The Classical Era in World History 500 B.C.E – 500 C.E

The Classical Era in World History 500 B.C.E – 500 C.E

     Can an Empire foster security, artistic endeavors, exchange of goods and services, mix cultures, expand ideas, and foster ingenuity without violence, oppression and exploitation? (Strayer 99) The Persians were known for the brutality of their God appointed kings, but then they were able to comprehend the value of respecting different cultures under their power. The example given in the book is that of Cyrus allowing the exiled Jews in Babylon to return to Jerusalem and rebuilt their temples. (Stryer 100) How is it that we can in one moment exhibit the insight of the power of the common good, and then at the same time want to conquer as many peoples as possible? Why do humans want to be better than each other? Where does that destructive competitive drive come from? It might seem that is started with the concept of mine and yours, but the San people of Southern Africa understood that concept of mine, and they also understood the destructive power it could foster if not held in check. Their technique of insulting the meat was useful in keeping the human ego in a healthy state. Is it a possibility that once people moved into civilizations and then empires they lost the ability to keep their egos in a healthy state? Did the beginning of the ability to conquer nature with agriculture also lead to the incessant desire to conquer others as well? I guess we as Homo sapiens concurred the other Homo species, but we do not have a record of how that happened. We do however have a record of how humans have treated each other at the start of the agricultural era and now through the second and third wave of civilizations.

     Back to the question of is it possible for an empire not to be an asshole? There is an example in the book of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. He started out in the usual emperor fashion, but was able to see another way of ruling after witnessing much bloodshed. There was growth and ingenuity under his reign and he practiced peace. Too bad after his death, human nature returned to its destructive ways. (Strayer 120)

     Is the fluctuation of order turning into disorder to then becoming order again a necessary natural fluctuation in which growth occurs? The information on page 88 on shows how there was not any new technological or economic breakthroughs during these second and third wave civilizations for a few reasons: the land owning elite were cool with their reaping, peasants did not want to make anymore than necessary because it would just be stolen by the elite, and the merchants, the best chance at making change, were dominated and made to look suspicious. So, there was not much disorder to become order again. There was a status quo being upheld and everyone kind of played along. Spartacus had a good idea, but it was not for social change, just personal change. So, that could be a lesson right there: For things to change in life they must be attempted for more than just yourself.

     I don’t know is an empire or civilization for that matter has the ability to rule and prosper without exploiting people, land, resources, and other life along the way. The Empire of the United States surely is unable to.  (word count 564)