Part II: Second-Wave Civilizations

Through our previous readings and in our last class we touched on the topic of what constitutes a civilization. We agreed that a civilization includes: a social hierarchy, specialized roles, economy/trade, rules and laws, religion and spirituality, agriculture, and surplus. These features that define a civilization are also present in empires; however they are presented on a much larger and more intricate scale. An empire is “at one level, political systems that exercise coercive power, however the term is normally reserved for larger and more aggressive states, those that conquer, rule, and extract resources from other states and peoples” (Strayer, 2013, pg. 118).  It seems that the larger and more specific an empire becomes, the closer it comes to its impending doom and destruction. We see this in the Greco-Persian wars when the Persians began to expand into Greek territory which resulted in the destruction of the Persians. I found the oppressive nature of empires to be interesting and somewhat unnerving, because if you think about it, what is an empire without its people.  If we tear an empire down to its roots we would find that the foundation is just as important as the components that follow. Although a hierarchy that oppresses its weak and poor is common, it cannot function without the weak and poor.

Religion has been a powerful tool that has aided many empires in calming disorder and setting examples that all “good citizens” should follow. We see this through: the Confucian Answer, the Daoist Anwer, South Asian religions, the Buddhist Challenge, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, the Greek Way of Knowing, Christianity, etc. It seems that all religions are closely tied to societal expectations, a sense of right and wrong (which is closely tied to culture), and the present hierarchy that is in place. While the birth of religions has aided in calming disorder and unifying city-states, empires, and countries, it has also divided one empire or country from another. Religion has also been used as a tool to bolster oppression. Religion has greatly influenced and legitimized the many class and gender inequalities that are present in second-wave civilizations. “In both China and India birth determined social status for most people; little social mobility was available for the vast majority; sharp distinctions and great inequalities characterized social life; religious or cultural traditions defined these inequalities as natural, eternal, and ordained by the gods” (Strayer, 2013, pg. 224). I find it the commonalities in religion interesting because although different religions worship different gods they essentially all follow the same basic set of rules. I remember taking a world religion class a year or so ago and discovering that many religions have changed dramatically over the decades as they have taken ideas and stories from one another and meshed them into their own.