What ancient Empire do you think was the most imposing?

I think its the Roman Republic. They based all their wars on the idea that if they aren't first to strike, they would be first struck and that it was necessary to keep subjugating their neighbors to ensure their existence. The Republic's capital Roma was sacked by the Gauls and after they reformed they went on a spree of war and conquest. The than most powerful group of nations in Europe the Greeks than answered the pleas of the Greek settlements in southern Italy (Tarentum, Croton) and Pyhrrus of Epirus took on the task of suppressing the Roman tribes power gobble. But that failed and even though he won the battle, the Romans inflicted such losses to his ranks he was unable to contend with the Romans (or the Carthaginians for that matter).

"What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome" - Pyhrrus of Epirus is quoted saying. I'm sure I don't need to go into all the details of the Punic Wars, the invasion of Macedonia and Greece, the war with Selecuia or the gauls, germania, iberia, britons, or thracians. Long story short, Rome gobbled up all of its neighbors in a rapid amount of time (something not outdone until the Mongols hordes sweeped across Eurasia, except they conquered more in a fraction of the time due to their methods). The Roman Legions - the early Republic armies (early hoplie/phalanx, polybian, and Marian reformed Legions) were constantly growing to ever new standards of proffesional, organized and skillfull levels. They had solid systems for engagement, successful training regimes, and a very mobile and flexible army (which proved to defeat all its adversaries - from the Phalanx-Eastern Armies of Greece and those who were influenced by it and the barbarian tribal armies of various styles). Their armies must've been a truely intimidating sight to any army going up against it.

Also, a look at the Roman culture yields alot of cruelty. They were cruel in many instances, their woman were caniving and active in politics of the men from the sidelines (example being Cornelia and Fulvia), the people enjoyed bloodshed and killings in the arenas. The crusifying of people is also a cruel manner. The politics were relentless, cutthroat and fierce during the last days of the Republic resulting in two civil wars on a large scale, mass killings of political enemies, and suffering for many Romans. Overall, I feel anyone living in the time of Rome who was not a Roman citizen would honestly be scared **** of them. Both as a nation and as a people. I know I wouldn't want to be on the bad side of a nation with so much power and so little regard for human life lol.

Wanna say the Aryans when they took most of south asia

they were dicks tbh

EDIT: well, maybe I wouldn't say they were an empire, but an ancient civilization nonetheless. I think it counts

The Galactic one that happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away.

The Mongols, probably. They would have conquered all of Europe too if Genghis Khan transfered power smoothly at his death.

Edit: or the Roman Republic if only for the sheer length of time they dominated.

Protheans

The Romans were indeed intimidating. The greek invasion in Asia under the command of Alexander the Great was also phenomenal for the time. Not an empire but his armie was a force to be reckoned with nonetheless.

The Mongols, probably. They would have conquered all of Europe too if Genghis Khan transfered power smoothly at his death.

Edit: or the Roman Republic if only for the sheer length of time they dominated.

Aljosa23

I think its the Roman Republic. They based all their wars on the idea that if they aren't first to strike, they would be first struck and that it was necessary to keep subjugating their neighbors to ensure their existence. The Republic's capital Roma was sacked by the Gauls and after they reformed they went on a spree of war and conquest. The than most powerful group of nations in Europe the Greeks than answered the pleas of the Greek settlements in southern Italy (Tarentum, Croton) and Pyhrrus of Epirus took on the task of suppressing the Roman tribes power gobble. But that failed and even though he won the battle, the Romans inflicted such losses to his ranks he was unable to contend with the Romans (or the Carthaginians for that matter).

"What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome" - Pyhrrus of Epirus is quoted saying. I'm sure I don't need to go into all the details of the Punic Wars, the invasion of Macedonia and Greece, the war with Selecuia or the gauls, germania, iberia, britons, or thracians. Long story short, Rome gobbled up all of its neighbors in a rapid amount of time (something not outdone until the Mongols hordes sweeped across Eurasia, except they conquered more in a fraction of the time due to their methods). The Roman Legions - the early Republic armies (early hoplie/phalanx, polybian, and Marian reformed Legions) were constantly growing to ever new standards of proffesional, organized and skillfull levels. They had solid systems for engagement, successful training regimes, and a very mobile and flexible army (which proved to defeat all its adversaries - from the Phalanx-Eastern Armies of Greece and those who were influenced by it and the barbarian tribal armies of various styles). Their armies must've been a truely intimidating sight to any army going up against it.

Also, a look at the Roman culture yields alot of cruelty. They were cruel in many instances, their woman were caniving and active in politics of the men from the sidelines (example being Cornelia and Fulvia), the people enjoyed bloodshed and killings in the arenas. The crusifying of people is also a cruel manner. The politics were relentless, cutthroat and fierce during the last days of the Republic resulting in two civil wars on a large scale, mass killings of political enemies, and suffering for many Romans. Overall, I feel anyone living in the time of Rome who was not a Roman citizen would honestly be scared **** of them. Both as a nation and as a people. I know I wouldn't want to be on the bad side of a nation with so much power and so little regard for human life lol.

