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Orson Scott Card has this idea of "edge" nations and "centre" nations. It's to do with whose culture wins, not to do with whose military wins. Basically, when a
by 10ren 17y ago
Orson Scott Card has this idea of "edge" nations and "centre" nations. It's to do with whose culture wins, not to do with whose military wins. Basically, when an "edge" invades a "center" (or vice versa), the result looks like the centre nation. So, the Mongols invaded China... and adopted Chinese style government.
I think the Romans were amongst the strongest centre nations, as we're still copying them (pythons: "what have the Romans ever done for us?") e.g. democracy, bureaucracy, even details like a senate. Though fallen, the Empire survives.
heads beat arms
- eru 17y agoYou may be right in general. Though: Democracy from the Romans? They used to have a Republic, but it was not a Democracy. Much of the `Roman' stuff comes from the Greek. And they also got a lot from elsewhere, too. I do find myself agreeing with your assessment of China and Mongolia more.