Euroasian Social Hierarchies 500 BCE500 CE Classical China
Euroasian Social Hierarchies 500 BCE-500 CE
Classical China
Chinese Society �Early on, Chinese rulers searched to find administrators loyal to the central state rather than to certain regions. Chosen based on merit. �The Han Dynasty (est. 200 BCE) required each province to send men of promise to be chosen for official positions. �This system evolved into the world’s first professional service = bureaucracy
� 124 BCE, Wu Di established the first imperial academy where candidates were trained as scholars. �By the end of Han, it enrolled over 30, 000 students who were subjected to a series of written examinations = civil service examinations �Continued into the 20 th century… �How did wealth play a part in their selection?
�When the Qin dynasty unified China (210 BCE) most land was held by small scale peasants and farmers. �Wang Mang, official of the Han, attempted to launch major reforms to re-create the Golden Age in which peasant farmers could once again be the backbone of Chinese society. �Proved impossible!
Scholar-Gentry �The privileged class – lived a lavish lifestyle. Benefited from the wealth of their estates, expensive education and their membership in the official elite. �Multistoried houses, finest silk, carriages, etc…
Peasants �In the eyes of the SG, peasants were the backbone of the country. �Most vulnerable class �Subject to nature’s wrath �State officials required payment of taxes, conscription of young men. �Tenant farmers �Conditions provoked periodic rebellions throughout the past 2000 years.
Yellow Turban Rebellion 184 CE �Massive peasant uprising-360, 000! �Wandering bands of peasants joined together as floods along the Yellow river caused havoc. �Unifying ideology of Daoism �Looked forward to the Great Peace – an age of equality, harmony, and common ownership. �Results of the YTR? � Economy, government, current dynasty?
Merchants �Did not enjoy the same esteem of the SG. �Viewed as unproductive and making shameful profits off the backs of others. �Han movements to suppress merchants – no silk, ride horses, carry arms �Could not sit for the civil service exams. �Despite discrimination they continued to be quite wealthy
Indian Society �Differences with China (Greece/Rome) � Separate, distinct and hierarchically ranked social groups �Similarities with China � Birth determined status � Little social mobility � Religious traditions defined inequalities as natural/eternal
Caste System �Casta – “race” or “purity of blood” �Early theory of creation of the caste system – evolved from a racially encounter between the Aryan invaders and the native peoples? ? �By 500 BCE society was divided into 4 ranked classes known as varna. �You were born into your cast – for life.
�Top 3 classes = pure Aryan/ “twice-born” �Sudras = native peoples in subordinate positions. Not allowed to hear or repeat the Vedas or take part in Aryan rituals. �New category emerged - untouchables
�Over time, the different social distinctions regarding occupation arose and blended with the varna system to create India’s classical caste based society– this was known as jati. �Basically this created “sub-castes”.
�Permanent difference illustrated in the concepts of karma, dharma, and rebirth. �Impossible to raise social status during lifetime
India vs. China � Elevated political officials to elite positions � Categories of society – SG, landlords, peasants, and merchants �India � Gave priority to religious status and ritual purity � Caste system – far more rigid
Slavery in the Classical Age= Social Death �Class inequalities of early civilizations made possible the idea of people owning people. �Slavery defined: � Ownership by master � Possibility of being sold � Work without pay � Status of outsider � Bottom of hierarchy
Slavery in Euroasia �Slavery in China � Minor � 1% of population � Convicted criminals (Han) � Sell children � Never widespread and not significant to history
�Slavery in India � Criminals � Debtors � Prisoners of war � Religious laws protected slaves – couldn’t be abandoned in old age � Could own property in spare time
Slavery in Western World �Rome � Larger scale than Greece � 2 -3 million slaves (33 -40% pop) �Greece � Slave society � Athens = 60, 000 slaves (1/3 pop) � Never became citizens or own land � Taxed
Patriarchies of the Classical Era �Greatest division in human society is that of men and women. �Used to determine roles and positions in society. �Since first civilizations, patriarchal systems developed. �Men regarded as superior to women and sons preferred over daughters. �Men = property rights �Frequently men could marry more than one wife. �However, different in urban (classical) settings rather than in rural (agricultural) settings.
Patriarchy in China
Patriarchy in China �During the Han Dynasty, views became more explicitly patriarchal, more clearly defined. �Yang = masculine, heavenly, strength �Yin = feminine, earth, weakness, emotion �Women � “ 3 obediences” �Subordination to father �Subordination to husband �Subordination to son
�Much changed in China after the fall of the Han in 200 CE. � Centralized gov’t vanished amid political fragmentation and conflict. � Nomadic people from the north invaded China and ruled a number of the small states. � Confucianism was discredited, while Daoism and Buddhism flourished. � THESE NEW CONDITIONS RESULTED IN LOOSENING THE PATRIARCHY SYSTEM FOR A WHILE.
�Patriarchy was weakened in a variety of ways: � In the Tang dynasty 618 -907 CE writers and artists depicted women as more powerful. � Empress Wu – only woman to ever wuled China with the title of Emperor. Some actions seemed designed to deliberately elevate the position of women. � Popularity of Daoism � Patriarchy did not end however… � http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=a. Wb 7 Rvvtblc&safet y_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
�Please pay close attention to pages 255 -259
- Slides: 27