The Survivel Of Men
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In the beginning of time, there were two human beings, placed on earth to populate and grow, as we incorporate the word populate or procreate immediately we are creating a bond between two people, a blood bond. This has probably been the theory since caveman times, given that, even in the most primitive life forms there has always been a feeling of fulfillment and responsibility, in giving birth, or bearing a child; Thus ever since man and women were born, and their offsprings created by nature, they were obliged to protect it, and as parents they instinctively feel the importance of doing so. In time this natural instinct started becoming a cultural clichД©, a norm, a standard for all human beings in a society, group and place, not only because they naturally felt it, but also because they had to; all over the world regardless of environment, color, or social status, having a family in some places was, and still is, representative of wealth, progress, status, and many other attributes. Like in todays society in some Arab countries, having more than one family is allowed, just like in other countries is only but “immoral”, but culture-wise, having more than one family in some cultures represents wealth, in the way that, they can sustain more than one family economically; Thus only Sheiks and princes can have more than one family. With this example we start relating family with culture, we already know that having a family and procreating is only but natural and instinct driven, but, Can the growth of a civilization rest on human instincts? Or, what other measures do we take as humans to control a society and even further to control their minds, to ensure not only the survival but also the growth of it?
In our present days we, from history alone, we can resume to some facts that, throughout the course of humanity, man has utilized many means to keep control over a group of people, and to maintain order, to the extend where a civilization just doesnt survive, but also thrives. These methods range from wrongful use of many gods and values, to several religions, in which religions find the final answer to how would humanity can grow in control and prosper; many examples have been shown through the writings and documents discussed in class, some various examples like in the writings of the Illiad, the Ten Commandments, and finally the laws of Manu; Through each of these writings we see many attempts to find the right behavior and attain complete and secure growth of a civilization.
From ancient history we have seen many gods, in many shapes, and various beliefs; polytheistic beliefs were only but normal in those times, and people would live their lives according to what they thought the gods wanted, they would attribute daily life problems and major disasters to wrath or wisdom of the gods. Among the most famous and remembered civilizations to have this system of belief, are the Greeks, and their many gods and goddesses, very well known for building shrines and statues, and worshiping them with offerings and sacrifices, “lady motherÐ go thou to the shrine of Athena, driver of spoil; take offerings with thee” (Nystrom, p. 83), from this quotation we can clearly see that this goddess named Athena, has an special attribute such as the driver of spoils, in the case of the Illiad, depicts how Hector even though a Trojan warrior shared the same beliefs as the Greeks, the belief that gods and goddesses had an important role in the decision of victories. Even further on the Greek side, the fact that the Trojans asked for help to the Gods, this could be interpreted in different ways. Either That, the Trojans asked for help to the gods, and not even that could have stopped the mighty Greek warriors to conquer troy; by which such example shows predilection by the gods towards the Greeks, and at the same time gives a higher confidence to go to war, and accolade the Greeks as being favored by the gods. Or that, only the Greeks can summon the help of the gods, either interpretation of this section of the Illiad, supports the important values of the Greek, of believing in the gods for victory.
A very particular quality of the Greeks as well as the Romans in ancient history, which, became much more than a quality, it became a value among these civilizations, was the hunt for glory and the display of bravery, all which they attained by victories of war and conquests, these values were clearly shown as a role for all Greeks in the Epic Poem of the Illiad, “they seemed to contain the very essence of what it meant to be a Greek” (Nystrom, p. 83) thus this values were rewarded and glorified by the people in society, the greater the conquest the higher the level of hierarchy. “My own heart will not let me; for aye have I learnd to be brave, and amid the foremost Trojans to fight, in quest of my fathers great glory and eke of mine own.” (Nystrom, p. 84) from this excerpt we see two of the most important values of the ancient Greeks, the significance of family related glory, and the search for its own recognition; Thus we come to a point were family could also be an important value in Greek society, as quoted in the Illiad warriors would pray to the gods for the sake of their city and for victory in the battlefield. This writing told as a tale, gave the basic principles by which to live in the Roman society; In using the power of Gods, and the strength and example of behavior for a human character, as told by the Romans, what these writings inspired was the achievement and pursue of two characteristics, bravery and glory, for every person part of the Roman civilization. They worked as the controllers of behavior and customs through the Roman Empire, thus this empire was controlled by warlords or generals of war, struggling for more and more “glory”, victories in war; and ran by the display of bravery, an it seemed right to them, because the gods would support them in their decisions, and it was what the gods wanted. In my personal opinion this empire was bound to collapse, for the reason that its basic structure was flawed and driven by avarice; such is the nature of man to want more and this writing would only encourage this blemish behavior and implement the support of the gods as an excuse on doing so.
In other places, that was not the case. For example; the laws of Manu where created for the sake of the prosperity of people, according to the story of Manu “the law giver”, he created four different castes or what I would call types of laws, each with different set of rules for the daily life. As we learn from the different types of law we realize that they support each other and each of its rules has a certain divine power but also an earthly touch, its not entirely holy like the ten commandments, the laws of Manu focus more on spiritual and class