, but fukk it).

Contenders (in no particular order):

1. The Ottoman Empire 1299-1922

2. The Russian Empire 1721-1917

3. New Kingdom Egypt 1549 BCE - 1069 BCE

4. The Byzantine Empire 330 - 1453

5. Han China 206 BCE - 220 CE

6. The Persian Empire 550 BCE - 336 BCE

7. The Umayyad Caliphate 661 - 750

8. The Mongolian Empire 1206-1368

9. The British Empire 1583-1945

10. The Late Roman Republic & Roman Empire 147 BCE-476 CE

 

[Shogun]

After some thought I went with Persia for a few reasons:

1. Size/strength is obvious

2. Connected trade routes between the far east, and the west which served as a catalyst for rapid development across the "old world"

3. Governmental efficiency...especially over such a vast distance (considering the time period)

4. World Impact. Persia's unification of the Mesopotamian world allowed for an environment in which the world's 3 major monotheistic religions were born. For better or worse, this has shaped the world since.

 

[Pester_Stone]

aint no one fukkin with the Roman empire. They basically birthed the western modern era either directly (Christianity as the predominate religion) or indirectly (birthing the British empire by leaving them to fend for themselves). Foundations of most of modern law can be traced back to Rome, and also they more or less ran the relevant parts of the world. They may not have been the empire that lasted the longest, but when they were on, they were on.

 

[Shogun]

aint no one fukkin with the Roman empire. They basically birthed the western modern era either directly (Christianity as the predominate religion) or indirectly (birthing the British empire by leaving them to fend for themselves). Foundations of most of modern law can be traced back to Rome, and also they more or less ran the relevant parts of the world. They may not have been the empire that lasted the longest, but when they were on, they were on.

1. Christianity spread really in-spite of the Roman Empire....not because of it.

2. In regards to law, culture, and civic organization...a very strong argument could be made that the Romans just borrowed their whole philosophy from their Greek neighbors.

3. The Romans didn't purposely leave the Brits to "fend for themselves"....it was a failed conquest.

4. With the exception of Carthage, one could argue the Roman Empire was bloated through conquest of weak and unorganized tribal civilizations in Europe. Their conquest of Egypt was more through political maneuverings.

 

[88m3]

British Empire the sun never sets


Byzantine Empire size and longevity


hmm

 

[Type Username Here]

The American Empire isn't on the list?

Motherfukkers cured polio, implemented the use of radio/phone/TV, put a human on the moon, created computers and the internet, and gave you streaming porn. They have placed themselves in almost every conflict, US pop culture runs supreme, they installed English as the defacto language of business worldwide, The Dollar runs the world, saved the world's ass in WWII, etc. etc. etc.

I mean, think about that for a second. fukk a colony, they put human beings on the moon.

 

[Shogun]

The American Empire isn't on the list?

Motherfukkers cured polio, implemented the use of radio/phone/TV, put a human on the moon, created computers and the internet, and gave you streaming porn. They have placed themselves in almost every conflict, US pop culture runs supreme, they installed English as the defacto language of business worldwide, The Dollar runs the world, saved the world's ass in WWII, etc. etc. etc.

America isn't an Empire in the true sense of the word....but lets please not start that debate here.

 

[theworldismine13]

I'll go with the Romans becuase this message board got its name from the romans

 

[Type Username Here]

America isn't an Empire in the true sense of the word....but lets please not start that debate here.

Fair enough friend.

 

[714562]

Han China and it's not close.

1. Most culturally cohesive -- the sino-identity withstood invasion from everyone.

2. Most linguistically cohesive -- adopted a uniform language based on canonical Confucian literature.

3. Most modern -- had a modern bureaucratic state based on civil service examinations before any other culture on the planet.

4. Most populated -- 'nuff said.

5. Most capable of mass mobilization -- Han armies at the height of the empire could easily outnumber any of the other contenders.

 

[Lewis Black]

American.

 

[Leasy]

The Ottoman empire was destroying and rearranging cultures like it was nothing. The Reasons some these ARABs are white skinned.

 

[714562]

The Ottoman empire was destroying and rearranging cultures like it was nothing. The Reasons some these ARABs are white skinned.

They didn't "destroy and re-arrange" anything.

Greece was occupied for years and it retained its identity. The Hejaz -- the part of Saudi Arabia which they controlled -- never considered itself Turkish. In fact, no former province of the Ottoman Empire considers itself Turkish.

The only culture they "destroyed" was the Byzantine Empire, and only because they assimilated their pre-existing bureaucracy (and artistic style). In addition, they used the former core of the Byzantine empire as their central base of operations. Albania and a few otherwise underdeveloped cultures in the Balkans were exposed to Islam.

That's the full extent of their "rearranging." Conversion to Islam was financially desirable but not mandatory. They generally used local leaders as proxy rulers rather than control directly, with Greece being the most notable example.

 

[Gilver]

The American Empire isn't on the list?

Motherfukkers cured polio, implemented the use of radio/phone/TV, put a human on the moon, created computers and the internet, and gave you streaming porn. They have placed themselves in almost every conflict, US pop culture runs supreme, they installed English as the defacto language of business worldwide, The Dollar runs the world, saved the world's ass in WWII, etc. etc. etc.

I mean, think about that for a second. fukk a colony, they put human beings on the moon.

What about spreading civilisation to savages throughout the world and inventing just about everything useful ever? How about spreading the English language through the world and making it the worlds default language?

Oh wait that was the British Empire.



You know those Radio's, Tv's, Phone's and computer's youre talking about?

British inventions friend

While we're here, how about...

world wide web?
Photography?
Steam Engine?
Jet engine?
the electric motor?
the light bulb?

How about THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION????????????

Who theorized evolution? Gravity?

Wow, thinking about all this, Britain

 

[Broke Wave]

What about spreading civilisation to savages throughout the world and inventing just about everything useful ever? How about spreading the English language through the world and making it the worlds default language?

Oh wait that was the British Empire.


You know those Radio's, Tv's, Phone's and computer's youre talking about?

British inventions friend

Disregard this foolish, racist cracker.