World History - Assignment Example

(Your World History November 27 What constancies and what changes do these documents show in the beliefs and practices of the Islamic World in the course of these 5 centuries? What similarities and differences do you see between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism? One of the main consistencies in the belief and practices of Islam shown in these documents is the belief in one Supreme Being, Allah, and doing all things according to his will. According to the Quran, written approximately in the 7th century, there is only one God, and that all of the ways of men must be done according to the will of God. This theme is repeated on the Hadith, written on about the 8th to the 10th century, wherein all of the doctrines regarding making peace between people, the superiority of the weak and the poor, and on the concern of women, orphans and wives, must be practiced for this is the will of Allah. Although Al-Mawardi’s Ordinance of Government (11th century) may institute a different theme (specifically on governance), all of the provisions and guides indicated are believed to the expression of the will of Allah. In this case, some of the main changes in the document include the practice of civil and political authority and its differentiation with religious authority, wherein this differentiation became more defined in the later period of Islam (11th century onwards). Of course, the main similarities between Islam, Judaism and Christianity is its belief on monotheism (Allah, Yahweh, God), and the presence of holy books (Quran, Torah, Bible). Some of the differences include specific doctrines, wherein Islam believes that Muhammad is the last and the most holy of prophets, Judaism’s adherence on Saturday worship (the Sabbath), and Christianity’s trinity. 2. What do these two allegorical pieces of fiction tell us about European Society of the 14th Century? What is the main message of each document? What insights did you gain into what life was like during this time? What similarities and differences do you see between these two documents? One of the main characteristics of 14th century European society, as shown by these two allegorical narratives, was the dominance of the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church, side by side with the hierarchical feudal structure of society according to landholdings (lords and serfs, monks and knights). The main message of William Langland’s Piers the Plowman was that the way of the truth is through having moral purity, specifically on meekness and mercy. Meanwhile, the main message of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales was a satire of medieval society, wherein the poor boy that toiled and preached the Gospel was holier than the monks or the aristocrats and the merchants, high in stature but morally corrupt. As stated by the allegories, one of the main characteristics of life at that time was the upholding of morality and good deeds, as preached by the church. Also, the documents showed the hypocrisy and moral corruptness of those high in stature who claimed to be holy. While both documents emphasized the role of being morally upright as the path to truth and righteousness, Piers the Plowman emphasized on the deeds that aristocrats must follow in order to be morally upright, and Canterbury Tails focused on the criticism of the moral bankruptcy and hypocrisy of modern customs, especially by men of high stature in society. 3. All of these documents originate from Medieval Europe between the early 12th and late 14th centuries and pertain to the status of women in European Christian society. Why was the status of women considered inferior to that of men? What was women’s role as seen by men? What do you learn from the perspective of a medieval woman, as in Doc 100, about her attitudes towards her station in life? Her attitudes about men? One of the main reasons why the status of women were seen as inferior to men, according to the documents, is because she was not created in the image of God. According to the Decretum, women were actually drawn from men, and that it is the natural order of nature that women must serve men. In this case, the power of the church is evident; even the fact that Eve beguiled Adam was cited. In addition, in that time, there were two main roles of a woman that were defined: that is, to the salvation of her soul, and to win the love of her husband. In this case, it was seen that the proper role of women would include worshipping the Lord, following the examples of women in the Bible, managing the household, and most of all, caring and serving the husband. In De Arte Honeste Amandi, it is seen that the medieval woman longs for love, citing instances wherein men don’t necessarily give women love, but only what pleases them. In this case, the medieval woman argues that men are not necessarily superior over women, or that women are not necessarily there to please and serve men; it is seen that true love must bind them both. 4. Describe the similarities and differences between these various philosophical ideologies of China. How are societal institutions, such as family, government, economics, education, religion, regarded by each? One of the main similarities of the various philosophical ideologies of China is that they all regard order importantly. All of these philosophies actually teach that order in a society is important, and that there are codes and guidelines that must be followed, as well as who must rule to ensure this order. However, these philosophies actually differ in their approach. In The Book of Dao, it is stated that one must be harmonized with nature, and that the weak and the tender, and quietude are all superior values: they are the ones that must rule. Meanwhile, the Sayings of Confucius teaches proper conduct, wherein the wise must rule others, and that righteousness and virtue is the basis of ruling people and ensuring order. Meanwhile, Mencius actually argues that rulers are actually given a mandate by heaven to rule, with principles aimed for the good of the people. In legalism, the law is supreme, and even rulers are subject to it. In Daoism, social institutions must always be harmonized with nature; they must always be in the accord of the order of nature. In Confucianism, social institutions must always be subjected to virtue and intelligence, and that conduct must always be informed by wise judgment. According to Mencius, however, all social institutions must submit to the mandate of heaven, represented by a great ruler. In Legalism, all social institutions must conform to the written law, for order to reign supreme, and to avoid chaos. 5. Describe the similarities and differences between these two philosophical ideologies of India. How are special institutions, such as family, government, education, religion, regarded by each? One of the main similarities between the Dharma, as taught by Asoka, and the Laws of Manu, is that they put an emphasis on love, compassion, and the resistance to worldly pleasures as the guide of conduct for the Indian people. Both philosophies do not tolerate the killing of other living beings, for they believe that all of them have souls. However, while the Dharma preaches religious tolerance and equality among all peoples, the Laws of Manu advocates the hierarchy of peoples according to castes. With regards to special institutions, the Dharma always teaches tolerance and respect, especially to the beliefs of others. In addition, there is also a stress in always providing for the welfare of the people. However, the Laws of Veda calls for these special institutions to follow the rule of their castes, in addition to some special roles of conduct such as worshipping of the husband by the wife, the servitude of the lower castes, and the servitude of the woman on her father, husband, and sons. Read More