tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post6791073259954449531..comments2023-04-18T00:44:59.351+10:00Comments on A dead man fell from the sky...: Why all the pushing and shoving?Gary Corbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-30433892298707578822010-03-05T17:29:20.412+11:002010-03-05T17:29:20.412+11:00That's a fascinating point, Chantal. I have a ...That's a fascinating point, Chantal. I have a theory that the modern USA is more like Classical Athens at its height, than Rome at its height, but it seems to be a minority opinion. Thanks for the comment. I might add that to my to-blog list.<br /><br />There is actually a book that was advertised on Greek TV here in the Bay Area that compared 5th century Athens to the US now. I think it's a pretty good comparison in some respects, if not all.Meghanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03375626649089998707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-77202691613337009692010-03-05T16:09:28.382+11:002010-03-05T16:09:28.382+11:00That's a fascinating point, Chantal. I have a...That's a fascinating point, Chantal. I have a theory that the modern USA is more like Classical Athens at its height, than Rome at its height, but it seems to be a minority opinion. Thanks for the comment. I might add that to my to-blog list.Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-10002760511334063092010-03-05T14:53:14.710+11:002010-03-05T14:53:14.710+11:00Glad you liked it, Geoff.
Yes, the English/French...Glad you liked it, Geoff.<br /><br />Yes, the English/French historical rivalry is sort of cool too. <br /><br />This is a big advantage I have with my writing: there's reams of fun stuff to mine from the classics.Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-16603818565918201172010-03-05T06:57:08.805+11:002010-03-05T06:57:08.805+11:00Cracking stuff Gary!
Splendid, history, and even ...Cracking stuff Gary! <br />Splendid, history, and even prehistory, is often brutally simple.<br />France/England also share a strategic seaway.Geoff Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01111820035762957610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-48694147434345200722010-03-05T02:05:00.245+11:002010-03-05T02:05:00.245+11:00It's funny--I love these stories and it's ...It's funny--I love these stories and it's really hard to remember that these people were just like us and yet so different. I can see us doing the same move if we didn't have quite the same government set-up--there'd be a Texas army moving against the city-state of Georgia. Georgia would go to NY and all hell would break loose. LOL! <br /><br />I mean, look at the US-Mexico War. Only, ambassadors weren't exactly offed, but hey--lots of back-and-forth treaties and years of fighting to get the end result.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18360110943741695902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-31558746634487306662010-03-04T23:44:08.957+11:002010-03-04T23:44:08.957+11:00Interesting how many people want to en-well politi...Interesting how many people want to en-well politicians and congresscritters.<br /><br />Kosmos, the little detail about the Athenians offering earth and water doesn't tend to make it into school history texts. It's a bit like looking for mention of Vichy in French textbooks. (All right, that was catty. But accurate.)Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-37108077940815400932010-03-04T23:26:51.496+11:002010-03-04T23:26:51.496+11:00NEED MORE WELLS.
I love your posts Gary. They are...NEED MORE WELLS.<br /><br />I love your posts Gary. They are clicked at first sight. <br /><br />Now, about those Romans...hmm?Carrie Clevengerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05093923008179106837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-42079146838143500762010-03-04T23:05:51.992+11:002010-03-04T23:05:51.992+11:00Thank you again for another wonderful and fascinat...Thank you again for another wonderful and fascinating post. I never knew the Athenians had offered the Persians earth and water ... Wonder why my Classical Studies teacher never mentioned that bit. Though she did have a soft spot for the Spartans over the Athenians LOL ...<br /><br />I'd like to also agree with other posters in here .. Too many Bureaucrats, Politicians and Diplomats. Maybe we should have a well digging program ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13468481168414119225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-34058402255869920242010-03-04T18:00:02.435+11:002010-03-04T18:00:02.435+11:00So, everyone likes the idea of throwing diplomats ...<i>So, everyone likes the idea of throwing diplomats down wells. I'm not surprised.</i><br /><br />I'd like to start throwing CONGRESSPERSONS down wells. Only, we'd run out of wells. Sigh.<br /><br />I agree with the others. This is a great post and you really would make a great history teacher.Loretta Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02253542701930736398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-84802247205243560252010-03-04T16:44:46.622+11:002010-03-04T16:44:46.622+11:00So, everyone likes the idea of throwing diplomats ...So, everyone likes the idea of throwing diplomats down wells. I'm not surprised.<br /><br />That story is for-real! You can find it in Herodotus. <br /><br />Thanks for the lovely compliments, Merry and Stephanie. I had fun writing this one.Gary Corbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14759372069119740227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-48568042882413847642010-03-04T16:20:27.736+11:002010-03-04T16:20:27.736+11:00Artaphernes later sent ambassadors to Sparta, dema...<i>Artaphernes later sent ambassadors to Sparta, demanding earth and water. The Spartans tossed the ambassadors down a well, saying they'd find plenty of earth and water down there. Diplomacy in those days did tend to be robust.</i><br /><br />Heavens to Betsy, but this is great stuff! I don't know how people can say history is boring- these are the details that make it totally awesome. <br /><br />Kind of reminds me of the Potsdam Ultimatum with World War II (which I happen to be teaching right now). When Truman met with the Japanese and told them to surrender or else... Well, they told him to go to hell. <br /><br />Of course, then he bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Yowza. <br /><br />This was a great post- I learned a lot!Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10555962024608190438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-524039117682127217.post-38508605822809994332010-03-04T15:14:21.155+11:002010-03-04T15:14:21.155+11:00"That caused the Battle of Marathon, which en...<i>"That caused the Battle of Marathon, which ended with the Persians getting their asses whipped. <br /><br />Artaphernes later sent ambassadors to Sparta, demanding earth and water. The Spartans tossed the ambassadors down a well, saying they'd find plenty of earth and water down there. Diplomacy in those days did tend to be robust."</i><br /><br />Oh, my God, Gary - you should so be teaching this subject in college or high school - you would have been my favorite teacher - and as an added benefit, no one in that class would ever call ancient Greece a boring subject.<br /><br />I really can't wait for your novel to come out.Merry Monteleonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09435956005780500310noreply@blogger.com