Kosmo

I don't think that an ancient navy was capable of projecting effective power to such distances. All naval campaigns of antiquity were on much shorter distances and on routes with better supply possibilities. Even if they did not met opposition on the way it would have been a long difficult journey and they could not do much to help the city against the land assault of Alexander perfect war machine. Q1: it was a island city, always a very difficult target Q2: Alexander was a great general with the most powerfull army of the time. I think the siege shows the military qualities of them, but, maybe, a low diplomatic skill. Wasting time and men in front of Tyre let Darius time to rebuild his shattered, but not destroyed, army.

They really believed that they were romans. I think that our concept of ethnicty it's not the same with the roman one. All roman citizens of the empire were romans regardless of language. So, even when they started to use greek more in official acts they were still romans. "byzantine" identity was based on christianity so their interest in the Republic and Early Empire was small. From a political point this periods are even less important as the byzantines had a mix of christian ideology and absolute kingship divine. So, the absolute christian emperors of Late antiquity were the model and the direct predecessors of byzantine emperors.

The greek fire was used in clay pots throw by various means at the opponent and thru a pipe connected to a pomp like we use today for medicine injection. It was not an infantry carried weapon and it was not used primerly against infantry. His main use was in naval war to torch enemy ships and in siege warfare to burn the siege machines of the attackers. It is possible that the recipe came from the Middle East because used petroleum. Hitler decided with Saur at a General Staff meeting that german scientist must rediscover the formula of greek fire to use it against the Allies and that Me 262 jet will be used as a fighter. I think it's funny this mix of old and new military tehnology. This is from the Memories of A. Speer.

Another large german group was made of danes and other vikings, but it's not mentioned in the article despite the many place names left in East Anglia. I think the best city names are in Australia: Waga Waga, the city of Townsville like in the Power Puff Girls, Norseman and many others that I can not spell like Kalgoorllie and Coolgardie. Alice Springs is quite romantic.

I think that all it's just about the way words are used. It's obvious that we have 3 types of exchange. Goods for money (usual), goods for goods (barter) and goods for other goods with exchange value. All this 3 types of payment coexisted and the first 2 are still used. As Rome had a well developed monetary economy I doubt that goods with exchange value were used for the majority of transactions.

Greek fire was efficient, but not as much as you say and was definetly not a WMD. Different formulas were well known by many so the greek fire was the best but not the only one. They failed to use it to effect against the venetians in 1204 and this weapon became obsolete after the improvement of naval artillery. It is believed to be expensive.

Gaius Octavianus, be carefull what you say! The fanatic defenders of established knowledge might burn you at stake if you relapse in herretic opinions! There are some theories that have some serious scientifical backing, while others like this one are mere speculations based on logic and not science. The argument on that forum that all known particles are tridimensional so in this univers there can be no bidimensional objects it's very serious and that remained unanswared.

Nice work! The details are amazing.

You are right, but a more deeper understanding that the Catholic church it's as seriously changed as the world around her it will mean a great and easy step toward today's problems.

Politicians always vote with their feet no metter the era, but senator sounds better.

Thank you both!

Phil, I'm not sure at which statement you refer. I have a book somwhere on etruscans, but I cannot quote it now. From the http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com about greeks http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/sea.html - greek sanctuaries and merchants in Etruria http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/lifestyle.html - fashion http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/language.html#alpha -alphabet http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/history.html- about the etruscans in Lemnos and Lemnos Stele http://www.mysteriousetruscans.com/history4.html- conflicts with greeks The wars between etruscans and greeks for control of Campania, Corsica and trade in Adriatica are well documented and arheolgical finds unearthed large numbers of greek ceramics in Tuscany and Po valley. Most likely the ones that spread greek luxury ceramics in Central and Northern Europe are the etruscans. I know that this are not proper references, bit it's all I can do now.

What "In metio stat virtus" means? Thank you!

There was a lot of greek influence on the etruscans. The presence of greeks in Etruria and of etruscans in Greece it's very strong. As Rome was on the road between Tuscany and Camapania (another area where greeks and etruscans meet) and under etruscan rule for sure the greek influence was deeply felt from very early. And greeks played a political role in the rise of Rome by defeating the etruscans.

I'm confused, but not that confused to put my money on the U.S. football team. They need more then Klinsmann! A good internal championship with lots of teams and money to attract young athlets to this sport, good players that play outside in major european teams and some serious external competions as the qualifing group it's not seriously chalanging. Playing once in 4 yers it's not to good. African teams have most players in Europe so the the organization of the federation it's rather irrelevant. More important are the junior teams because this makes possible the recruitment for the internal and external teams. If I sleep till the next World Cup I'll miss the European Cup!

On the forum there where some nice critics. Some things don't make sense.

Why did the referee give a penalty kick for nothing? Why did he canceled a good goal? Why the italians stopped playing? What was Zidane thinking? Who/what are the Sox? Why does my head hurts? Do you think that is because of the beer that I used to obscure that lousy final game? How can you get a tan on your painted backside when you have a ponytail? How did France get to the final? Ribery plays football? Does life after the World Cup exists?

It is a shocking play and, unfortunetly, a romanian theatre liked this extremes to much and made a play that was sickening brutal without the great acting of Antony Hopkins. I used to love to go to theatre, but all this experiments made me change my mind. Titus Andronicus by Kurosawa? No, let's make it with Quentin Tarantino!

The loyalty of some army units to a person was what made possible the empire and what ended the republic. That's what kept an emperor at the purple. What is also very interesting are the rebellions against the generals in the Late Republic.

Two more minutes!! I'am sorry for the german fans that were surprising, but the italians played better. Typically italian to start slow the World Cup and end with an amazing game! They have the best chance, but I wish that Portugal will win the cup, or at least beats the french and revenge their brazilian cousins (or suns). Anyway the fact that the german hosts are out will mean that we will not see the kind of cheating refeeres that were in France and South Correa. If Brazil and Argentina would play in the european cup it will be the best competition. Even now I like it more then the World Cup.

Massalia was an old phoceean colony.

I understand that you were disappointed, but I don't undrestand why you were angry! Argentina had bad luck, but also not a bright gameplan. Making changes to streinghten the defense at 1-0 was not good because after the german goal there was little they could do.

I ate once pig testicles, but I did not like them. Fried brains are good! I love to see the looks of my wife when I eat them

Portugal showed a lot of stubberness in this World Cup, so they could be a serious trouble for France, that played great the last two games, but I dont know if they can keep it. Italia vs. Germany will be a great game... ...at least a great fight :sniper:

I think that horses were too expansive and too small to be used for work. Their formost use was military.