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Anastasia Cabadas
History 134
26 April 2017
Throughout human history, there has been one factor which distinguished man from
beast. We, out of all the animals, have a conscious, an inherit will to do good. We have built our
societies upon a moral code, (primarily) for the betterment for all people. And, by general rule,
our societies are based upon the belief that a higher power exists, which transcends our own.
Though my studies of Ancient World History this semester, I have come to realize that religion
plays a focal role as to what makes a civilization; it defines cultures, and its vast ideals have
For example, though St. Paul1 first introduced the Catholic faith to the Roman Empire, it
was Constantine the Greats2 conversion to the Catholicism which helped it become the main
religion of the failing empire of Rome. Even though the citizens of the Roman empire were
losing their faith in the traditional religions of the Rome, Christianity infused them with a new
sense of hope and purpose. Belief in the afterlife, which did not exist in traditional Roman
religion, gave Roman citizens something to help them overcome their insecurities. The promise
that something better existed beyond this life would rectify the hardships suffered in the now.
(Green.)
A religion of commonality is what the Bedowins, a nomadic people, together through the
Islamic faith. Before Islam, the tribes of Bedowin were in a constant dispute with one another, as
each tribe believed in their own tribal based gods. When the Prophet Mohammed first began
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preaching, his ideals were initially rejected by those but his close family and friends. However,
his messages of peace and unity among the Arabic people eventually brought the people together
in a common belief which is still widely practiced throughout the world.3 (History World.)
Unfortunately, difference in religion caused many as problems within the Ancient World
as it does today. For example, the wars fought by American and NATO allies in the Middle East
today were started (and have been insinuated) by extremists on both sides. Throughout the
Ancient World, dissimilarities in religion caused the rise and fall of many nations.
This kind of disarray prompted kings and emperors throughout history to take matters
into their own hands, which many times resulted in persecutions and bloodshed. Yet, some
leaders, such as Emperor Leo III of the Byzantine Empire, approached the matter from a slightly
different angle. He turned his sights on Christian4 religious icons, and ordered their destruction
throughout the empire; an action today known as Iconoclasm. According to one theory posed
by historians, the Emperor did this in an attempt to unify the Muslim and Jewish communities
within the empire, as members of both faiths believed Christian images to denote idolatry.
Regrettably, his decision caused more harm than good, and the empire soon spiraled into civil
war. (Dalto.) Despite technological advances, similar poor decisions have been made within the
20th and 21st centuries; it would seem mankind has an uncanny knack for repetition.
Amongst the turmoil of our sordid history, civilization based upon messages of peace
come as a breath of fresh air. Emperor Asoka of the Mauryan Empire, who believed warfare was
his sole purpose in life, had a drastic change of heart after witnessing the horrors following his
insurgences in Kalinga.5 He renounced violence, and vowed from then on, peace would reign
The teachings of Buddhism, which had become the focal point of the empire, influenced
diplomatic relations between nations; trade flourished between the Mauryan Empire and the rest
of the known world. And, like the hippies in the 1960s whom advocated against violence of any
kind, Asoka ruled with a gentleness which has not been heard of before, nor since, of any world
ruler. (TimeMap.) His example demonstrates a glimpse into what our world today could become,
Human history itself is not inconsequential to our identity today; history is the cause of
our societies in the now- just as our actions today shall affect the tomorrow. As Michael Postma,
a coordinator of High Potential Services and the Minnetonka Navigator Program at Minnetonka
(Minn.) Public Schools, said, historical narratives offer us stories of humility, courage,
our mistakes and learn from them, and ultimately create a better existence for all.
Let us not forget the experiences of our ancestors- their hardships and joys are applicable
to us now; we must build upon their discoveries, learn upon their mistakes. For only then can we
reach a higher level of existence, something better and purer than we have ever been.
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Notes
1. See Crash Course World History #11 for more information about St. Paul. (time
08:37-09:10)
2. For Constantine, there were obvious political advantage to being a Catholic; the
benefits of securing the loyalties of a majority of the populace, as well as the control
Empire.
5. Region of Eastern India with whom Asoka was at war.
Works Cited
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Article discusses the Mauryan Empire and the influences Buddhism had on Emperor
Asoka and the empire. Though a noble ruler, Asokas interpretation of Buddhism lead to the
eventual fall of the Mauryan Empire. However, it is because of Asoka that Buddhism is so
www.khanacademy.org/humanities/medieval-world/byzantine1/beginners-guide-
Dr. Daltos paper explains what Iconoclasm is, when it took place in the Byzantine
Empire, and the controversy surrounding the reasons as to why it came into practice.
Green, John. Christianity from Judaism to Constantine: Crash Course World History
Apr. 2017.
the Ancient world. Green competently explains how Christianity originated from Judaism, and
Islam From The Beginning To 1300. Islam, Muhammad, Prophet Of Islam, History
An article on the life and revelations of the Prophet Mohammed. Provides a basic, albeit
Postma, Michael. What Can History Teach Us Today? ASCD Express 6.22 - What Can
In his short article, Postma opens the readers eyes as to the decline of Social Studies
within student curricula. He voices convincing reasons as to why the study of history is