Essay, Research Paper
Worlds of History by Kevin Reilly
Response to: From Hominids to Human Beings, From Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman, Women and the Agricultural Revolution, From Hammurabi?s Code, From the Upanishads: Karma and Reincarnation, and From the Upanishads: Brahman and Atman
Societies of today are very different from the first civilizations. Pre-historic cultures depended on the cooperation of its people to live. Today, however, everyone is dependent on money. Even though the main focus of each story was distinctly different, they all had a similar view on society. They all felt that cooperation was essential to the survival of their community.
From Hominids to Human Beings revealed how the people of pre-historic civilizations interacted. Pre-historic man was a forager, a hunter-gatherer. They traveled in bands of about twenty-five people and used only transient camps. ?The band, not the nuclear family was the principal social unit.? (Matossian, pg 13). Every member of the band worked together to obtain food. The adults taught the children to be responsive to others needs and share the food with the group. Frans de Waal, a researcher at the Yerkes Primate Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia, traced this behavior back to chimpanzees. ?Chimpanzee groups consist of caring, sharing individuals who form self-policing networks? (pg 13). Despite this fact, chimps share food only when it is to their advantage and cheat whenever they can get away with it. When the cheaters are identified, food is withheld in the next windfall.
Nisa, from From Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman, feels extremely jealous of her newborn brother, Kumsa, and often makes him cry. Nisa felt she wasn?t being paid enough attention to and deprived her brother of milk by nursing. Nisa leaves to live with her grandmother after being berated several times for stealing. She thought that was what her mother wanted, but when she returned her parents told her they wanted her to be with them. ?Yes, even your mother wanted you and missed you.? (Shostak, pg 28).
Later in the story, Nisa?s father arranges a marriage. At that time women were married when they were still young girls. As a result, they were often scared of their husbands and a woman would sleep between the newly married couple. A woman named Nukha layed between Nisa and Bo to show her that she had nothing to be afraid of. Nukha and Bo would bump in Nisa while making love, but Nisa didn?t say anything. She eluded conflict and snuck back to her parents hut. After her parents found out about Nukha and Bo, Nisa stayed with her parents.
In Women and the Agricultural Revolution, women encouraged cooperation by gathering food for the people of their band while the men went out to hunt. Cooperation was necessary for the survival of the band. Each member of the band had a specific responsibility and was expected to carry them out, because the other members were counting on them. ?At harvest time everyone, including the children, would help bring in the grain. The women also continued to gather fruit and nuts, again with the help of the children. The children watched the sheep and goats, but the women did the milking and cheese making.? (Boulding, page 37).
From Hammurabi?s Code is a set of laws of ancient Babylon. Laws are created to facilitate order and cooperation. These laws yields consequeces for anyone who breaks the laws. The theft laws promote cooperation, because most of them have a punishment of death. For example, ?If a man has broken into a house he shall be killed before the breach and buried there.? ( pg 69). The assualt laws reproduce the ?eye for an eye? axiom. ?If a man has knocked out the eye of a patrician, his eye shall be knocked out? (pg 70). Knowing the consequences of your actions would make you more willing to cooperate.
The main idea of From the Upanishads: Karma and Reincarnation is cause and effect. ?Karma meant that the fruits of any thought or actions would inevitably be fulfilled. Good karma would be enhanced; bad karma would lead to more bad karma? (Reilly, pg 94-95). People would lean toward ?doing good? with the hopes of being reborn in a higher life, because the ?doer of good becomes good? (Reilly, pg 95).
?those who are of pleasant conduct here ? the prospect is, indeed, that they will enter a pleasant womb; either the womb of a Brahman, or the womb of a Kshatriya, or the womb of a Vaishya. But those who are of stinking conduct here ? the prospect is, indeed, that they will enter a stinking womb, either a womb of a dog, or the womb of a swine, or the womb of an outcaste? (Reilly, pg 96). People of that time believed in reincarnation and as a result would be more willing to cooperate.
From the Upanishads: Brahman and Atman deals primarily with the religious beliefs of the Upanishads. Religious people are less likely to commit crime and cause trouble, because it goes against their god or gods. These people believed that they could become one with Brahman and wouldn?t do anything that would endanger his or her changes of becoming one with the universal Brahman. ?To him I shall come when I go beyond this life. And to him will come he who has faith and doubts not? (Reilly, pg 97). ?Great is the Gayatri, the most sacred verse of the Vedas; but how much greater is the Infinity of Brahman! A quarter of his being is this whole vast universe: the other three quarters are his heaven of Immortality? (Reilly, pg 96).
It is evident from these readings that cooperation played an important role in the development of civilization as we know it, and will continue to do so.
