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Doug Webb @douginamug

Just found this nice of civilizations. Lots of ones with cool names I hadn't heard of before. Seems like nothing lasts for ever.

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@douginamug I'm a bit confused as to why I'm having to spend so long looking for the british empire... with not much success :/

@nicksellen Argh! It's been compressed, original: images-na.ssl-images-amazon.co

British Empire is in red, and since it wasn't a continuous stretch, it's not so easily visible at the Roman/Byzantine/Holy Roman empires.

@calvin Hi there, the highest res I could find is here: images-na.ssl-images-amazon.co but even then it's not super. Let me know if you find one!

@douginamug FYI this chart labeling the peoples of what is now called Australia as 'hunter gatherers' and 'without developed political structure' is some typical Euro-nonsense. Having them as some grey, not even defined area is fucked up. Same for the polynesian nations. Can't speak on others round the world.

Not your fault, but don't put too much faith in this chart.

@ryliejamesthomas Oh I don't put too much faith: neither do the chart makers if you see their description.

I believe the definition of civilization is pretty vague, but written script and social classes seem to be two common requirements which the Aboriginal Australians—as far as I know—didn't fulfill. Am I wrong?

@douginamug

Yeah, but I think that definition is part of the problem. It's part of how Britain reasoned when they stole this land in the first place: declared it _terra nulius_.

Also just the categorisation as hunter gatherer is really wrong. There was agriculture here, Architecture, cuisine, astronomy, everything. All documented, but trashed and hidden.