Chapter 5

Society and Inequality in Eurasia/North Africa, 500 B.C.E.

–500 C.E.

Copyright © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin

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I. Society and the State in China A. An Elite of Officials

1. Emperor Wu Di ’ s imperial academy, 124 B.C.E.

- to prepare for government service 2. Exam system - open to all males - required years of study, so favored wealthy 3. Privilege and prestige - passing exam rose social status - enjoyed social privileges

I. Society and the State in China B. The Landlord Class

1. Land as wealth 2. Rise of large estates - wealthy bought up land of desperate peasants - avoided taxes - raised armies to challenge the state 3. Wang Mang (r. 8 –23 C.E.) - Attached large estates - Nationalized and redistributed land 4. Scholar-Gentry - Landlord class, wealthy, dominated bureaucracy

I. Society and the State in China C. Peasants

1. Pressures on peasants - rent, taxes, military service, forced labor, high poverty 2. Yellow Turban Rebellion - Peasants join together to rebel, eventually crushed, but weakened empire towards collapse

D. Merchants

1. Shameful profits and dubious morality 2. Restrictions and exclusion from state service

II. Class and Caste in India

The Hindu Caste System

Definition: A type of social organization/hierarchy in which a person’s occupation (jati) and position (varna) in life is determined by the circumstances of his birth.

• • • • •

Rigid, hereditary membership into birth caste Marriage only among member of same caste Occupation choices restricted Personal contact with other castes restricted Acceptance of fixed place in society

•

Members of a caste rely on each other for support

Each caste is born out of Brahma (the creator) Brahmins — thinkers/knowers Ksatriya —doers Vaisya —provide food for the belly Sudra —do the work

Reincarnation

A person is born, lives, dies, and is reborn

Karma

A person’s social position again many times. Souls are in the next life is determined by reborn many times until they his conduct in the present life.

are pure enough to be with the creator, Brahma

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Dharma

Code of behavior or set of moral and ethical rules that govern the conduct of each social class. Each group has a different set of rules to live by.

• •

Laws of Manu

Hindu book of sacred law Rules and restrictions for daily life

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Brahmins

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Priests, Teachers, Judges; usually don’t own land therefore need other castes to work the land and provide for them Kshatriyas

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(landowners) Warriors and Rulers Vaisyas Farmers

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Skilled Traders, Merchants, Sudras

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Unskilled Workers —Laborers and Craft workers

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Below the four castes are people who belong to no caste Untouchables polluted

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Outcastes,

• •

Purpose is to help people of other castes fulfill their dharma Perform rituals and observe vows for the sake of others

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Responsible for leadership of the people

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Often rely on advice from Brahmins

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Shopkeepers who sell

products

(unlike the Shudra who sell services)

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Each subgroup of this caste performs a specific service. Jobs include gardeners, potters, and clothes washers

• • • •

Belong to no caste Expected to do the “dirty” jobs Come in contact with animal skins, dead bodies and human feces Avoid contact with “caste” Indians for fear of “pollution”

II. Class and Caste in India C. The Functions of Caste

1. Localization: immediate community, no need for larger state system 2. Security and support 3. Assimilation of new arrivals

III. Slavery: The Case of the Roman Republic A. Slavery and Civilization

1. Wide diversity of types of slavery - Throughout the world and history, numerous forms of slavery - Difficult to generalize

III. Slavery: The Case of the Roman Republic B. The Making of Roman Slavery

1. Greek and Roman slavery - Prisoners, pirates, and orphans - Multiethnic - All levels of economy

III. Slavery: The Case of the Roman Republic C. Resistance and Rebellion

1.

“ Weapons of the weak ” - work slow down, sabotage - runaways - harsh punishments for murdering masters 2. Spartacus, 73 B.C.E.

- Most famous revolt - Eventually lost to Roman legion and 6,000 rebels crucified

IV. Comparing Patriarchies A. A Changing Patriarchy: The Case of China

1.

Yin

and

Yang

2. Confucian teachings: Three Obediences (father, husband, son) 3. Elite women, mothers and wives, and peasant women 4. Buddhism, Daoism, and pastoral peoples led to less rigid gender divisions that Confucianism of the Han 5. Empress Wu (r. 690-705 B.C.E)

IV. Comparing Patriarchies B. Contrasting Patriarchies: Athens and Sparta

1. Restriction on elite Athenian women - Married young, stay inside, no legal/political rights, no education - Exception: Aspasia (470 –400 B.C.E.) 3. Obligations and freedoms of Spartan women - Women to be healthy and strong to bear strong sons - Marriages equal, out and about, active, revealing clothing