Blog 2

Erica Garcia

Blog #2

            For this second blog, there was a lot of material that was covered in the reading.  In the four chapters that I read it covered the Eurasian Empires, Eurasian Cultural Traditions, Eurasian Social Hierarchies and Classical Era Variations.  Though there was a lot of material in these sections I plan to talk about what I found to be the most interesting in each topic.

            In the first part of the reading I learned a lot about the different empires that were established between 500 B.C.E to 500 C.E.  In the reading it states “Empires have been a source of metaphors and lessons about personal morality, corruption, political life, military expansion and much more”(97). This chapter started off by asking, if we, the United States are the new Roman Empire? Many commentators saw a comparison, with the Roman Empire being corrupt and dictatorial at home then soon following its collapse, they see the similar thing happening to the American empire. Besides the comparison between the United States and the Roman Empire, what really interested me was the collapse of the empires. Many of the Empires got to big, which lead to many draw backs, such as it becoming to expensive to provide resources, huge estates enabled them to avoid paying taxes, free peasants were turned into farmers, and a reduced central government.  Another huge factor was widespread disease.  Diseases lead to decrease in the population, which lead to “demographic disaster that meant diminished production, less revenue for the state, and fewer men available for the defense of the empire’s long frontiers”(117).  To China and the Roman Europe, the collapse of the empires meant a decrease on urban life, a diminishing population, a decrease on international trade, pretty much they saw it as civilization was “unraveling”. In order to prevent this comparison from actually happening the book states “ Americans must face up to their responsibilities as “ the undisputed master of the world “ as the Romans did in their time” (97).

            Continuing along to the next chapter, Eurasian Cultural Traditions, I read a lot of interesting things. Reading about their culture, religious patterns, cultural traditions lead me to the comparison of Jesus and the Buddha. This caught my attention because I am currently taking a Religion class and we are discussing many different religions. Both religions are very influential.  Even though Christianity and Buddhism are two different religions their teachers are actually very similar. Even though the Buddha was born to luxury and Jesus was born to a lower class family, both claimed to have personally experienced a different level or reality. Both were considered to be “wisdom teachers” that challenged the predictable values during their time.  This urged “the renunciation of wealth, and emphasizing the supreme importance of love or compassion as the basis for a moral life” (146). Though they both had different teachings they both had the same meaning to their teachings, which was personal transformation.  This was very important during many changes that were going on in this era.  It gave people hope and something to believe in.

            In the third chapter, Eurasian Social Hierarchies, what stood out to me was slavery in the classical era. I found it interesting that women were the first slaves, they were usually raped and then enslaved as for men they were captive then killed.  Slavery meant “ ownership by a master, the possibility of being sold, working without pay, and the status of an “outsider” at the bottom of the social hierarchy” (165).  But being a slave was considered to be social death. Slaves did not have rights; they did not have a personal identity that was recognized in any society. A form of slavery was practiced in Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas.  In Rome, the making of a slave society was not hard to come upon because of the way they viewed slavery.  They looked at slavery as “it was a terrible thing to become a slave, but a good thing to own a slave”(167). Slaves were not limited to only the upper class; the lower class had slaves as well.  They were used to do domestic work and used in a sexual way.  Even if their owners set the slaves free it was hard for them to live in their society.  Slaves that were free did not become citizens nor were they able to gain political power.  Their status was considered to be in between slavery and freedom. Being treated as a slave, being tortured and not being treated as a human lead the slaves to rebel.  In 73 B.C.E, there was a slaved gladiator named Spartacus.  Spartacus led 70 slaves in order to bid for freedom.  This led many other slaves to join this revolt, which lead them to crucify many slave owners.  They did this mainly because they wanted to escape Roman slavery.  They did not have an over plan or goal besides to escape and get revenge. Unfortunately this revolt did not affect the slave system.  This is unfortunate, but at least they tried.  I would not know what I would do if I was in their shoes.

            Lastly the Classical Era Variations, which brought interest in the Maya Civilization. Between 250 and 900 C.E the Maya people were known for their cultural achievements. During this time, the Maya people were known to be merchants, nobles, priests, architects and sculptors.  It was said that the priest developed the mathematical system that we use today.  They developed 0 and place notation along with complex calculations. They Maya people were very talented that they even used their mathematical formulas in order to “plot the cycles of the planets, to predict eclipse of the sun and the moon, to construct elaborate calendars and to calculate accurately the length of the solar year” (194).  If it were not for these incredible creators where would we be today? What kind of system would we use? I really enjoyed reading about the Maya people and how they were able to create a mathematical system that we still use today.

            I believe that I have learned a lot in these four chapters.  I am able to understand and appreciate what our ancestors started for us.  We are able to learn from their mistakes and hope we can take the positive and apply it to our society.