While reading through the chapters I found history is definitely interesting information. I was surprised that the countries’ civilization, empires and religions were born at about the same time. While Persia and Greece collided, China and Rome were doing similar things; such as governing, size of their population, land occupied, and they both wanted to control the world, yet that had no contact with one another. I was impressed with Rome’s original ruler at around 509 B.C.E. how quickly the government recognized the unfairness toward plebeians and immediately came out with a system to protect the poor by giving them equal rights as the patricians. If every Empire kept the same policy like he did there would not be so much poverty on earth. Unfortunately, human history is full of unfairness, inequality, and exploitation of human life. I understand why slave owners think that slaves were unreliable, immoral and lazy, had they treated their slaves a little more humane like they would had different thoughts of them.
How was it possible that all countries were developing their empires, and at the same time different religion in different countries were born? All religions teach people to be benevolent; some were more motivated then others. I agree with Strayer, I would never think or act like Zhuangzi as I grow. At this point of my life my thinking is more like Confucius, so my action is not for myself, but for the society as a whole as we strive for moral improvement and good government. On the other hand, when I retired then I would think like Zhuangzi, for I have contributed to the society and have earned my retirement. At that point of my life I would choose to live a simple life. I was impressed with how advance Chinese were with their elaborate bureaucracy to hold the empire together without collapsing. As of today’s Chinese government, I can’t help but wonder; what happen to them? China today is still considered a third world country. Yes, according to their economy they have advanced, but the country still has a big percentage of poverty. To the other side of China there was India; according to Strayer Ashoka was a great emperor. Why such great emperor had no followers?
Patriarchies in the Classical Era was another interesting topic, again, how did that happened? How did women let that happen in the very beginning of the “old stone age?” If anything women should be the hierarchy of men, because not thing they can do women cannot. On the other hand, there are things women can do, but men cannot; such as child bearing and beyond. Women should be highly respected for that and not be looked down at. It was sad that women were treated so low. According to Strayer women were unavailable elsewhere in the Indian society. “The Law of Manu,” in the classic Hindu text “In childhood a female must be subject to her father; in youth to her husband; when her lord is dead to her son; a woman must never be independent.” This saying was widely used in the Chinese culture. It made me laugh while reading how Chinese use their upper-class women to serve as musician for high officials. I like how women were treated in Sparta, to me, that is the kind of treatment women deserve.
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