Другие работы по теме:
Financial intermediation
Financial intermediation is an activity of financial intermediaries. A financial intermediary is an institution that links lenders with borrowers, by obtaining deposits from lenders and then re-lending them to borrowers. The role of financial intermediaries in an economy, such as banks and building societies, is to provide means by which funds can be transferred from surplus units in the economy to deficit units.
Technology Vs Humanity Essay Research Paper Technology
Technology Vs. Humanity Essay, Research Paper Technology vs. Humanity In Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World, there is a major contrast between two existing societies. It is a battle between the perfect world, the brave new world, and the way that we live today, the Savage Reservation. The two societies have many similarities; however, it is there differences, which will persuade your opinion to one side or another.
The World Of Odysseus By Moses I
. Finley Essay, Research Paper The World of Odysseus by Moses I. Finley analyzes the world of Ancient Greece and the important figures associated with that time period. The major events take place in the Mediterranean Basin centered upon Greece, her surrounding islands, and Asia Minor. This time period of mythological hysteria and heroic role models is explained and assessed in great detail by the author.
A 5 PAragraph Essay Comparing The Religions
Of The Modern To Essay, Research Paper How does the Ancient Greek beliefs of religion and death differ with the view of other cultural groups? Death, the way it is represented in Homer?s book, The Odyssey, is always caused by human error. Whether their death was caused by greed, selfishness, or just being curious, many people died in The Odyssey.
How The Study Of Sociology Helps Us
To Understand Different Societies Essay, Research Paper How the study of sociology helps us to understand different societies. Sociology allows us to understand how different groups of people act
Mythology Essay Research Paper Greek MythologyMythology is
Mythology Essay, Research Paper Greek Mythology Mythology is a way that the ancient societies explained why things are the way they are and how they came to being. Two ancient societies are infamous for their mythology. These societies are Greece and Rome. Great authors were made be the mythological works they wrote.
Trip Around The World Essay Research Paper
December 17, 1999 The United States and the European Union recognize Northern Europe as a dynamically developing region. We reaffirm our shared commitment to promote security, stability, and economic prosperity in the region, particularly by strengthening cross-border cooperation. During the Finnish Presidency, the United States and the European Union held intensive consultations on deepening our cooperation in Northern Europe.
Epic Vs Modern Heroes Essay Research Paper
While ?Have at thee!? the Arthurian battle cry from Monty Python?s Search for the Holy Grail, is a far a-hem cry from the modern day hero?s, the essence remains the same. Many aspects of culture have been wholly altered, but society?s quest for a hero has remained. Each people of the ancient times had a matchless idol that was unto his self the embodiment of cultural perfection.
Women In Ancient Societies Essay Research Paper
“You’ve come a long way, baby” so says the Virginia Slims cigarette commercial. This brand of cigarettes, intended mainly for women, was absolutely correct-women have come a long way. In today’s society, women have gained a role comparable to their male counterparts. However, this struggle for equality has been a long one, lasting for several centuries.
The Kung Shoshone And Mbuti Tribes Hunting
And Gathering Societies Essay, Research Paper The Kung, Shoshone, and Mbuti Tribes: Hunting and Gathering Societies As in many societies different groups of people are connected by similar
Governmental Issues Essay Research Paper AUTHOR Scott
Governmental Issues Essay, Research Paper AUTHOR: Scott of the Insurgency Culture Collective (United States) NOTE: Please note the ‘Bold’ marks. ‘The Anarchist Response to Crime’ [BOLD]“In The Descent of Man, [Charles Darwin] gave some powerful pages to illustrate its proper, wide sense. He pointed out how, in numberless animal societies, the struggle between separate individuals for the means of existence disappears, how struggle is replaced by co-operation, and how that substitution results in the development of intellectual and moral faculties which secure to the species the best conditions for survival.
Babylonian And Assyrian Religion Essay Research Paper
Babylonian and Assyrian Religion Religion is the backbone of all cultural societies. The Rev. Professor E. O. James has assembled a great collation of studies on Babylonian and Assyrian religions. E. O. James has chosen a wide view of their ancient culture through their temple building, rituals, mythology, and daily life and government world.
Religion In Ancient Greece Essay Research Paper
Religion in Ancient Greece The ancient Greeks were a deeply religious people. For them, religion was important because they believed that it would make their lives better while they were living. They also worshipped many gods whom they believed appeared in human form and yet were gifted with superhuman strength and timeless beauty.
Ancient Greece Essay Research Paper After Greece
Ancient Greece Essay, Research Paper After Greece made great migrations from 1100-1000 BC, there was a period called the Greek “dark ages” because little is known about it. At this time, many city-state settlements were emerging. They fortified it at the foot of a hill, so inhabitants could take refuge from any attacks.
