Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="SHARK" data-source="post: 186049" data-attributes="member: 1131">Greetings!Fenris:Hello Fenris my friend!<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Fair enough, fair enough. However, I suppose the distinctions that I would like to make is that Historians of our own era have gone over the evidence, consulted with archeologists, anthropologists, and so on, in order to sift out the best explanation. There are many professional historical techniques that the Historian employs to discover the truth. For example, the Criterion of Multiple Attestation, Specific Historic Knowledge, and so on. I can't recall them all at the moment, but there is a large list of these criteria that the Historian analyzes and compares, in order to arrive at an accurate interpretation of the historical events in question. For example, from these methods, modern Historians can know what ancient historians are authoritative and accurate, and trustworthy in their accounts, and other ancient Historians that are not as reliable, or even distinctly questionable.For example, in one of my Ancient History classes, my professor, a Ph.D in Ancient History, from USC, would give you an "F" if you maintained that the Romans fielded 40,000 men in the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC, or they fielded 120,000 troops. Why?<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Because both of those answers are wrong. The correct answer is at least 60,000 troops, and perhaps no more than 90,000. The point being though, that History can be known, and there are reasonably accurate facts, or interpretations of those facts. Because various events in history may have happened centuries ago, and because precise estimates have been difficult to pin down, does not therefore entitle one to just make up whatever interpretation that one desires, or to casually dismiss what expert Historians in the field today have determined, because of the notion that "Historians in the past exxagerated." I hope that makes sense.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />But yes, there is some variation throughout history. Some elements are less detailed than others. There are some things that Historians today cannot figure out from the past. These things remain a mystery. However, much can be known, and reasonable, accurate interpretations can be made. Still, Fenris, your point is well-taken.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Tiefling:It's nice to hear from you. Yes, your post is right on target of course.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> The Roman Empire was enormous, and it had huge amounts of manpower and resources available to it.Eosin:Yes, the Romans and the Byzantines did do things "BIG" didn't they? Indeed, warfare doesn't have to conform to the 5-10% of the male population figure!Ulrick:Yes, that's quite right Ulrick my friend! The Romans only lost because they were hugely outnumbered, or because of some idiot commander. Otherwise, you know who whipped it on! The Romans were highly trained, and conditioned to fight against overwhelming numbers. They were accustomed to crushing the barbarian rabble!<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Avarice:Thankyou by the way! Your not out of your mind at all!<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Semper Fidelis,SHARK</blockquote>

Verification