[A Social Research Project- By Myself !]

Hey Guys,

For a social analysis project, I have chosen to analyse peoples reactions to a topic and each other specifically within forum communities. The posts choose to analyse will be completely annoymous, and no names will be recorded. However, for the purpose of the investigation I must have you age, gender and occupation recorded.

 

The topic of discussion is:

 

Is the influence of the media creating a more violent society?

 

 

So you should set your post out in this format.

 

Age:

Gender:

Occupation:

 

[your post]

[Hepthalites]

Yup, I've got that picture

Otherwise, they are going to be "fun" to research...in the sarcastic sense of the word.

[Hepthalites]

The Hepthalites (or often known as White Huns) were a Steppe people, who were responsible for raiding northern China, and eventually settling in Bactria/Northern Pakistan, providing a significant thread to the Sassanid Empire in the 5th/6th centuries (they were defeated in 565AD). The problem is, that information on their cultural and military aspects are rather hard to find to say the least. Does anyone have any knowledge on this rather obscure (and often forgotten) culture?

 

For the modification for Rome:Total War (Barbarian Invasion) entitled "Imperia Romana" I am currently directing, we are including in later versions the Hepthalites. I have a run down of the various dates and events refering to them, but the problem now is getting some kind of idea on what they looked like, how they fought, and the structure of their society. They will be a VERY difficult culture to portray in the game, but definatly one that will prove worthwhile (and being a significant threat to the Sassanids during the later half of the game.)

 

Basically if you think you have ANY information, such as web-links, suggested books, or you'd even like to join the team feel free to contact me about it.

[Rome: Total War]

Now, on another note. I just downloaded the RTR 6.0 with 6.2 patch. Anybody else here got that one? I haven't played it yet. Anybody know what the key differences are? I don't necessarily care about the new units and factions they added. I saw those on totalwar.org I think it was. Actual gameplay what are the differences.

 

 

ANd has anyone played the Barbarian Invasion mod? How is that?

 

6.2 is totally different. The majority units you build in it are related directly to the region you conquer, with only the "traditional" units being recruitable anywhere (once you have built up the settlement enough). For example, when the Romans conquer a "Gallic" cultured region, they can (for a while until they have built the city up enough) build Gallic Auxilary units. It's quite hard to explain really, but I would STRONGLY suggest you try it: It really does so much more than I said.

 

BI on the other hand is a little .... rubbish. I would suggest waiting out on it till my own realism mod (Imperia Romana) is released (the first "hotfix" version coming out around Christmas). Check out our forum here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=79

[Ask The Expert - Dr Bryan Ward Perkins]

First of all, your book was a fantastic read, and helped put the way cultures in Europe changed after the fall of the Western Empire in a new light in my mind.

 

Onto the question: I am currently undertaking an self-study project, on which I have chosen to study the Later Roman Legions. My full question is:

 

The Roman Legions, once the most feared and sucessful army in the western world, was, by the 4th century AD thought to b e a shadow of its former self. To what extent can Vegetius' please for a return to the old style legions be justified, and would this have helped relieve the problems of the Empire?

 

This however, for the sake of the project is split into three sections, linking in to the various parts of the main question. The third segment of the project is possibly the most difficult one, and the one that I think requires some outside thought from my own, this segment, in the form of a question being:

 

To what extent were the problems too deeply rooted in the empire for effective changes to be made by the late 4th century?

 

For this I am focusing on the problems of the armies organisation and deployement in relation to the Romans attitude to war i.e. did Rome care anough about the organisation of the army as other factors came into play (Christianity's teachings, unrest/civil war, cultural changes etc)? Does the fact that figures later in history took Vegetius' advice (despite the fact that they fought a TOTALLY different form of warfare- i.e. heavy cavalry based, where De Re Military encourages the use of heavy infantry) show that the Roman Elite (bar the Generals) cared little for warfare, even when it was neccesary for a true peace?

 

I hope that's not too long (or indeed too many questions!) for the "rules".

 

Many Thanks, Greg Wild