I must start with WOW as there was information put forth into the text that I had no idea about. Sure, I enjoy history as being told on the "History Channel" and if Morgan Freeman or Will Lyman of "Frontline." However, without these two iconic voices are not here to read the book to me, I must take on my own voice and venture into the void.
Also, learning from my mistakes from my earlier blog of putting down page numbers and feeling like a total idiot, I will change the error of my ways and attempt to do a better job.
When I read chapter 3, I couldn't help to wonder when the United States' time will come and us to will have to come to an end - or upgrade our thinking. I enjoyed this chapter as it covered more than one empire or group that held it's ideas while attempting to keep the peace among the population. My favorite line from this chapter was, "Their armies and their tax collectors were hard to avoid." (PG. 118). I smiled as yes, it takes money - lots of money to maintain an empire. It also takes a huge labor force.
I have to ask. What was Alexander's power trip? He already had a lot of vast territory to bathe in. I see it as a way to satisfy his ego and play the part of the person who annexed the excess of land. I must give him credit though. He did these campaigns being no older than 24. Not bad if you think how long we have been in Iraq for the current war era (1990?) and the leaders now are a lot older and can't seem to make a decision. I supported Alexanders open minded attitude by encouraging intermarriage of separate races. Yes, I to am married outside of my race and support that we can only learn more from others than ourselves.
China seemed to be fairly harsh with their "Legalism" philosophy. However, this concept did keep the peace among the people. Although I wonder if the person who got caught stealing a loaf of bread was sent to the Great Wall to help build it until death.
Chapter 4 was a bit overwhelming for me. It's hard to keep up with these religions and how each one is practiced. I hope I am not taking away from this chapter by paraphrasing it a tad even though it encompassed several pages. There seems to be a commonality within organized religions. There is a spirit who presented in the flesh at one time and now this archetype is a way to follow and instill personal core values. If I were to pick one of these religions that I see the most being said about humanity, that would be Buddhism. There seems to be more of a fluid way to introduce ones inner self and promote peace outside. There was something that did come to me as a surprise. I had no idea that Buddhism came from India? Yes, I fell in the category that this religion came from China.
Chapter 5 got me a little angry. I disagree entirely with the caste system and I am so thankful that the chapter began with someone who was one level above "untouchable" was a wealthy tech-person who can see himself in a different light.
In order to build a regime, there are slaves that will do the work. Rome had a lot of tasks to be checked off and what better way of getting the work done - slavery. The United States didn't learn from Rome and other countries and in my opinion, what is left is an ideology that the group that was enslaved, will embark of years of turmoil in order to not be associated with that part of their lives.
Chapter 6 got me scared just by the name of it, "Commonalities and Variations." However, after spending the last couple of chapters of groups being enslaved and getting more angry about learning of the caste system, I thought for a moment that all of this historic madness had commonality. Then, turning of the first page, I realized I made it to another part of history.
06/02/15
When I read about the civilizations related to the Mayans and Inca's, I can't grasp the concept of how they did with what they had? No matter if someone is a conspiracy theorist related to the past, I am in awe in how these entities kept their way of life for so long. I also have to wonder why the African empires didn't get as much credit as the Greeks? Perhaps that is a question that will lay in debate and scholars to think about.
These last chapters were a difficult pill to swallow. I felt anger, frustration, and was in amazement all at the same time. I often wondered why these civilizations practiced their beliefs in the fashion they did. To think these civilizations built such amazing entities made of rock and yet today, we can't get across the bay without the use of Garmin. On to the next..
No comments:
Post a Comment