From: "Adam Flinton" 


"William F. Zachmann"  wrote in
message news:3e714842$1{at}w3.nls.net...
> The principle is correct, Thees, even though it's relation to Communism is
> as tenuous as it is non-essential.  Major changes in social/political
> alignments, historically, come from (or, at any rate, are effectively
> mediated by), military superiority.  That may very well have social,
> political, philosophical, religious, moral, spiritual, or whatever
aspects,
> but all of the above, more often than not, also need military advantage.
> Muslims understand that quite well, as even a quite superficial study of
> Islamic history clearly shows.  Cultures (in the broadest possible sense)
> unable to achieve military success do not very often leave much behind.
And
> when cultures do have influence despite contemporary military weakness,
that
> influence is generally founded on prior military successes (e.g. the
Greeks
> after Roman dominion was established; Islamic culture after the Mongol
> conquests; and so forth).
>

Huh????

Yes to a degree but dare I say it......re: "Cultures (in the broadest
possible sense) unable to achieve military success do not very often leave
much behind. " the Greeks were never much cop in a regional sense in
Mil erms coz they were always scrapping with each other (e.g. Athens vs
Sparta or Sparta vs just about everyone else) & yet the greeks left an
enormous amount "behind". Equally the Byzantines were never much
cop at mil stuff but again left a lot behind. Opposing that the Turks were
superb in mil terms but left sod all behind (as was common with most of the
superb in mil terms peoples of the steppes (Mogols, Huns, Vandals, Goths
etc.).

A "settled civilization" is normally what is required (i.e. even
post being conquered the culture endures)

Other easy examples are the Italians of the middle ages who again were no
great shakes in mil terms but produced stunning culture vs the Germanic
tribes of the Roman period who were a serious mil threat to Rome
but......culture....wozzat?

Most serious mil nations/groups never gave a monkey's bottom about culture
as that only grew following a "settled period" until then it was
"nick what you can from your neighbors".

Adam

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