Empires have not made their own reality; they've had to work with the resources available. They could put a better spin on the reality ("presents to subjects of the Chinese Empire" rather than "tribute and bribes to barbarians," for example); but they didn't make their own reality.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-05 08:47 pm (UTC)Empires have not made their own reality; they've had to work with the resources available. They could put a better spin on the reality ("presents to subjects of the Chinese Empire" rather than "tribute and bribes to barbarians," for example); but they didn't make their own reality.