Cultures of antiquity

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Widukind
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Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-11-19, 14:32

If this has already been done (or isn't even wanted), someone, please beat me back into line.

I thought it might be nice to create a thread focusing on sources for people interested in cultures from antiquity. How does this sound? If you have some reliable links on whatever culture comes to mind, share it.

I'll start.

Makedon: (from the early days till the Roman conquests):

http://www.pothos.org/content/
This site focuses on Alexander III, but there is some other information.

http://www.livius.org/articles/place/macedonia/?
Livius is a safe bet, for several different civilizations.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-11-19, 14:37

Sumer:

http://sumerianshakespeare.com

I always liked this one.
Last edited by Widukind on 2018-11-19, 14:47, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-11-19, 14:43

The Scythians: My all-time favourite.

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/introducing-the-scythians/
It's not in my favoured format, but it provides a decent introduction. There is a lot to learn about them.

http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/scythians



As with any of my posts here, I might add new links to them.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby vijayjohn » 2018-11-19, 18:14

What is a "culture of antiquity"? A culture that used to exist but doesn't anymore?

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby linguoboy » 2018-11-19, 19:13

vijayjohn wrote:What is a "culture of antiquity"? A culture that used to exist but doesn't anymore?

I think it's "somebody Herodotus mentioned".
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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby vijayjohn » 2018-11-19, 21:13

linguoboy wrote:
vijayjohn wrote:What is a "culture of antiquity"? A culture that used to exist but doesn't anymore?

I think it's "somebody Herodotus mentioned".

Herodotus mentioned Sumer?! :shock:

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-11-19, 22:37

I thought I was being clear, and that people understand what "antiquity" means.

I guess someone could say the intention of the thread is to list cultures that are "extinct".

Whatever.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby linguoboy » 2018-11-19, 22:44

Widukind wrote:I thought I was being clear, and that people understand what "antiquity" means.

"Antiquity" has multiple definitions, even within an historical context. It doesn't always include the Ancient Near East (let alone the rest of the ancient world) and may in fact be restricted to Classical Antiquity depending on the author.
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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby vijayjohn » 2018-11-19, 22:52

Also, just because a culture existed in antiquity doesn't mean it can't still exist now. I don't think what you're asking for is as simple as you might think.
I guess someone could say the intention of the thread is to list cultures that are "extinct".

But what are your criteria for whether it's extinct or not? People in certain parts of northern Greece are still called Macedonians, call the region where they live Μακεδονία just like people in the same region did in antiquity, and consider their heritage to go back at least as far as Alexander the Great.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-11-20, 3:42

You know what? I never intended for the parameters to be so specific. I simply looked in a dictionary for a definition of "antiquity" to confirm my perception of the term. Observe definitions 1, 2, and 4:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiquity

Is that good enough for you?

If you guys have sources to share on any ancient culture, whether or not its still around, go for it. Do we really have to be so nitpicky? I probably shouldn't have bothered with this shit in the first place.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby vijayjohn » 2018-11-20, 5:31


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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby linguoboy » 2018-11-20, 16:37

Widukind wrote:If you guys have sources to share on any ancient culture, whether or not its still around, go for it. Do we really have to be so nitpicky? I probably shouldn't have bothered with this shit in the first place.

If you're going to get all snippy when someone politely asks for clarification, then, yeah, you probably shouldn't have.

In any case, since now we're just listing off pre-modern civilisations we think are cool, I have to mention the one that existed where my hometown is today, Cahokia. At one time it was the largest urban settlement in the Americas north of Central Mexico, but deforestation and flooding eventually wiped it out:

https://cahokiamounds.org/
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/131030-cahokia-native-american-flood-mystery-archaeology-pollen/

I'm also excited by recent discoveries in the Amazon basin showing it supported a larger and more sophisticated civilisation than was previously thought:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/03/amazon-jungle-ancient-population-satellite-computer-model/
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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-11-20, 20:00

I'm sorry, you guys. I've been having problems with stress and anxiety lately, so I didn't really mean to direct my frustrations at you. I can get a bit sour when I'm mentally overwhelmed.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-11-20, 20:02

Nice links, by the way.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby vijayjohn » 2018-11-21, 4:04

Thanks!
Widukind wrote:I'm sorry, you guys. I've been having problems with stress and anxiety lately, so I didn't really mean to direct my frustrations at you. I can get a bit sour when I'm mentally overwhelmed.

I understand. I get a bit sour like that sometimes, too. I just hope it doesn't happen to me again in a few months since I don't expect to have a job after that. :para:

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby mōdgethanc » 2018-11-27, 11:39

I'ma say the Zhou dynasty even though that's not the Mediterranean region because fuck the police. Also, if we are focusing on the Near East then I always thought the Sumerians were really cool.
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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby vijayjohn » 2018-12-02, 4:52

Why does it matter that it's not in the Mediterranean? :hmm:

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-12-02, 9:00

vijayjohn wrote:Thanks!
Widukind wrote:I'm sorry, you guys. I've been having problems with stress and anxiety lately, so I didn't really mean to direct my frustrations at you. I can get a bit sour when I'm mentally overwhelmed.

I understand. I get a bit sour like that sometimes, too. I just hope it doesn't happen to me again in a few months since I don't expect to have a job after that. :para:

Oh boy. I hope that things turn out well for you, in the end.

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby vijayjohn » 2018-12-02, 9:01

Well, my contract just got extended a few days ago, so now at least I'm reasonably sure I won't be jobless until May at the earliest. :whistle:

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Re: Cultures of antiquity

Postby Widukind » 2018-12-02, 9:04

mōdgethanc wrote:I'ma say the Zhou dynasty even though that's not the Mediterranean region because fuck the police. Also, if we are focusing on the Near East then I always thought the Sumerians were really cool.

Anywhere in the world is alright.

I won’t arrest you... this time.


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