The Organization Of African Unity Essay Research
Paper The OAU As African countries fought to gain and maintain independence from colonial rule, during the 1950 sand 1960 s, it became apparent that there was a need for a stronger, more unified entity that could represent their interest in the political arena. They needed a body that could combine the efforts toward self- rule of the small governments while maintaining each country s sovereignty.
Metropolitan Instrument Essay Research Paper The musical
Metropolitan Instrument Essay, Research Paper The musical instruments collection of the metropolitan museum holds approximately five thousand examples from six continents and the pacific islands dating from about 300B.C. to the present. In this exhibit we can find all categories of instrument present in our history.
Greek Plays Essay Research Paper What role
Greek Plays Essay, Research Paper What role does the chorus play in the play? In ancient Greek plays, the role of the chorus was to sing lyrical passages. The lyrical passages were set up
Why Students Study History Essay Research Paper
Why Should Students Study Ancient History? Ancient history is an extremely important aspect of our everyday lives. Everything we do today has a relation to ancient history. From the languages that we speak, to the decisions we
The Role Of Women In Ancient Egypt
Essay, Research Paper The Role of Women in Ancient Egypt From the time of the Old Kingdom to the time of the New Kingdom, Ancient Egypt was a society dominated by men. Much of the history of Egypt is expressed through the perspective of Egyptian males. This leaves the perspective of the other half of the Egyptian population, females, unexplored.
Ancient Greece Essay Research Paper ANCIENT EGYPT
Ancient Greece Essay, Research Paper ANCIENT EGYPT Ancient Egypt – Info on pyramids, temples, king and queens and hieroglyphs. Ancient Egypt’s mysterious Language: Hieroglyphics – This site has a hieroglyph
The Chrysalids Essay Research Paper A society
The Chrysalids Essay, Research Paper A society is an organized group of individuals. In the novel, The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham the Sealand society and Waknuk society are both similar and different in the way they live. The Sealand and Waknuk societies are both egocentric and ignorant, but the Sealand society accepts changes, where the Waknuk society does not accept change and would rather stay the same.
Ancient Greek And Roman Empires Essay Research
Paper Ancient Greek and Roman similarities. The ancient Greek and Roman civilizations of Europe began to progress toward a more civilized order of society. As there were no previous establishment to base their ideals on, it was understandable that there were some difficulties in their progression as a society.
Ancient Mathematics Essay Research Paper Ancient MathematicsMathematics
Ancient Mathematics Essay, Research Paper Ancient Mathematics Mathematics is an essential tool in today’s society. Everything we do, in one way or another revolves around some kind of math. Everything from planning out your weekly schedule to cooking dinner involves forms of math. Math is all around us but not many people know how math came to be.
Comparison Of 1984 And Brave New World
Essay, Research Paper A Brave New World is a story about Bernard Marx, who rejects his society because he finds that he is not satisfied with living a controlled life. 1984 is a story about Winston who
Femininity Essay Research Paper The New FemininityFemininity
Femininity Essay, Research Paper The New Femininity Femininity is not a word that we are encouraged to use these days. A lot of people would argue that femininity is the thing that keeps women obedient to men. However, there is a hidden assumption behind this term. The assumption is that masculinity is superior to femininity; that femininity is not a beautiful and powerful thing in its own right.
Mythology Essay Research Paper The origin of
Mythology Essay, Research Paper The origin of the universe can be explained by modern astronomers and astrophysicists, while archaeologists and historians try to clarify the origin of human societies. In the distant past, however, before any sciences existed, the beginnings of the world and of society were explained by MYTHOLOGY.
Women In Ancient Greek Society Essay Research
Paper Women in Ancient Greek Society Homer and Greek society were strongly machista. The Odyssey presents stories in which men were heroes, won wars and governed countries while females were in second plan and didn t play any expressive role in society. Women were always servants of the men throughout the poem; their existence was based on serving the men in the book.
Attributes That Have Influences Society Essay Research
Paper Attributes That Have Influenced Western Civilization There have been major influences from ancient civilizations that have helped the development of our Western Civilization today. Two major civilizations that have maybe contributed the most to our civilization are ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
The Negro Speaks Of Rivers Essay Research
Paper THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS 1. How does the title affect your reading of and response to the poem? 2. What is the poem about? I could only understand the meaning of the title of the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers after I gave my first opinion about it to my English professor. The poem has a simple, yet carefully chosen use of language, but the intricate ideas and the message the poem sends to the readers surprised me.
Romeo And Juliet Essay Research Paper 2
Romeo And Juliet Essay, Research Paper - The importance of Minor character in Romeo and Juliet- Romeo and Juliet is a play based on love, fate, change and tragedy. It tells the story of two lovers from opposing families ancient feud, in death. Like most stories, the major characters play an important role, such as the decisions in which they take.