5 ms·
The gladiators might not, but the chariot racers in the Hippodrome did have teams/factions, with fans loyal to each: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariot_racin
by icebraining 8y ago
The gladiators might not, but the chariot racers in the Hippodrome did have teams/factions, with fans loyal to each: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariot_racing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariot_racing
That said, you're right that it wasn't "international", but then again "nations" themselves aren't that old.
- sonnyblarney 8y agoIf the Romans were smart, they would have had Gladiators and Racers actually representative of provinces. Or better yet, invent football and do the same. Nationalism didn't exist at the time, but ethnocentrism certainly did :)
- dragonwriter 8y ago> but then again "nations" themselves aren't that old. Nations are, nationalism and nation-states (which are different but related phenomena) aren't.
- ekianjo 8y agoNo, the whole concept of national identity is very recent, starting from early 1800s for some parts of Europe. Longer than that you had tribal factions or regional identities and that is it.
- awinder 8y agoHow was the unified Greek state different if you don’t mind me asking?
- ekianjo 8y agowhich era are you refering to? ancient greece was not a unified state. the common denominator what the city. Athenians were clearly not considering themselves like belonging to the same group as Spartans.
- dragonwriter 8y ago> No, the whole concept of national identity is very recent No, it's not, though some current national identities are. The idea of Israel as a nation (distinct from either a state or regional identity), for instance, is at least as old as the Old Testament.