The Roman Empire and Christianity

I found the Political Life in Western Europe in Chapter 10 very interesting because the Roman Empire ceased to exist after 476 when the German general Odoacer overthrew the last Roman emperor in the West, but yet those who came after general Odoacer formed a series of regional kingdoms that continued to use and enforce the Roman laws. Many of these kingdoms were influenced by the Roman culture and even fantasized of re-creating the unity of the Roman Empire. For example, Charlemagne, who ruled the Carolingian Empire, behaved so much like an emperor that on Christmas Day in the year 800 the Pope crowned him as the new Roman emperor. Charlemagne’s kingdom did not last after his death in 814. However, Otto I of Saxony found himself as the next Roman emperor and once again the Pope crowned Otto I and his empire was known as the Holy Roman Empire. Another interesting fact I learned in Chapter 10 (which was briefly mentioned in Chapter 4, page 179) is that the Catholic church not only modeled its hierarchical organization after the Roman Empire (Popes, Bishops, Priests, and monasteries), but that it also took some of its political, administrative, educational, and welfare functions. (Strayer & Nelson, 427) Given our current political situation, I hope that our country maintains the separation of Church and State; that it does not go back to ancient times when the Church and State were intertwined, in which men of the cloth dictated how politicians should rule their cities. Moreover, I would like for religious organizations to stay out of politics. Religious men are no better than politicians.

Christianity & Slavery

For the third week in our World History class, we had to read four chapters on the of topics the rise and fall of the Persian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, and Indian empires; religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, and Zoroastrianism (I had never heard of Zoroastrianism, even though it shared similar beliefs with Christianity and Judaism such as Judgement Day, God and Satan, resurrection, and the arrival of a savior); Society and Inequality; and lastly Civilizations of Africa, Mesoamerica, and the Andes. However, the one thing that got to me was the chapter on Society and Inequality because it discussed slavery.  But what really got to me was the quote, “Christian teaching held that slaves should be ‘submissive to [their] masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh’.” (Strayer & Nelson, 206) I do not mean to offend anyone reading my blog, but I am sorry, WTF?!!!

As someone who grew up Catholic, I was never taught that God would want to treat any of its children harshly or even enslave them. So, for Christian teachings to tell their believers that they must submit themselves to their masters as if their masters were God is just preposterous! The quote above reconfirmed the conclusion I came to some 20 years ago: that religion is a manmade set of beliefs. I firmly believe that Christianity was created by men who wanted to gain (and keep) power and have control over those who were impoverished or did not know any better. After reading about how civilizations began and the rise and fall of the Empires listed above, I wondered if anyone in those days who considered himself a man of God would have asked a King or an Emperor to submit himself to him because he was a “man of God.” My guess is that he would not have, because Kings and Emperors had money and power. I strongly believe that Christianity, in particular, is only interested in money and power.

Women in the Paleolithic Era

After reading the first two chapters of our textbook, I found myself thinking that I had traveled far and felt transported to another time. In some ways, I found the people in the Paleolithic era more socially advanced than those who came after and destroyed them to establish the First Civilizations. As a woman and someone who believes in equality between men and women, I was pleasantly surprised to read that in the Paleolithic era such equality existed (such as what Richard Lee called “relative equality between the sexes with no-one having the upper hand.” (Strayer & Nelson, 21) When I read that women in those days were thought of innovators, Goddesses, and creators (giving birth), I thought that finally someone had it right! Even though the First Civilizations brought agriculture, writing, and farming, and moved humankind forward, it also moved women backward to a place of inequality. Our place of equality was quickly absorbed by men who thought our place was in the home cooking and taking care of the children. Men had the freedom to sleep with their servants and as many women as they wanted, but women were only allowed to sleep with one man. In some communities, men even felt like victims when they raped their daughters and wives. (Strayer & Nelson, 74)

I used to think that human beings have not been able to co-exist since the beginning of time (most likely because of the people of the First Civilizations), but the people of the Paleolithic era proved me wrong. Those who lived in the Paleolithic era formed bands of no more than 50 people. Their lives were interconnected and they had to work together, not against each other, in order to survive. This differs from the people of the First Civilizations, who grew in large numbers because they became agricultural people and learned how to farm the land and domesticate animals. These people developed a hierarchical system and the division of class and changed how people saw and treated each other. They brought slavery, warfare, inequality between men and women, as well as the destruction of earlier people and groups.

The story of Ishi upset me because 1911 was not that long ago. As I read the story, I kept thinking to myself, what is it about human beings that makes us want to impose our ideas, beliefs, traditions, and religion onto others? What is it about differences that makes some people want everyone to be like them? Perhaps I think in simple terms and live in a dream, but all I hope for is that one day we can all accept who we are and where we come from.