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by Talimze on February 22nd, 2007
I'd put the Mayans up there. A 365 day calendar based on the sun and earth (which they knew was round before any Europeans). Plus, nice cotton clothes.
by Firebrand on February 20th, 2007
Egyptians or Romans
The Romans even had central heating.Beautifulsteam and Bath Houses
by Valparaiso on February 22nd, 2007
I would also say the Romans.
Do you know that Roman medical knowledge and practice was supierior to the best medicine elsewhere up until like the 1930's?
I mean think in the 1800's they where putting leeches on people to suck out bad blood but in 100 AD the romans where doing primative brain surgery.
by singwell-is off researching a lot on April 21st, 2007
I think people are missing the question here. It asks "in all aspects of the phrase". That would mean, to qualify, a society would have to be ahead of its time not only technologically but also in regards to human rights and dignity. ALthough some ancient societies did have some wonderful technology, I cannot see one that was ahead of its time in all aspects. Rome had wonderful architecture and arts, but was barbaric in its attitude to the individual, and its constant warfare was abhorrent. Greece had fantastic technology and some advances in human rights (although its idea of democracy falls far short of one person one vote. Egypt was great in the arts and sciences, but poor in human rights. If I had to choose any culture it would be China. China was great in its technology and the arts, and was, for most of its history, not interested in extending its borders (it defended rather than attacked) Its religious systems were peaceful (no sacrifices). Its education system was magnificent, giving even poor children a chance to rise. It major faults were in the area of sharing of resources equally amongst its citizens, and the rights of women.
by scarlett on April 21st, 2007
civilization did not begin with greece or rome. the west would not dominate the world the way it does today if it weren't for arabs (just to be all inclusive- not to be offensive) and the chinese. gunpowder, printing press, etc., were the contributions which gave europe the weapons to colonize the rest of the world. this gave them an unequal advantage over the peoples of africa and the americas. egypt was probably one of the first greatest civilizations, but a large part of their technology came from other african civilizations which are totally ignored by our educational system.
by nevets - badgicide on March 8th, 2007
My vote is for the Incas.
by pabs4431 on March 8th, 2007
I would say teh Greeks durring the helenistic ages. Many greek historians believe that they were on the verge of an industrial revolution. Not to mention the scientific and cultural advances they brought to the ancient world. And NOTE that the helenistic age, rome was a small city state in under the control of another empire!
EDIT: The romans "stole" alot of technology from nations they conquered. Much of this came from the greeks, who they conquered relativly early on. The romans were very militaristic, and they were superb archetechs but not nessicarially the most ahead of their time... they were very much with their time.
by unknown on February 20th, 2007
The Romans. I think that if we were sent back in time to the hight of the Roman Empire we would be right at home.
by gone on February 20th, 2007
If it actually existed, Atlantis. The Rama Empire of India, the ancient Chinese, and the Mayans were all ahead of their time.
by cjsks on April 8th, 2009
Not an expert but based on the math (and some loose conjecture), I would think Egypt. Did any other civilization accomplish what they did at such an early point in history, 30th-ish century BC?
Myth and legend often portrays Ancient Egypt as having received much of its technological advancement from aliens! That's how ahead of their time they were... that's how modern pop culture filled in the blanks.
Just something to think about. Very interesting topic.
by jin jang on April 21st, 2007
The Atlantians were far ahead of any other culture at that time.
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Comments
this is my choice as well.
by LynfromNM on February 22nd, 2007
Does make you wonder where they got their information...
by Little Miss Dangerous on February 26th, 2007
Im not sure when the mayans discovered teh world was round but the greeks knew this very early on... we just forgot
by pabs4431 on March 8th, 2007
Yeah, a guy who's name I forget discovered it in Alexandria, but it was never really used.
by Talimze on March 8th, 2007
I wouldnt say it wasnt used exactly... it was just forgotten durring the dark ages and records of it were destroyed when the library of alexandria was burned. I did eventually think to look it up and the greeks did beat the mayans in this (GO GREEKS!)
by pabs4431 on March 8th, 2007
the question was "in all aspects of the phrase". The Mayans did, indeed, have some fantastic achievements, but human sacrifice brings them down in the "ahead of its time" category.
by singwell-is off researching a lot on April 21st, 2007
Well, I'd usually chalk that up to popular opinion, but I see where you're coming from with it. Though, if you think about it, every civilization has some crazy vice. The Romans had fun raping entire towns, literaly. Greek men masturbated between the legs of Greek boys as a right of passage into manhood. And the Chinese, ah well, they did all of the above plus more...
by Talimze on April 21st, 2007