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> decentralized imperial republicanism has absolutely outperformed just about every other form of government. Epitomised by the Romans. No one else has mentio
by Nick_C 16y ago
> decentralized imperial republicanism has absolutely outperformed just about every other form of government.
Epitomised by the Romans. No one else has mentioned it, so I must:)
Life of Brian
Reg: But apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?
PFJ Member: Brought peace?
Reg: Frustrated Oh god, peace, SHUT UP!
- eru 16y agoThe Romans did not do much to further technology. And after their fall [1], agriculture even picked up. The Greek did some real things to further science and technology. Especially in the period when Archimedes and friends where around. It's, of course, this very period that described as decadent by old-fashioned historians. [1] It was the Empire that fell, the Republic wasn't around any longer to fall.
- roel_v 16y agoMaybe the Romans didn't do as much 'fundamental' research or discoveries, but in the engineering part they most certainly did achieve a lot, like a functional transport system (across standardized roads and waterways), aqueducts, buildings, ...
- eru 16y agoIndeed. In the area of projects that required a large scale to be economic, nobody in Europe beat the Romans for quite some time.
- arethuza 16y agoNitpick - the Western Empire fell, the Eastern half went on for almost another thousand years.
- eru 16y agoYes. And they also did some science in the east.
- pvg 16y agoIt's helpful not to confuse comedy with a historical theme with actual history.
- pvg 16y agoIt's helpful not to confuse comedy with a historical theme with actual history.