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by fsloth
1797 days ago
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Well, it's not all greek. For example the glyphs we use in this discussion AFAIK are based on egyptian hieroglyphs that were simplified by phoenicians into phoenician script from which greek and latin writing was then based on. Greeks did develop their own literacy, but apparently became illeterate again circa 1000 bc - and when they again picked up writing they use phoenician glyphs. Greek world did suck up most of knowledge that had accumulated and added very much to it, so they are a good reference point. Greek culture predates Rome's rise - and in some ways also lives longer since East-Roman emperors again used greek. |
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One of the most fascinating things I find of our history is Linear A & B and Minoan civilisation - apparently wiped out by the eruption of what is now Santorini. You just gave me a few new threads to chase with the loss of Greek literacy - my previous understanding was that Minoan civilisation was poised to dominate the Mediterranean prior to them being wiped out and the vestiges eventually coalesced into the greeks, with the minoans acting as the seed civilisation. (With aggressive abbreviation and many potential mistakes for the pedants out there, I do not claim to be a authority here, only a fan)
Another thing I find fascinating is how all the tribes of the Italian peninsula basically organised their cities around a forum with similar architecture and similar god worship well before the romans dominated…. As well as the fact that prior to the Punic wars, Rome was really in doubt as to whether it would dominate the med.
History is amazing and I truly believe that by better understanding it we can better understand ourselves, so often I find myself reflecting that had this element of history been better known then perhaps we could be avoiding this particular aspect of human behaviour… there is very little that is new under the sun