Exploitation in the Social Structure of Civilizations - Assignment Example

 Exploitation in the Social Structure of Civilizations Introduction That man is a social animal simply cannot be denied. As societies grew and developed, man has been intrigued to move from a solitary existence to a communal one. The historical readings from various cultures and civilizations- whether it is of the Aztecs of the mid-fifteenth century, the rant of Martin Luther against the excesses of the Catholic Church, the recollections of King Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty or the warnings of Karl Marx against the complex bindings of the Industrial Revolution-mostly show a fear or disdain of the social structures that existed and were in need of upheaval due to their wanton disregard of the lower and middle classes of society. Discussion Let us first take the recordings of Diego Duran regarding the Aztec civilization, its social structures and beliefs. Though these recordings were made from interviews taken from voyagers or their descendants at least fifty years after the Spaniards had encountered the Aztec empire, yet we find a compelling story that shows the interest that Duran must have had in recording them for posterity. They do not aspire to compare one civilization to another in terms of superiority or greatness; rather they are a faithful representation of the Aztec civilization as seen through Spanish eyes. Quite likely the Spaniards were taken aback at the elaborate social structure that existed in the Americas so far away from home, even though they felt revulsion at the human sacrifices that were made to the sun god Quetzalcoatl and other demigods. Contrarily speaking, the Spanish treatment of the Aztecs at the hands of Hernando Cortes was no less barbaric and demeaning, and leaves one with a bitter taste in the mouth. As Mel Gibson has so eloquently shown in Apocalypto, neither could aspire to be on the higher moral ground. What is clear is that religion and economics had a key role in separating society into classes. The upper class consisting of the king and nobles led an existence quite different from that of the lower social classes. There were three ways in which a man could aspire to move upwards in society, through distinguishing himself in battle, through entering the priesthood or through being a good trader and marketer (Stryker, 604). Quite consciously, hundreds of families would have aspired to rise in the annals of society but only a few would have achieved this feat. Imagine a normal Aztec not even being able to wear sandals on his feet, while this was a privilege given only to the nobles and leaders in society. The average Aztec would have led a life of subsistence and want. Indeed, circumstances could become so dire that a man could sell his wife and vice versa in times of economic distress. Or they could decide to sell the child that troubled them the most, claiming that he or she was a misfit and a troublemaker. The Aztecs treated their prisoners of war in brutal fashion, seeking no doubt upward social mobility by sacrificing their victims to the gods and after having torn their hearts out, would even take home the carcasses to feast upon like cannibals (Stryker, 603). Moving on to the account given by King Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, he regards the supreme power of the King was to be able to pardon or condemn a subject, thereby ending his life or sparing it. It was of course necessary to make an example of dishonest men like Hu Chien-Ching, a corrupt official who terrorized his neighborhood and usurped their lands, for which the King recommended he be executed along with his family in his native place. At other times he made a careful review of appeals and spared people their lives. The King appears to be a practical man, and is disdainful of the practices that men use to gain favor with him. Quite often these men talk of principles and teaching that they themselves do not follow, but seek to impress by their knowledge. This kind of knowledge is empty and useless, much in the manner of the examinations that give rewards for rote learning but not practical skills like archery and riding (Stryker, 654). The King prefers simplicity and truth to any form of exaggeration. Considering the reformatory writings of Martin Luther directed against the excesses of the Catholic Church, Luther was undoubtedly correct in admonishing and lambasting the entire clergy from Pope to priest. The hold of the Church on the people was complete, and one could well imagine that with the corrupt practices at an all time high, Luther was disgusted with the state of affairs. He does not mince words when he accuses the Pope and the entire clergy of corruption, selling indulgences for money, and being preoccupied with wealth and making the poor pay for the upkeep of the Church while the priests themselves were wallowing in wealth. He points out that a return to the well established precepts of faith as in the Bible was the only way to redemption and salvation, and compares the Pope to Antichrist, the leader of a false church. While Kings and Queens compiled money only out of metal, the clergy used every religious event and ceremony to fill their coffers (Stryker, 751). He also ridicules their way of life, where one day of fasting was followed by three days of feasting. Thus contrary to outward appearances of sanctity, the clergy was leading a licentious life. Luther is also against celibacy, deeming it unnatural- considering that God had created both man and woman to be companions in life. We now consider the writing of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the famed Communist Manifesto. Both fear that the present state of affairs caused by the Industrial Revolution would encompass the world and change it immeasurably, as indeed it has. It has divided the world into two large classes- the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie is dominant everywhere and seeks to exert and solidify its influence in all spheres and forms of industry. It has even taken over the machinery of the Government and used it to further its own purposes. We can see that the proletariat or working class has been made just pawns in the hands of the capitalists or owners of business and industry. They have even made labor a dispensable commodity, hiring it when they need it and dispensing of it when they don’t, as seen in the peaks and troughs of a business cycle. To a large extent machinery has taken over the work previously done by hand- in fact even the labor of man in production has been reduced to basic, repetitive and mechanical movements. Personal self worth has been reduced to exchange value. It is no more than naked exploitation (Strayer, 858). In these circumstances there is no way out for the bourgeoisie but to revolt- to ask and insist for conditions that are more amenable to its existence. We see that everywhere the bourgeoisie have managed to take over banking, credit, industry and commerce. Additionally the faster movement of goods and services and raw materials all over the world has resulted in even more exploitation of the labor class- since it is possible to order raw materials from the remotest of locations. A country’s exhaustible means of supply need not be the only source of productivity. Therefore it is better that before this state of affairs becomes firmly established, it be uprooted from its underpinnings. This is possible with the establishment of a State under Communist principles, where equality and care of every citizen is guaranteed. All citizens are equal and there is no competition. Everyone must work for the benefit of the State, as a better nation gives a better standard of life to its citizens. It is the only way to dislodge the present system, which is evil and despicable to say the least. Marx and Engels correctly point out that in times of crises, even some from the proletariat falsely join the protesting working classes- but this undermines their purpose and can reduce the commitment of the movement. Therefore we must be aware and guard against it. In fact we can see the world in the throes of change even today, as economic difficulties have forced the working class to rise up against the bankers, the large corporations and the capitalists in American society. The Occupy Wall Street and related protests all over the world are a reaction against the evils of capitalism. But by pretending to be part of the 99 percent, celebrities and the elite are only undermining the genuine efforts and sacrifices of those who have really been affected by the downturn in the economy. The homeless and the unemployed are good examples. We have educated teenagers and adolescents who are moving back with their parents so it is giving rise to a new social phenomenon. People at work now expect to retire in their 80s and are pressing for an increase in retirement age. Many families have lost their homes, their cars and their savings. Conclusion The entire political and economic system is a mess and must be repaired from the grassroots level. People have simply lost faith in the politicians’ ability to lift America out of this present crisis which many think will be pushing us into another recession very soon. Even as it is abundantly clear that affecting change through political means is the only way to get things done in this country, the OWS protests need to organize themselves into a proper force with a leader and an agenda as to how the needed changes to the system will be effected. The Tea Party did the same thing in 2010 and was successful. We need to emulate their style and method (www.reuters.com). Works Cited Shaw, Lewis. NY Times’ Carr: Why Occupy Wall Street is at a Tipping Point. The Wrap, 21 Nov 2011. Online. Accessed at http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/21/idUS417724801820111121 Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World, Volume II. Since 1500: A Brief Global History with Sources. Bedford/St.Martin's, 2008. Print. Read More