Princeps

R&S is insanely awesome. Insanely awesome I say. I remember getting my first taste on a flight to Orlando, I was hooked after that. I haven't seen it in years, I'll have to remedy that soon.

Caracalla tried to strengthen Eastern philosophical influence I think. He was "unsucessful".

Me (formerly Trajan) and Longbow are also around the area. I'd give it some thought, it would depend on a fair few variables. I would love to see some of Neil's stuff. I was a very enthusiastic modeller (small link below my signiatue image), I am just getting back into the modelling game (paintnig is the main aim, but modelling is nice also).

Phew, I thought they'd finally got their marbles back when I saw the title of this thread. Hopefully that won't happen in my lifetime.

He wrote quite a lot didn't he! I would also like to check some of his stuff out, I've read a couple of books on Napoleon, but never anything by the man himself.

I really don't like Souness at all. No, infact I didn't like him before he became Newcastle boss. I really dislike him now. And he was a right **** as a player too, I'm suprised he didn't end a few careers along the way.

Quite amusing football clip. It's a team practice. http://gprime.net/video.php/soccerpractice I think England have a chance against Portugal now that they have a couple of players out.

I visit that site every day, mainly BBC7, which has excellent comedies. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/index.shtml?logo I think this week's hilight has been Jeremy Hardy's tribute to Linda Smith on Saturday, I missed a few episodes of this last time it was played. I'd say my favourite part was Jeremy Hardy's registered conman bit. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/index.shtml?logo

I wish I could remember where I had read this, but I recall an article on cavalry in general and comments on saddles in the Roman-Parthian world. Someone had recreated a version of what it may have been like and found it to be a surprisingly stable platform for a rider enabling them to engage in things like archery, lancing, etc. There have been a few experiments. I mentioned one of them in this thread http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2867&hl=saddle

Yeah, I'd always thought that their cohort cavalry was a light / scouting force. I think they used indentured cataphracts aswell though.

The First Century - Emperors, Gods, and Everyman (William Klingaman) An account of some of the major events of the first century, written in novel style (he doesn't add any fictional events, from what I can see). Approx 2/3 Roman Empire, 1/3 1st centuryChinese dynasty. I enjoyed it. The First Century: Emperors, Gods, and Everyman

OK then, scratch my suggestions, but I think that they all had a big impact on our lives today, more so than many military / political leaders.

Sorry, I don't know what OP means, but the question asks for historical leaders, which could include industrial leaders. Besides which, Paine was definately political, as was Jesus.

I thought the one I read was ok (and I read a fair few books that I don't finish, judging them to be utter turds). Anyone read Christian Jacq's Ramases series?

FLavius Valerius Constantinus - I think the difference between Fermi and Gutenberg can kind of be explained by Primus Pilus' theory (above this post). Others for the list- Jesus Openheimer Einstein Henry Ford George Stephenson The Guy that wrote "common sense" (can't remember his name, no time to google atm) Marconi

I'd go with Newton, but he's not there.

I read Massie's "Caligula". It was quite good, overall. One thing that I did not like was the frequent utterance by the novel's main character (Lucius, the narrator), "What could I say to that?" or "How could I reply to that?" This suggested a lack of imagination, not on the part of Lucius, but the novel's author. Still, an ok book, but I don't think we should rely on his opinion of Caligula, I think he got him all wrong.

I like it. They're currently showing it on sky3 in the UK. Ian McShane is awesome. Unfortunately I missed last week's episode, I tuned in this week to discover that Wild Bill Hicock had been shot down! How did that happen Germanicus? Surely not in a straight up duel.

Fortune sometimes breaks off completely, sometimes merely delays, the execution of mens plans. --Velleius Paterculus The most common beginning of disaster was a sense of security. --Velleius Paterculus What is truth? --Pontius Pilate A man must be either frugal, or Caesar. --Caligula The man was a teacher of a peculiar sect of his own, and was not like the rest of their leaders. --Josephus

I can't find any of the Rome stuff, are you sure it's the correct link? Oh, ok. From this one bit on Rome, I agree with Primus Pilus. In fact I'd go further, and say it's blatantly false. Rome would continue to grow, and in time it would come to absorb the classical Greek civilization as well. Rome too, would establish a great civilization with many great kings. One king of particular note is Constantine (271-337 A.D.), though not the greatest of the Roman kings, Constantine would have to be considered the most influential - His conversion to Christianity, facilitated the creation of the largest religious institution the world has ever known - the Holy Roman Catholic Church. The people of the Eurasian plains would not stop here, they continued their outward migration until they had populated all of Europe, the middle-east, India, and the Americas. Over time, great civilizations would spring-up in each place that they settled. In Europe it is assumed that they cross-bred with, and absorbed, the Cro-Magnon Humanoids who still existed there. One great mystery of Europe is Stone Henge in Britain. Did the European Cro-Magnon evolve to the point where he could build monumental structures - that seems unlikely. Or did people from one of the original Mediterranean countries, or even Egypt build it?

Hookers?

There's a pic on this page. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/4990240.stm

That is good news. My father lost most of his speech when he had a massive stroke at the age of 45. Maybe this discovery will help people like him in a few decades.

It's not on the bbc or anything yet, so there is no link for you guys, I'll have to just quote the article (from my trusty 'metro' free paper). "A bronze and silver brooch decorated with a picture of Mars, the God of war, was shown off yesterday after being found at the Vindolanda Roman fort on Hadrian's wall...it belonged to a Roman soldier called Quintus Sollonius" Looks very nice. ABout the size of a

I love both Braveheart and Gladiator. True, neither is astonishingly accurate, but they're both still excellent. Both still manage to bring a tear to my eye in the end, if I'm in the right mood. That's saying a lot, considering my world weary, jaded outlook on life these days