Chapter 5 (summary)

In chapter 5, "Society and Inequality in Eurasia/North Africa" important historical points were highlighted. In fact, some of those points are still true about our modern world. In China, there was a social structure that consisted of 4 main classes; the elite class, the landlord class, the peasants, and the merchants. The elite class consisted of officials that were of high prestige. This class was selected through the civil system. The landlord class was able to own large amounts of land and were able to not pay taxes. Wang Mang, a high court official of the Han dynasty who became emperor sought to reform the landowning situation. The scholar-gentry was the name for the large landowning class that owned homes in both urban and rural areas that lived luxuriously. This class' wealth largely benefited from estate and education. Peasants were the backbone of the labor work and were paid large amounts of taxes. Evidently, understood as unfair treatment, the peasants rebelled. One of the rebellions named the Yellow Turban, consisted of 360,000 followers who and were unified through Daoism. Daoism preached peace and social equality. In addition to Daoism, the rebellions also strived for social harmony and common ownership. Similarly, the merchant class was disrespected discriminated against and was considered as shameful profit. The interaction between South Asia's many cultures and developments of economic and social differences could be seen as the cause the the social classes. By 500 B.C.E, the idea that society would remain separated by 4 classes, also known as varnas, was established in Indian history. The Brahim class, the top of the latter, consisted of priests who performed rituals. Kshatriya consisted of a class of warriors. Vaisya consisted of the class of commoners and Sudra was the lowest class. Jati was the concept that there were subclasses within classes and each had separate duties and responsibilities. If an elite member came into contact with a lower member they were considered contaminated.

Chapter 3 Documents

It was interesting to compare the differences between our modern day democracy and the leadership ideals portrayed in chapter 3 documents. For example, the Roman Oration in chapter 3 documents portrayed an "ideal society" where Rome was the place to be no matter your social status. The document goes on to list how significant the Roman Empire is with all it's benefits provided to it's citizens. In comparison, in our modern day society citizens witness a similar thing. Appointed officials claim that America, the place of opportunity and the land of the free is the greatest place to be. This message is heard across the world however, those who live in America are not always treated as promised. For example, privileged families with money and status tend to have more opportunities and special recognition. On the other hand, the lower and middle class work hard in struggle to pay for living expenses, their children's expenses and food. Research shows that the wealthy keep getting wealthier while the poor and middle class continue to get poorer. Similar manipulative strategies are used by Roman officials in the upper class towards the lower classes to convince them that everything is perfect the way it is. Furthermore, Pericles preaches democratic ideals at a funeral oration in order to down play the cause of fatality. The irony is that Pericles gives this manipulative speech in order to enhance his own power.