The last chapters of the book bring us to current times. One of the main aspects of civilization represented in these chapters is the globalization of ideas. We are now moving on from global commerce and building a global economy towards building a global society. This may be our only road to salvation. If people can unite and bond over globalized ideas, hopes, and proactive goals civilization as we know it might stand a chance of surviving our self destructive actions.
History repeatedly tells us that no act stands alone, and all of our actions have consequences. It seems like it might be time to really reflect on the values of our global civilizations and determine if they have our best interest at heart. It may be time to slow down our pace of life and to re-evaluate what is necessary to live a happy purposeful life.
The globalization of ideas pertaining to equality, social values, conservation and rehabilitation of the planet, and the consequences of our actions is going to be the defining factor of our current era. We are at a tipping point and we have important choices to make which will bring major consequences to future generations. Globalization of ideas, solutions, accountability, and a sense of unity will provide the right kind of positive consequences we hope will be the legacy of our current historical era.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Ch 17, & 18
“Most first achievements in history, however, were not the result of intentional efforts but rather were the unexpected outcome of converging circumstances.” (Strayer)
The industrial revolution is a great example of this concept presented by Strayer. Industrialization opened up a whole new way of life and series of expectations, and at the same time brought large groups of people within society to an all time low. Industrialization created rapid increases in production and urbanization, while simultaneously creating profound social changes especially regarding class. The industrial revolution also reiterated the support for growth and continued success that a cosmopolitan society provides. With continued success and growth ideas regarding self worth and superiority based on technology can become inflated and grandiose.
Examples of over inflated self perception of industrialized civilizations in relation to other non-industrialized civilizations can be seen in the actions of colonial European Empires. Industry and empire unite and support each other in the colonization of Asia and Africa. European conquests of Asia and Africa at this time were more informal and economy based, rather than culturally invasive domination. Even with the more informal approach to colonization, the colonized people and their resources were exploited and the economy of the native civilization was left in ruins.
Ch 9, 11, & 12
It seems that the one thing that made Islam strong and created a unified group,also helped to cause disagreements leading to factions later. The fact that the religion is so closely tied to politics and the government and laws made Islamic culture extremely unified and strong. This is also what helped cause disruptions over the years as the religion grew and developed because of different understandings about the religion and how those comprehensions affect the development and implementation of the society's laws and political system
- you can also see this in the Chinese From the previous chapters the unity on the strength and the beliefs of Confucianism and the understanding that everybody is there free together for one main purpose
- and the fact that they used rhetoric to maintain these ideas even when the reality was proving otherwise was part of what made an inclusive set of ideals that were based on love tolerance acceptance and forgiveness
- these ideals or spread from person to person to contact and interaction and conversations and through helping to include people who have been segregated
- in the long run this idea of getting the message across actually initiated a negative culture in which people felt superior
Empires of the classical era have growth and expansion in common, and they accomplished expansion by developing a unified society. Determining a common social goal is a method classical era empires used to form a unified society. In order to keep the common goal relevant and the people motivated to strive for the common goal they would also have to offer either external or internal incentives the Arab Empire grew out of several groups of competing war in violent tribes and they were able to unite under the common goal of Islam drop by the prophet Mohammed 50 Islamic community provided a social identity that was based on a common belief rather than rather than location language tribal ethnic or racial descriptions.The common belief of Islam formed the common goal of a civilization the common belief for the community and a common task the unified the community.
Ch 3, 4, 5, & 6
During the Early Classical Era civilizations struggle with the dichotomy between beliefs of the “essential changelessness and futility of human life”, and the concept of that “everything changes; nothing remains the same. People’s expressed their understanding of these concepts through politics, economics, culture, religion, and a society full of inequality.
Different groups of people understand and make sense of their experiences within the context of the time they had those experiences, and their reactions are based on their individual perspectives. Change was always at the heart of all experiences, and different groups of people tried to manage the issue of change in creative ways. Some people tried to prevent and control changes occurring within societies of this Era. Some tried to provide encouragement, hope and meaning to life by living for the chance to have something better beyond this life. Some embraced change and actively strived to create, cause, and ensure change. The one aspect of life at this time that remained constant and true was how even the small remote circumstances would have big broad impacts on civilizations and society.
The conquering of land and people resulted in the sharing of information and culture between the conquerors and the conquered. This sharing perpetuated changes that became the catalysts to the growth and development of civilizations to come. Religion was used as a means to try and compartmentalize this rapid change to and to make sense of evolving values and the needs of expanding societies. Religious and civil laws often did not prevent social inequalities and social inequality became ingrained and fully integrated into the daily lives of the people of the Early Classical Era civilizations. The big life question of this time was whether it is better to be a passive participant or an active agent of your destiny.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Chapter 20 and 21
The concept of National Identity impacts society in many ways, and upheld the division among Europe’s competing states of the Modern Era. To Europeans their national identities were profoundly personal and were utilized by the rulers of major european countries to facilitate competition and rivalry amongst opposing nation-states.
The focus and purpose of the ideology supporting a national identity greatly influences its consequences of the society it represents. Maintaining the Enlightenment values of progress, tolerance, and rationality became a challenge while trying to develop a national identity in collaboration with a successful political and economic system.
Systems such as capitalism,democracy, socialism, communism, nationalism, and fascism all face the challenge of maintaining Enlightenment values while maintaining a prosperous ongoing society. The universal challenge of all political and economic systems is to find the right balance of focus and purpose and national identity.
Too much emphasis on national identity can lead to an intolerant, and self-serving mindset, resulting in violence and aggression towards others. Avoiding the concept of national identity entirely makes society vulnerable by reducing focus and purpose. The focus and purpose of a political and economic system determines the consequences society experiences.
A successful society avoids stagnation and self destruction by finding the right balance between emphasis placed on national identity, focus and purpose within governing systems, and implementing values outlined by the Enlightenment. This balance ensures the continual growth and sustainability of society.
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