# "Greatest Events in History" Game **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [February 18, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970 "2015-02-18T02:00:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/41 "2015-03-03T18:36:28Z")
1. Invention of the Wheel 2. First use of Papyrus 3. Battle of Marathon 4. Split of Roman Empire into E/W by Diocletian 5. Magna Carta 6. Prince Henry the Navigator 7. Columbus “Discovers” America 8. Rapid development of mathematics 9. Pasteurization 10. Development of Powered Flight ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/42 "2015-03-03T18:37:26Z")
Gotta change four votes… 1. Domestication of Animals 2. Egyptian Empires 3. Rise of Persian Empire 4. Death of Caesar 5. Battle of Hastings 6. Ottoman Empire Founded 7. Elizabethan Age in England 8. Founding of the US 9. Pasteurization 10. Nuclear Weapons Damn… 19th century was tough. Don’t know WTF I’m going to do in the next round (assuming Pasteurization loses, that is.) And c’mon everybody… Egypt is wildly over-rated. Let’s get those bums out of here! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/43 "2015-03-03T18:38:31Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > 1. Invention of the Wheel > 2. First use of Papyrus > … :eek: ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/44 "2015-03-03T19:02:18Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > :eek: Gotta pick one. Pre-contact Americas got by fine without using the wheel, but they definitely needed domesticated animals and agriculture. As far as Papyrus – there are alternatives… clay tablets, parchment, etc. But they’re all tough choices. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/45 "2015-03-04T13:09:20Z")
bump ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/46 "2015-03-05T03:27:46Z")
4th Round List 1._Pre-History, Pre 3500 BCE_ Domestication of Animals 2._Bronze and Iron Ages, 3500 BCE-1000 BCE_ Alphabetic Writing Invented 3._Early Classical Antiquity, 1000 BCE - 200 BCE_ Invention of number “0” and Binary Systems 4._Late Classical Antiquity, 200 BCE - 476 AD_ Expansion of Roman Empire (Punic Wars, expansion into Gaul, etc) 5._Early Middle Ages, 477 AD - 1250 AD_ Development of Arabic Numerals 1. _Late Middle Ages, 1251 AD - 1453 AD_ Invention of Printing Press 7._Early Modern Era, 1454 AD - 1648 AD_ Copernican Revolution 8._Middle Modern Era, 1649 AD - 1788 AD_ Invention of Vaccination 9._19th Century, 1789 AD - 1900 AD_ Electrification Begins 10._20th Century and Beyond, 1901 AD - 2014 AD_ Invention of the Computer/Internet ---
**Author:** ![The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e79b87/32.png) [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Joker_and_the_Thief)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/47 "2015-03-06T04:02:53Z")
> [@The\_Joker\_and\_the\_Thief](#): > > [ol] > [li]Invention of the Wheel[/li][li]Sumerian Cuniform[/li][li]Unification of China under Qin Shi Huang[/li][li]Split of Roman Empire into E/W by Diocletian[/li][li]University of Bologna (first university) founded[/li][li]Fall of Constantinople[/li][li]Copernican Revolution[/li][li] Slave Trade[/li][li]Pasteurization[/li][li] Development of Powered Flight[/li][/ol] The university of Baloney has got to go this round. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2015, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/48 "2015-03-06T07:20:48Z")
1. Invention of the Wheel 2. Founding of Ur (first city) 3. Alexander the Great conquers the known world 4. Split of Roman Empire into E/W by Diocletian 5. University of Bologna (first university) founded 6. Fall of Constantinople 7. Spanish Dominance of Middle/South America 8. Slave Trade 9. Implementation of Modern Sanitation 10. Green Revolution ---
**Author:** ![jepflast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@jepflast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jepflast)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/49 "2015-03-10T05:28:53Z")
1. Invention of Alphabet 2. Xia Dynasty in China 3. Unification of China under Qin Shi Huang 4. Death of Caesar 5. Crusades 6. Hundred Years War Begins 7. Spanish Dominance of Middle/South America 8. Slave Trade 9. End of Slavery 10. WW1 Here in round 4 is the first time I’m seeing this. It’s neat but there seem to be some largely duplicate items like Pasteurization/Sanitation/Germ Theory. Also I don’t think Invention of Language belongs on this list. We have to take that as a given for humanity, I think, and it wasn’t really invented. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/50 "2015-03-11T03:13:42Z")
The fourth round is over! First, the losers are… 1. Invention of the Wheel 2. Xia Dynasty in China - Not a good round for Chinese influence. ☹ 3. Unification of China under Qin Shi Huang 4. Split of Roman Empire into E/W by Diocletian 5. University of Bologna (first university) founded 6. Fall of Constantinople - I am… surprised… that this fell before the 100 years war. I’m _shocked_ that the Printing Press got a vote this early. :eek: 7. Spanish Dominance of Middle/South America 8. Slave Trade 9. Pasteurization 10. Development of Powered Flight Fifth round choices coming up… ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/51 "2015-03-11T03:14:43Z")
Remember, the voting format is: #. \, as in 1. Invention of Yapping ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/52 "2015-03-11T03:15:46Z")