Socialist696

The Mongols, probably. They would have conquered all of Europe too if Genghis Khan transfered power smoothly at his death.

Edit: or the Roman Republic if only for the sheer length of time they dominated.

Aljosa23

The Syrians where the first and the worst.

The British Empire, god bless murica'.

[QUOTE="Socialist696"]

I think its the Roman Republic. They based all their wars on the idea that if they aren't first to strike, they would be first struck and that it was necessary to keep subjugating their neighbors to ensure their existence. The Republic's capital Roma was sacked by the Gauls and after they reformed they went on a spree of war and conquest. The than most powerful group of nations in Europe the Greeks than answered the pleas of the Greek settlements in southern Italy (Tarentum, Croton) and Pyhrrus of Epirus took on the task of suppressing the Roman tribes power gobble. But that failed and even though he won the battle, the Romans inflicted such losses to his ranks he was unable to contend with the Romans (or the Carthaginians for that matter).

"What a battlefield I am leaving for Carthage and Rome" - Pyhrrus of Epirus is quoted saying. I'm sure I don't need to go into all the details of the Punic Wars, the invasion of Macedonia and Greece, the war with Selecuia or the gauls, germania, iberia, britons, or thracians. Long story short, Rome gobbled up all of its neighbors in a rapid amount of time (something not outdone until the Mongols hordes sweeped across Eurasia, except they conquered more in a fraction of the time due to their methods). The Roman Legions - the early Republic armies (early hoplie/phalanx, polybian, and Marian reformed Legions) were constantly growing to ever new standards of proffesional, organized and skillfull levels. They had solid systems for engagement, successful training regimes, and a very mobile and flexible army (which proved to defeat all its adversaries - from the Phalanx-Eastern Armies of Greece and those who were influenced by it and the barbarian tribal armies of various styles). Their armies must've been a truely intimidating sight to any army going up against it.

Also, a look at the Roman culture yields alot of cruelty. They were cruel in many instances, their woman were caniving and active in politics of the men from the sidelines (example being Cornelia and Fulvia), the people enjoyed bloodshed and killings in the arenas. The crusifying of people is also a cruel manner. The politics were relentless, cutthroat and fierce during the last days of the Republic resulting in two civil wars on a large scale, mass killings of political enemies, and suffering for many Romans. Overall, I feel anyone living in the time of Rome who was not a Roman citizen would honestly be scared **** of them. Both as a nation and as a people. I know I wouldn't want to be on the bad side of a nation with so much power and so little regard for human life lol.

blue_hazy_basic

Gotta like the lorica segmentata, some seriously cool looking armour.

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

The Mongols, probably. They would have conquered all of Europe too if Genghis Khan transfered power smoothly at his death.

Edit: or the Roman Republic if only for the sheer length of time they dominated.

blue_hazy_basic

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

The Mongols, probably. They would have conquered all of Europe too if Genghis Khan transfered power smoothly at his death.

Edit: or the Roman Republic if only for the sheer length of time they dominated.

Socialist696

This. Not counting the barbaric ones, I'd say Rome.

This is how I always pictured the fall of Rome.

Rome was actually pretty great, specially in comparison to the area's it conquered/anexed prior to Roman rule. Aquaducts, public works, protection, culture, heck even religious tolerance (at least up until Christianity took over).

As cruel as they could be, their cruelty was pretty much status quo for the time period, and the benefits were significant.

The Mongols, probably. They would have conquered all of Europe too if Genghis Khan transfered power smoothly at his death.

Edit: or the Roman Republic if only for the sheer length of time they dominated.

The Daleks or the Borg.

Roman Republic wasn't an ancient empire. Roman Empire was. A lot of the events you mentioned didn't take place during the Empire era, which didn't begin until the rise of Augustus.GhoX

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/empire

An empire does not necessarily need to be ruled by an emperor. The Roman Republic, in control of many peoples, certianly qualifies as an empire, regardless of it's governmentla structure.

Which by the way wasn't all that democratic anyway. The government was almost entirely in control of a few wealthy, land owning individuals.

The Romans.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'imposing' TC, Romans were generally pretty lenient in terms of treating people; the women were otherwise treated well and had some rights in comparison to other ancient civilizations, even in terms of the Colosseum, prisoners were let go if people demanded it. Hell, even before Nero and Caligula, they were tolerant of the Christians so long as they didn't really bother anyone. They just started attacking them out of superstition

If there was any political system that was really imposing, I'd say the Qin (At least I think it's Qin) Dynasty in Ancient China where Legalism was the official doctrine and pretty much made everyone's life sh!tty

I stick by the Aryans though because they imposed the caste system on the Harappans and restricted women's rights, not to mention racist and were overall violent ass h**les. Romans weren't really that bad