When you hear the word 'Empire' what first comes to mind?

[Kain6th]

I saw a question earlier about the decline of the American 'empire.'

And people attacked the QA saying that empire has a negative connotation to it.

So what do you immediately think of when you hear that word?

[yopyopyop]

Well they are right to say the word "empire" has a negative connotation to it.

Empires spread by destruction and military conquest or by soft power and cultural conquest.

For example, these days, it's nearly impossible to watch TV during the evening in France, without watching "hollywood" cr@p. That's conquest of the minds (or soft power) by (lack of) culture (permanent spreading of the US oversimplified and biased way of embracing the world).

Another example of soft power is elites' corruption (it happens a lot in the European Commission), in order to have laws passed that give more advantages the US side than to the European side.

In Iraq (for instance, there are too many examples), it's conquest by brute force and destruction.

In the past there have been many empires. But all of them explosed or implosed.

You should read ancient history books, to get a very good insight about the topic.

[Kain6th]

I'm a history major. lol I'm just curious

[yopyopyop]

Read books by Howard Zinn then.

[Anonymous]

Expansion is basically the first thing that comes to mind then collapse. Empires that pop into my mind are obviously the British, Rome, Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire, all of European colonialism of Africa and the Americas (Spain, Portugal, Holland, France, Germany, Italy), The Empire of the Sun (Japan), the Chinese Dynasties, Russia, The Khanates like the Golden Horde, and America now a days.

[Izzy_21]

Roman Empire, and I think it does have negative connotation to it, as hisoricaly it often involved conquering an country/region with violence and surpressing it's people.

[starlight124]

Empire, I think of my history books. And how many empires were either overthrown or died out

[musiclover100]

It reminds me of that story about the Empire with no clothes on.

[Betawolf]

Roman. One of the greatest empires to ever walk this planet.

I don't like people calling America an Empire. Wouldn't go so far as to attack whoever does though, that's just silly. But I don't think there are any "Empires" right now, aside from the UK if you want to call that one.

[dudeman]

lol America is definitely an empire this place didn't exist a few hundred years ago, that's pretty much the definition of an empire

[Anonymous]

If you have military bases in more than 5 countries, you're heading into Empire territory.

When you start enforcing your countries laws in other countries, you're definitely in Empire territory.

[sovetskii13]

King, , ruler, leader, captain. Basically, synonyms.

[TedStar]

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. The greatest Star Wars movie ever

[-Asmo-]

Strangely enough, a pool lounge (as in pocket billiards) I stayed near once.

[shumailkazimi]

power, authority,politics etc...well game like ages of empire also comes in my mind

[Sayaka1202]

British Empire or Star Wars. ^^

[Kain6th]

:-)

[Sayaka1202]

WAH, sugoi reaction speed!

[Simcoven]

British...Decline...revolution...enlightenment...war...Crimea...Monarch...Navy...art.

[THAT-1-guy]

Romans is the first thing for me

[Skittles_lover]

Empire state of mind song by Jay-z

[Brando]

Either Rome or Star Wars

[EngineeringStudent]

Empire: Total War. Great game.

[ColtsFanForever]

Star Wars is what I think of

[99PROBLEMS]

Alicia Keys' song "Empire State Of Mind"

[Anonymous]

Empire State Building

[mormollio]

Star Wars... >.>;;

[DeadBeef]

darth vader

[selfishstars]

Galactic.

[Love_is_in_the_air]

Age of empires 2

[Moloch]

Empire strikes back.