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The English Language is so dominant today because for the past 70 years the US is the leading economic power in the world. You wanna talk business, you talk english (also helps that before the US was large and in charge, the UK was busy showing everyone else how to control the world . Also helps our music and films are viewed all over the world, further spreading the language in direct and indirect ways, plus all the people who want to immigrate.
Don't worry though. In a century we'll all be speaking Chinese
My point being of course that winning a naval battle didn't have much to do with the spread of the English language compared to 200 years of world dominance owed to English speaking nations.
But that wasn't what I was saying at all... WHo invents something is usually not the same as who spreads it. There's a reason Henry Ford is more famous than Karl Benz... Well Karl Benz is probably more famous in Germany
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/03 22:57:18
LordofHats wrote:Of course. The ancient Germans did.
But that wasn't what I was saying at all... WHo invents something is usually not the same as who spreads it. There's a reason Henry Ford is more famous than Karl Benz... Well Karl Benz is probably more famous in Germany
Henry Ford deserves special mention above Karl Benz not because of design of automobiles but rethink of assembly line techniques. Henry Fords mass produiction menthodology transformed the way indistruial production worked.
Its not a USA vs Germany/Europe thing, its credit where its due.
If the majority of that credit is placed at Europes feet, that is because of where it belongs.
n'oublie jamais - It appears I now have to highlight this again.
It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion. By the juice of the brew my thoughts aquire speed, my mind becomes strained, the strain becomes a warning. It is by tea alone I set my mind in motion.
1. Battle of Issus
2. Battle of Cannae/Zama
3. Battle of Tours
4. Battle of Kursk
5. Waterloo
6. Spanish Armada
7. Battle of Chalons
8. Midway
9. Battle of Red Cliffs
10. Siege of Yorktown
Even now, the world is still somewhat Eurocentric. Europe dominated global politics for upwards of three hundred years. The battles that created that situation are naturally going to end up being more influencial than those won by the civilizations eventually subjugated to European rule.
Given that the book was written in 1851 it's eurocentrism is a bit more striking than it could have been (though honestly, global historical knowledge was pretty shallow those days). China had been the dominant market force in global trade for nearly a millennium and had several intensively decisive military conflicts shaping its public and foreign policy. The list makes no mention of Mongolians at all, nor the federation and consolidation of the Russian states, nor the decisive conflicts that shaped japanese, korean, or indian influences around the world.
Seriously, any list on military conflicts that doesn't mention the Mongolions is just pandering to white dudes. They mention alexander, but they don't mention the khans who basically did the same thing but bigger, larger, and better.
Then the British Empire topped the Khans, and while it no longer exists. It was the largest empire in human history.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
LordofHats wrote:
People don't care about truth. They care about what they want to be true. When confronted with evidence to the contrary, they just plug their ears and say "nah."
Isn't that just a self fulfilling philosophy, when you know about it, it becomes true. For example by arguing against it you're just proving true.Yet, even when arguing for it you are just doing the same thing. For example, if you're confront by evidence such as stats of how often people change their opinion to suit the fact, and still hold the your original opinion . You are once again proving it true, and if you don't bother debating it you won't have that belief confronted, and thus it shall remain. Thus it becomes a no win, self fulling argument. Because what ever you do it shall prove itself true.
Also it is kinda of a cop out IMHO. Will yes, you never completely convert everybody to an idea, and sometimes it isn't worth bothering. But, you also miss the change to convert people. Because why bother debating if they won't listen. Even if they might.
I admit I am not that smart. So if I butcher the meaning of it please forgive me. Also I do realize that by arguing it I prove it true to those who believe it.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/04 02:53:07
. Also helps our music and films are viewed all over the world, further spreading the language in direct and indirect ways, plus all the people who want to immigrate.
