"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years"

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by JayAg47, Apr 11, 2021.

  1. JayAg47

    JayAg47 Well-Known Member

    What is your view on this quote by Alexander Fraser Tytler?
    I also found this image on google
    EwfBcP5VIAgjO21.jpg
    I must say the years for ancient Greek varies depending on the kingdom, although kingdoms like the Seleucid and Ptolemy's lasted around 250-300 years!
    I also must include the often overlooked kingdoms of Cholas and Pandyas, while both kingdoms existed from 300 bc to 1279 and mid-1600s respectively, the golden age where they dominated their region were:
    Pandyas- 600-900 AD (~300 years)
    13th.jpg
    Cholas- 950-1200 AD (~250 years)
    chola, sil.png
     
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  3. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    How many years does that give us ?
     
  4. Inspector43

    Inspector43 Celebrating 75 Years Active Collecting Supporter

    Yes, the average democracy lasts about 200 years. We are currently in the last phase of democracy.
     
  5. CoinJockey73

    CoinJockey73 Well-Known Member

    Not many, let's hope. I think mother nature is about done with us, anyway. Planet's been around 5 billion years, and humans have brought her to her knees in about 200. Amazing creatures, aren't we? And yes, i am a lycanthrope, i mean, a misanthrope.
     
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  6. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    When you're talking about "civilizations," it's stupid to separate the Roman Republic from the Roman Empire and even from Byzantium. Roman civilization lasted a good 1500 years.
     
  7. The Trachy Enjoyer

    The Trachy Enjoyer Well-Known Member

    Things have also drastically changed in modern times...a single battle in the ancient world determined ownership of lands and people for hundreds of miles...in world war one, it didn't even change ownership for a mile....I don't think its reasonable to fearmonger and compare todays society to that of ancient people thousands of years ago. Things have changed for the better and modern governments are much more stable

    Im not taking away from your point of ancient civilizations but there is no comparison IMO
     
  8. IMP Shogun

    IMP Shogun Well-Known Member

    I'd disagree with you on the WW1 map, but agree with the context of what you're saying.
     
  9. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    The fact that the Roman civilization lasted so long has led to many of its influences even in modern society that are invisible to the average person in terms of our institutions. Sadly, if you conducted person-on-the-street interviews how many folks would even know who the first roman emperor was? I'm guessing around 1%. Similarly, practically no one could identify Iraq on a map during the height of the Gulf wars. Ignorance has become the new norm. If you asked 1000 people about Byzantine emperors, probably no one could name a single one.
     
  10. OutsiderSubtype

    OutsiderSubtype Well-Known Member

    How the heck do you get 1570 as a cutoff date for the Ottomans?

    I could maybe see 1683. Or 1774. But isn't the real answer, you know, 1922?
     
  11. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    All I know is if Yellowstone Caldera goes we’re in trouble. You can kiss your Ash goodbye.
     
  12. CoinJockey73

    CoinJockey73 Well-Known Member

    Sadly, this is what the future holds for us. Nostradamus couldn't have predicted it better.
     
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  13. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    If only John Wayne were alive I feel better about the world situation 7D00AAD9-A135-4F66-8288-0643624C0B61.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2021
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  14. NewStyleKing

    NewStyleKing Beware of Greeks bearing wreaths

    Yes when Argentina invaded the Falkland Isle in 1982 many people wondered why they were invading Scotland! I had no idea where the Falklands were neither.
     
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  15. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    Yes as a child I thought the Japanese attacked Pearl Bailey. That’s how old I am....
     
  16. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    What I think is that any civilization may be truncated or expanded to rationalize a musing.
     
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  17. Etcherman

    Etcherman Well-Known Member

    Egypt dynasties I-XX c. 3000 bce-1000 bce about 2000 years. Rome c. 500 bce-476 ce close to 1000 years.

    English monarchy 1066-present.
    Imperial Japan 2000 years +
    Holy Roman Empire 800-1800
    Roman Catholic Church 30-present
    Byzantine Empire c 476-1453
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2021
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  18. Scipio

    Scipio Well-Known Member

    We can disappear tomorrow for many reasons, among them the diffusion of the so called alternative reality.
    Anyways the Roman Republic began in the 509 BC and lasted until 27 BC. The names of all the consuls are inscripted in the Fasti Consulares (so this is not an opinion, it’s history). The Roman Empire ended in 476 AD in the western part and in 1453 AD in the eastern.
    Also the other dates looks bs to me.
     
  19. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    I noticed the same thing. I suppose whoever created this based the date on the idea that that's when the Ottoman Empire reached its peak. Probably they put the end of the Roman Empire's "reign" in 180 AD, the year that Marcus Aurelius died, for the same reason. Both of which are silly in equating the supposed high point with the "end." And reflect a rather transparent "massaging" of facts to fit a pre-existing theory, going about things the other way round from forming your theory based on facts.
     
  20. kevin McGonigal

    kevin McGonigal Well-Known Member

    Possibly the Battle of Lepanto where the Ottoman Navy was handed a resounding defeat by a coalition of Christian powers. This loss of naval power could be seen as the beginning of ottoman decline.
     
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  21. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    And yet they reached and besieged Vienna as late as 1683. One could just as easily pick that year as an arbitrary end-point of the Empire (even accepting the premise that being past one's peak equals the end), except for the fact that it doesn't fit the person's theory.
     
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