Most appealing historical period in history

[ik911]

Looking back on many centuries of history, which historical period do you think was the best? Or differently said: Which period appeals you the most?

There's many, many periods, ofcourse. Here's a summary off wikipedia and added some comments between []'s:

Human historical periods
Prehistoric [When nature was bigger than man.]
Prehistoric Europe
Stone Age
Copper Age
Antiquity [The first civilizations appear and build the foundations of ours.]
Iron Age
(Ancient Greece, c:a 1000 BC-, see Timeline of Ancient Greece)
Pax Romana (Roman Empire, 96 - 180)
Period of the Three Kingdoms (China, 220 - 280)
Middle Ages (Europe, 5th century - 15th century) [Monarchs, knights, quests, fair ladies, need I say more?]
Viking Age (Scandinavia, Europe, 793 - 1066)
Nara period (Japan, 709 - 795)
Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (China, 907 - 960)
Sengoku period (Japan, 1478 - 1605)
The Renaissance (Europe, 14th century - 16th century)
Early Modern (Europe, 14th century - 18th century) [Splendor and Enlightment.]
Elizabethan period (United Kingdom, 1558 - 1603)
The Reformation (Europe, 16th century)
The Age of Enlightenment (Europe,18th century)
Modern (Europe, 18th century - 20th century) [It's about where we are now. Many inventions and revolutionary ideas make life so much easier.]
Industrial Revolution (Europe 18th and 19th centuries)
Napoleonic Era, 1799-1815
Victorian era (United Kingdom, 1837 - 1901)
Edwardian period (United Kingdom, 1901 - 1910)
Meiji era (Japan, 1868 - 1912)
World War I (Earth, 1914 - 1918)
Interwar period (Earth, 1918 - 1939)
World War II (Earth, 1939 - 1945)
Cold War (Soviet Union and United States, as well as Earth, 1945-1989)
Post-communist period (Russia, after 1991)

In the poll, I've only included the 5 major periods. You may also post a more specific period in this thread. (Ofcourse, you may do both, too! Vote AND reply. It's free!) And please give us a little explanation, if you will, why you think the period of your choice appeals you.

I haven't added a no spam tag, because I expect of you *looks at magrus* to behave, or else *barks*.

Now, go ahead and vote and reply.

[TonyMontana1638]

I went with antiquity because I've always been just enthralled with anything to do with ancient greece (history, philosophy, drama, military history, etc.) which carries over to much of ancient Rome too. Aristophanes, Plato/Socrates, Homer, Virgil, Cicero, Aeschylus... *Goosebumps*
I don't know too much about the Three kingdoms, but what I do know I find interesting at least (mostly learned from video games ). It's something I'd definitely be willing to learn more about.

Middle ages would be next because I'm a sucker for western european history too (it's waht originally got me interested in fantasy). I will never bet against the Greeks, however .

[Magrus]

I said Antiquity, because, it was before the 5th century and after the iron age. Humanity was able to forge weapons, and armor, and had the ability to write, communicate, and build. Yet, numbers of people were small, and places were still very much wild and untamed all over the world.

[fable]

It's too generic: one might as well say, whom do you like better, Marcus Aurelius or Adolf Hitler? Or rephrase it as Caligula, or Ghandi? We're speaking of hundreds of cultures in dozens of civilizations during any one of your sub-periods. Appealing becomes impossible to tell on such a macro scale.

[TonyMontana1638]

Originally Posted by fable

It's too generic: one might as well say, whom do you like better, Marcus Aurelius or Adolf Hitler? Or rephrase it as Caligula, or Ghandi? We're speaking of hundreds of cultures in dozens of civilizations during any one of your sub-periods. Appealing becomes impossible to tell on such a macro scale.

It is really generic... But I'd go with Marcus Aurelius. Meditations is good stuff .

Edit: Ack! Sorry, no spam... Ummm, alright lemme say something relevant... Ok. Here goes.

Just try it Fable, come on. You're the Babylonian, this thread is nothng without you.

[fable]

Originally Posted by TonyMontana1638

Just try it Fable, come on. You're the Babylonian, this thread is nothng without you.

