World History Reflection 2

After delving into the second and third wave civilizations;  I was rather surprised to read that as far back as the 500’s B.C.E. the Persian empire had in place its own government system; monetary system (standardized coinage) and taxes.  They even had a Persian postal system.   

I was impressed that the people of Greece were able to put their rivalry with other city-states aside every four years to participate in the Olympic Games, this tells me that they were not all power and greed. 

There were many thinkers and philosophies of the Classical Era.  With this came a vast array of religions.  In learning the different types; from Zoroastrianism in Persia, Daoism in China to Christianity in Palestine; although I was born and raised as a Catholic; I have found Buddhism to be the most interesting and spiritually liberating.  I actually had the opportunity to visit a Buddhist Church about a year ago.  The experience was extra special because the service that I attended was in honor of Nirvana Day, the mind liberating state of being free from suffering.  The entire journey was great, from the church’s massive roof top, similar to a Chinese tea house, to the overwhelming scent of incense, to the continuous sound of bells chiming, to the flurry of gold in and around the Onaijin (alter). 

As I sit in quietness, in this peaceful temple, all of the thoughts running through my mind of the day’s tasks that wait suddenly disappear, and I am in complete peace, if only for a moment.  All at once, this sudden burst of chanting commences, it is almost startling. We were all asked to stand and open up our programs to Gatha, Long Ago in India.  We all began to sing, I felt the spirit in the room, all of the members together in harmony.  It was an Ah Ha moment for me, one in which I have never felt in any other church service that I’ve ever attended.  I felt good about myself, where I was in the present, I felt a warmth from the people around me even though they were complete strangers, and most of all I felt a sense of belonging.  It was a very spiritual moment.  I was never really attached to my Catholic upbringing, not because it was bad, but because I didn’t understand. With Buddhism, it is all so clear to me, the enlightenment and the awareness and the spiritual power is from within.

Although, as I reflect, I’ve found that Buddha and Jesus were very similar in their message.  They both spoke of personal transformation and letting go of internal pain and suffering. 

Eurasian social hierarchies 500 B.C.E. and the caste system.  When you compare the caste system back then to the caste system of today, nothing has really changed.  It’s all based on wealth and power.  When I think of the case system of today, I see three layers.  The people with money, no matter what religion, race, or name, are on the top.  The middle class, mid size house, two kids, both parents working family occupy the second layer.  The poor, homeless, unfortunate folks of society occupy the bottom.  And to some extent, I feel that there is still the dominance of men over women and inequality in each layer.  Unless there is a drastic World change, this will be the wave of the next 100,000 years.  Sad but true.

World History Reflection 1

First peoples….

It was very interesting to read about Dreamtime, the Paleolithic peoples outlook on the world.  All of the events of the past were shared through stories, rock art, ceremonies.  From the beginning of all things, this ritual revealed how the people evolved from ancestors to current day.   It’s amazing how they were able to relate to each other, to animals and to the land through this mode of communication.  When I think of this in today’s world, Ancestor.com is a far cry from Dreamtime. 

It made me very angry to read about how in the first human societies, although women were treated as equal as women could be treated to men, how these same women had to endure public brutal beatings by their husbands due to this need to compete with other men..  Did this pave the way to the world of domestic violence.   It makes me sick to my stomach to read this, especially because I grew up in a home filled with domestic violence!!  I feel that men who hit women are week and pathetic!

When comparing Paleolithic societies, I was most impressed and intrigued with the Jo/Hoansi society.  On one hand their life was extremely simplistic, no leaders, decisions were made by individual families, on the other hand, they had this extremely complex social system.  They measured the bond of relationships based on their names.  So, two complete strangers with the same name treated each other as if they were family.. the kicker is, because of this, one could not marry another if that person has the same name as a family member.  I guess that would be considered incest…

I was very surprised to read that divorce was common back then.. 

One question that the Paleolithic ask and that I too ask “What have we lost in the mad rush to modernity and how can we recover it” (ch 1 pg 32).  Sometimes I sit, think and wonder what life would be like if things were simple, if men and women were treated equal, if there wasn’t this fast past, need to excel, need to be better than your brother, way of life.  If I had it my way, I’d be living in the old west, riding horse and carriage, focusing more on family, friends and living than working 80 hours a week, having little time to do anything else, days running into each other.. before you know it.. ten years have passed…

First Farmers….

In this chapter it was interesting to read about the different aspects and changes through the agriculture revolution.  The most interesting is reading about how this revolution shaped the various agriculture village societies.

It was kind of refreshing to know that in some of these societies they had “Chiefdoms” which unlike lineage societies and the typical actions of kings, in order to build their power and prestige, they did not use force, take war captives,  or implement slavery.. Instead they gained followers by showering them with gifts, and the power of persuasion…  This to me is a far better way to gain power and respect; it shows that one does not have to use force and violence to make your mark in society.   

First Civilizations…

This is the period when states were formed, hierarchies established and equality destroyed.  I realize That is the natural progression of evolution, but it saddens me that the actions of the people from 3500 B.C.E.- 500 B. C. E. set the stage for the world that we live in today.  Unfortunately this is the time when women and men are viewed in two different ways.  Women were looked upon as inferior, child bearers (barefoot and pregnant) . Amazing, how someone who really is the creator of life.  Slavery was in full force as early as 2000 B.C.E. and regarded as “normal” and casual.  In a marriage, men were allowed o sleep with the help but women caught sleeping around were “hung’ at their husbands discretion.  And finally, if a woman was raped, the father or husband would be considered the “victim”.

 The question is, "will we ever evolve from this period….."

My first History Blog

This is my first blog posting.