The Civil Service of the Ancient World - Assignment Example

Instructions: Please Use source from books or internet . It has to be unique not found on internet. Please ansver each question 1 page each.  Exam #1  Please note: this is a take home exam, and you are free to use your class notes in formulating  your responses to the essay questions below. I strongly encourage a careful proofreading of  your work before you submit it – as this is not a timed, in-class exam, I expect your replies  to be well-written and carefully organized, with ample evidence from lectures to support  your analytical arguments. Each one of your essays should contain a coherent and logical  thesis that is supported throughout the body of the reply with details from lecture that show  how and why they connect with your analysis.  In terms of format, you may either single- or double-space your essays, but please  use standard-sized fonts (12-point Times is recommended) and standard margins. For length  of the essays, there is no particular standard, although it would seem that a four- or five-  paragraph essay, of about one page (single-spaced) would be adequate. Feel free, however, to  write as much as you feel is necessary to effectively answer the questions.  There are four questions below. Please answer all four.  The exam is due IN CLASS ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12.  1). What were some of the crucial components, mechanisms and resources necessary for the evolution of small tribal groups and chiefdoms into dynasties and kingships throughout the Ancient Near East and Far East? How did these assets facilitate the development of “civilizations”?  There are many crucial components, mechanisms and resources necessary for the evolution of small tribal groups into much larger kingdoms or dynasties. A stable or consistent source of food was vital. A reliable food supply helped to increase population and, more importantly, encourage specialization and stratification within that population (Childs 3). Indeed, the greater the level of surplus the greater the level of stratification, which in turn helped to encourage the evolution from a small group into a larger kingdom (Hole 608). A small surplus such as seen in some Polynesian states, on the other hand, encouraged the development of a royal class but not a much larger priestly class, as was seen in Egypt and Mesopotamia (Childs 4). Therefore a large surplus was certainly more beneficial than a small one. Specialization and stratification led to a more complex and efficient society ‘in which diverse activities supplement each other to the advantage of all actors’ (4). In other words, it was possible for a society to encourage technological achievement because while most members of the group remained farmers others could develop skills in other endeavors. The development of the wheel, innovations in weapons technology – such as the chariot and iron craft – irrigation, even laws and art, encouraged the transition to an arguably more complex society and helped develop a sense of group identity. Such technology also provided an immediate advantage over surrounding societies. However, overall, a stable food supply was the most important aspect in the development of civilization. 2). Why were some early civilizations able to develop sustainable empires and dynasties,  while others were not? What were some of the key elements for creating politically and  culturally stable states?  The same elements that led to the evolution of empires and dynasties also contributed to the overall efficiency and sustainability of some states over others. Essentially, a successful empire or dynasty had to be able to endure the stresses of internal hardship while also resisting the military ambitions of those surrounding states. To that end, unification and a sense of cultural identity were important, as was a sense of place and religious faith. Military innovation and the regular supply of food were equally vital for survival. It was essential for the survival of the city state, kingdom or dynasty that there be a regular supply of food. For example, while the Hittites had a strong Empire in many respects, they suffered from a poor climate and subsequently endured difficult living conditions when compared to the Egyptians. Consequentially, the Hittite’s form kingship was comparatively ‘unstable’ and suffered from a lack of flexibility (Roebuck 94). Weapon craft and military innovation were equally important in sustaining an empire. The development of iron over bronze, for example, provided not only impetus for the development of larger civilizations in the first place it also provided the means from which to defend oneself from aggressors. The chariot, developed from yet another innovation the ‘wheel’, gave Egypt an enormous advantage for many years, for example (Moorey 196). Having control over a reliable food supply and the development of trade also helped sustain an empire (Childs 3). In fact those empires that could not feed their people were at most risk of internal dissent or external threat. 3). The great military empires of the Ancient world employed different methods to  administer their conquered lands. How were some able to preserve their territorial gains  more successfully than others?  The most successful empires were those that could endure hardship by ensuring stability. As such, the organization and security of conquered territory was an essential part of keeping an Empire. The civil service or some form of government infrastructure was important in maintaining an empire. In Egypt, for example, the day to day affairs of actually running the state was put in the hands of groups of individuals keen to advance themselves and the well being of the Empire (Beyer, 244). The ability to respond to military threats quickly was also important, as was the use of ‘petty kings and city-states’ whose possible hatred of each other helped to maintain Egypt’s control over some client states.(Roebuck 79). Many cities or regions were also garrisoned, while it was also common to take hostages from neighboring or conquered states. Such behavior would have encouraged a certain sense of cooperation from those peoples tending who may have tended otherwise towards resentment or hatred (Roebuck 81) Trade was also important. Samaria, for example, came to rely heavily on trade, such contact and agreements of a mutual and beneficial nature with surrounding states may have helped secure power. Overall, all these strategies and devices were designed to maintain stability, because it was stability that marked the difference between a failed empire and a successful one. 4). What role did spiritual and religious thought play in the creation of stable cultural and  political units? How were they significant throughout the early civilizations? Religion played and important role in early civilizations, and it certainly played a significant role in keeping and empire stable. Indeed Wenke argues that it was religion or religious thought that was the origin ‘of complex societies’ (277). However, it is not really possible to figure out if people gathered to celebrate worship or whether it was the gathering of groups that started formal worship, yet without a doubt religion played an important role in early civilization. The idea of an afterlife was naturally important. Earthly concerns amount to little if after death the righteous received reward for their toil and service. However, it was the personage of the king that saw religious thought play the most important part. For the Hittites, for example, the king became a god after death and this established and secured his right to rule as he saw fit during life (Beckman 101). Naturally this was very much the same in Egypt. The role of the temple was also important. Sumerian life revolved around the temple – temple priests became the educators with almost complete control over learning and temporal administration. And while education eventually become secular the priesthood never really lost much power (Roebuck 36) Overall, religion not only unified a people it acted as a central focus for administration, consequently it played an important role in the creation of a stable state. Works cited Beyer, William C. “The Civil Service of the Ancient World.” Public Administration Review, 19, 4, (1959): 243-249. Beckman, Gary. “The Religion of the Hittites.” Biblical Archaeologist, 52, 2/3, (1989): 98-108. Childe, V. G. “The Birth of Civilisation.” Past & Present, 2, (1952): 1-10. Hole, Frank. “Investigating the Origins of Mesopotamian Civilization.” Science, 153, 3736, (1966): 605-611 Moorey, P. R. S. “The Emergence of the Light, Horse-Drawn Chariot in the Near-East c. 2000-1500 B.C.” World Archaeology, 18, 2, (1986): 196-215. Oates, Joan. “Religion and Ritual in Sixth-Millennium B.C. Mesopotamia.” World Archaeology, 10, 2, (1978): 117-124. Roebuck, Carl, The World of Ancient Times, NY, CSS, 1966. Wenke, Robert L, Patterns in Prehistory: Humankind’s first three million years, 3rd edition, NY, OUP, 1990. Read More