1. _Pre-History, Pre 3500 BCE_ Invention of Agriculture Domestication of Animals Invention of Alphabet Discovery (and control) of fire Invention of Language Invention of Metallurgy 2. _Bronze and Iron Ages, 3500 BCE-1000 BCE_ Hammurabi’s Code Egyptian Empires Founding of Ur (first city) Sumerian Cuniform Alphabetic Writing Invented First use of Papyrus 3. _Early Classical Antiquity, 1000 BCE - 200 BCE_ Democracy established in Athens Alexander the Great conquers the known world Rise of Persian Empire Greek Philosophy and Mathematics at peak Battle of Marathon Invention of number “0” and Binary Systems 4. _Late Classical Antiquity, 200 BCE - 476 AD_ Expansion of Roman Empire (Punic Wars, expansion into Gaul, etc) Death of Caesar Augustinian Empire Life of Jesus Christianity becomes official religion of Rome Collapse of Rome 5. _Early Middle Ages, 477 AD - 1250 AD_ Vision of Mohammed and the Rise of Islam Development of Arabic Numerals Battle of Hastings Crusades Magna Carta Genghis Khan conquers much of Asia 6. _Late Middle Ages, 1251 AD - 1453 AD_ Ottoman Empire Founded Great Schism Begins (ends 1417) Hundred Years War Begins Black Death Begins Prince Henry the Navigator Invention of Printing Press 7. _Early Modern Era, 1454 AD - 1648 AD_ Renaissance in Italy Columbus “Discovers” America Protestant Reformation Copernican Revolution Establishment of Dutch-East India company (First global corporation) Elizabethan Age in England 8. _Middle Modern Era, 1649 AD - 1788 AD_ Scientific Revolution The Enlightenment Rapid development of mathematics Invention of Vaccination Start of Industrial Revolution Founding of the US 9. _19th Century, 1789 AD - 1900 AD_ Development of Motorized Mass Transportation (Trains, Ships) Implementation of Modern Sanitation End of Slavery Beginning of the Oil Age Germ Theory of Disease developed Electrification Begins 10. _20th Century and Beyond, 1901 AD - 2014 AD_ WW1 WW2 The Rise of Mass Culture Invention of the Computer/Internet Green Revolution Nuclear Weapons ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/53 "2015-03-11T03:17:58Z")
> [@jepflast](#): > > Here in round 4 is the first time I’m seeing this. It’s neat but there seem to be some largely duplicate items like Pasteurization/Sanitation/Germ Theory. > > Also I don’t think Invention of Language belongs on this list. We have to take that as a given for humanity, I think, and it wasn’t really invented. Well, it is what it is. I did start a thread asking for discussion of the nominations and asking for suggestions for replacements, but now that the game is started, there’s nothing to be done. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/54 "2015-03-11T04:11:43Z")
1. Domestication of Animals 2. Alphabetic Invention of Alphabet 3. Invention of number “0” and Binary Systems 4. Collapse of Rome 5. Development of Arabic Numerals 6. Invention of Printing Press 7. Renaissance in Italy 8. Scientific Revolution 9. End of Slavery 10. Invention of the Computer/Internet ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/55 "2015-03-11T04:47:57Z")
1. Domestication of Animals 2. Founding of Ur (first city) 3. Alexander the Great conquers the known world 4. Collapse of Rome 5. Crusades 6. Great Schism Begins (ends 1417) 7. Protestant Reformation 8. Invention of Vaccination 9. Implementation of Modern Sanitation 10. Green Revolution ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/56 "2015-03-11T11:42:54Z")
1. Invention of Metallurgy 2. First use of Papyrus 3. Battle of Marathon 4. Death of Caesar 5. Magna Carta 6. Prince Henry the Navigator 7. Columbus “Discovers” America 8. Rapid development of mathematics 9. Germ Theory of Disease developed 10. Nuclear Weapons ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/57 "2015-03-11T11:52:02Z")
My thoughts on choosing Metallurgy over domestication of animals: If we look at all human societies through history, there’s a few things they all have in common. One of the things is domesticated animals playing a major role. Metallurgy is not one of these things, and it wasn’t necessary to develop large and complex societies (as useful as it is). There were multiple large settlements and societies that had no metal tools, but did have dogs. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/58 "2015-03-11T12:45:22Z")
1. Domestication of Animals 2. Egyptian Empires 3. Rise of Persian Empire 4. Death of Caesar 5. Battle of Hastings 6. Ottoman Empire Founded 7. Elizabethan Age in England 8. Founding of the US 9. Implementation of Modern Sanitation 10. Nuclear Weapons I am rather 😕 that the low-hanging fruit that is the Elizabethan age hasn’t received a single vote (other than myself, of course), but that the Renaissance has. **iiandyiiii** , yeah, but look what happened when non-metal societies ran up against those who had metal. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/59 "2015-03-11T13:13:14Z")
Metal is obviously important, I just feel that animal domestication has been more important and more impactful in history. Even when we include warfare – horses have been just as important, if not more so, than metal weapons, when it comes to war. At this point everything left on the “pre-history” part is incredibly important and impactful, so it’s reasonable to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970/60 "2015-03-11T13:14:25Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > I am rather 😕 that the low-hanging fruit that is the Elizabethan age hasn’t received a single vote (other than myself, of course), but that the Renaissance has. > > **iiandyiiii** , yeah, but look what happened when non-metal societies ran up against those who had metal. At least AFAIC, more art - paintings, sculpture, plays, and music - was produced during the Italian Renaissance than during the Elizabethan age [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-events-in-history-game/712970.md?page=4)