Chapter 6 Part 3 Blog

In chapter 6 part 3, there was a problem in defining a millennium especially after the second wave moving onto the third wave. Islam was the most important, expansive and the largest of the new third wave. This was created in Arabia in the seventh century C.E. Another different historical pattern at the time of the Third Wave Millenium was involving those older civilizations that carry on or were constructed. Many takes on this idea of carrying on or renewing older traditions took form. A pattern ended up taking form in Western Europe after the ending of the Roman Empire. Western Europian civilizations came forth growing at a rapid rate and expansive group of competitive states wanting like other new civilizations to use from more formed neighbors

Blog on Chpt. 5 Society and Inequality in Eurasia/North Africa

In chapter 5, China was seen as very unique in the ancient world. Chinese bureaucrats searched for administrators who were loyal to the central state more than to their own families and regions.  In China around the time of 200 B.C.E, they started using a meritocracy system for this purpose. They used this as a way to award official positions to those they saw fit. Today, the best test takers get the best positions in business and government. To add on in 124 B.C.E, Emperor Wu Di started an imperial academy where probable officers were instructed as scholars. They had a focus on Confucius' teachings. As well as being exposed to; history, literature, art, and mathematics.   

India, on the other hand was most famous for its caste system.  This is in opposition to China's meritocracy rewarding anyone and everyone based on their ability.  In India, this wasn't true.  The caste system bottomed out with the lowest caste and those in the lowest group could not ever succeed.  By around 500 BCE, four classes, Varnas, which everyone was born into and remained in for the rest of their lives:   at the high most point were the Brahmins who were priests, the second highest were the Kshatirya who were the warriors and rules who protected society, the third were the Vaisya class who were originally commoners who were farmers, merchants, and artisans.  These three classes were called Aryans or those that were "twice born".  Fourthly, far below the Aryans were the Sudras who were the native peoples regarding as the serving class for the higher classes.  Lastly, these four classes were formed from the body of a god.  Outside of the caste system were the "untouchables" who were even below the Sudras and worked in garbage.  This is the system that people were born into in classical India.

I was interested about how the caste system has effected the youth of India. How they were able to get an education and success. Although we learned that the Untouchables who were much younger were unable to get the education they wanted.