I'm a Babylonian god, but from a specific period (roughly 4000 BCE), and even then, there was good, and there was bad. You might as well ask me if the US is a good place to live, or a bad one: I would say that having a penthouse in Manhattan is very different from living in an unheated slum apartment in East LA.

[Fiona]

No contest. Birth control trumps everything.

Edit. And dentistry

[ik911]

Originally Posted by fable

It's too generic: one might as well say, whom do you like better, Marcus Aurelius or Adolf Hitler? Or rephrase it as Caligula, or Ghandi? We're speaking of hundreds of cultures in dozens of civilizations during any one of your sub-periods. Appealing becomes impossible to tell on such a macro scale.

Oh, no, you're wrong. It is possible and all it needs is macroscaling. You are dealing with thousands of souls, some of which were thieves, others were heroes. They are or are not important as a group or a ratio. That is up to you.
It is not a question of which time period was objectively and unquestionably the best, or had the lowest tax rate or the bravest leader. It isn't even about choosing which time period quantatively has the most positive facts. No, it's about your impression. Your opinion. And it does mean you'll have to generalize. Do it sans-gêne. Throw your scientific grip away and imagine. Yes, that exactly it: form a picture. A simplified, summarized kodak-picture of every period and decide which you like best. What's on the picture: you decide.

Or just choose a sub-period and/or culture.

Or don't. I'm not forcing you, ofcourse. However, I am interested. Not because your choice will fill my head with knowledge, but out of sheer interest, pure and simple.

[TonyMontana1638]

Originally Posted by fable

I'm a Babylonian god, but from a specific period (roughly 4000 BCE), and even then, there was good, and there was bad. You might as well ask me if the US is a good place to live, or a bad one: I would say that having a penthouse in Manhattan is very different from living in an unheated slum apartment in East LA.

*Sigh* You're right of course, then try looking at it this way: in terms of historical significance which of these interests you the most? Not necessarily which is most appealing (though I suppose that's what IK intended), but if you were to be locked ina room with a book on history from one of these periods, which would you read? Oh, and you have to read one: sleeping isn't an option.

Edit, AGAIN: Well it sems Ik has rendered this post irrelevant, as looking at it from a historical perspective was my take but not necessarily what was required. I'm going back to the stronghold now...

[ik911]

Originally Posted by TonyMontana1638

*Sigh* You're right of course, then try looking at it this way: in terms of historical significance which of these interests you the most? Not necessarily which is most appealing (though I suppose that's what IK intended), but if you were to be locked ina room with a book on history from one of these periods, which would you read? Oh, and you have to read one: sleeping isn't an option.

Even the question is multi-interpretable. Isn't that great? That makes it even easier to answer.

[TonyMontana1638]

Originally Posted by ik911

Even the question is multi-interpretable. Isn't that great? That makes it even easier to answer.

Hahahaha Yes I noticed and commented in my edit, thank you.

[Bloodstalker]

At the moment, I'd pick Antiquity just because recently I've been reading a lot on the Spartans and the Peloponnesian War. It constantly changes though, as I move around my book collection.

I've always had a love of history, esp military history. Recently I've decided to change careers and return to college, eventually I'd like to get my degree in History and teach somewhere.

It's purely based on my interest at the moment though, and has nothing to do with what I think is best or not. I am of the mind that people are people, some things suck and have always sucked, and some things don;t suck and will never suck. I don't think any time period is inherently any better or worse than any other.

[Lestat]

Interesting? All of them. I'd like to visit.
Appealing? Current, Western Europe. I like to live there, and not be a subsistence farmer, slave or 12-hour a day factory worker.
Second comes hunter/gatherer in prehistory: normally only a few hours work/day to survive, but heck, what to do with the rest of your time? Oh well, make cave paintings I suppose.

[CM]

My choice of course would be between the darkages and early modern period. But not in Europe. In the Middle East and all the lands the muslims conquered.

The second would be prehistoric period, in the cradle of civilization. I would love to see humans develop and move out into the rest of the world.

[Phreddie]

I voted antiquity, doesnt matter in which part of the world, I picked it for the sheer simplicity of life, get food, eat food, get woman, eat woman, get bed, sleep. Wake up, wash, rinse, repeat. Although most likely with out all the washing and the rinsing.