Discuss ancient history with an unqualified fool

[The Mikado]

Why the Roman Empire "fell" is a worn-out subject, so how about the opposite question: why did the Roman Empire survive the Crisis of the Third Century, a period which saw it come within razor's edge of total collapse, especially in the 260s during Gallienus' reign?

[The Mikado]

I have come to the belief that there was likely significant civilization predating recorded history.  How crazy am I?

A lot of earlier people lived in ways that didn't exactly leave a lot of archaeology-friendly junk lying around to dig up, and with non-literate civilizations that weren't in contact with literate civilizations, the only way we'd know you ever existed is if we dug up your stuff at some point.

Alternately, there's this hypothesis:



(Posted solely to make Al laugh)

[The Mikado]

(Posted solely to make Al laugh)

You have succeeded. That's... amazing.

It's cool how the Hwan Empire ceased to exist just before the invention of writing.  Very convenient.