Portfolio Reflection

Throughout this course, we have learned about many different empires and era of

times. The common theme I have chosen is Religion/Morals & Traditions. I chose this theme

because I feel as if every single empire we learned about, religion was a big thing during those

times. Religion based their laws, their punishments, their morals and their traditions. I feel

religion is what caused them to act responsible and moral. Or at least what they thought was

responsible and moral.

Spartans missed a battle because of religious festivities. Which I'm not sure if

that's responsible, but I don't think battles are responsible either. However, Sparta Empire did

base a lot of their traditions and their laws/punishments on their religion. Just like most of the

other empires we learned about.

Cyrus the Great from the Achaemenid Empire, helped restore sacred places in

various cities, and he released the Jews from captivity and permitted their return to their

homeland. Which to me was a very responsible and moral thing to do. This empire also based a

lot of their traditions on their Religion, same with their laws and punishments for crimes.

Trajan of the Roman Empire, began massive programs of public works, building

bridges, harbors and aqueducts, he reduced taxes and started a new welfare program for poor

children. Which is responsible and moral in many ways, and I feel he did this because of his

religious beliefs, he believed that his "God" would not want everyone to be suffering the way

that they were suffering. A lot of his work still happens today, like the programs for instance.

The Roman empire also based a lot of their traditions, laws and punishments on their religion.

Many of the Empires did things because of their religious beliefs, they may not

have been responsible or moral to our standards, but to them back in that time, they felt it was
the right thing to do. Some other instances that stood out to me during this course, was The Qin

Dynasty, how they built this massive cement army known as the Terracotta Warriors because

they believed that Qin Shi Huang Di needed these warriors to conquer the afterlife. To them, I'm

sure that they felt that this was what needed to be done, because he still had battles to win for

them. Ashoko from the Mauryan Empire swore off war, and that he would reign in complete

peace because of his religion Buddhism. Those things are remarkable to me, and reigning in

peace I believe is responsible and moral as well.

But why must we learn history? Is it really important for us to know what

happened way before we were ever born, or our civilization (America) began? We read some

articles and papers that touched on these questions, and there were at least one reasoning in each

reading that stood out to me that answered these questions, I want to share these quotes from

these readings with you:

History is drawn upon, and not even necessarily cynically, in a haphazard way which

helps paint a picture of what any particular philosopher or politician hopes the future to

be like. (Hodges 2012)

. . . the changing perspectives of historical understanding are the very best introduction

we can have to the practical problems of real life. ... ignorance of history--that is, absent

or defective collective memory--does deprive us of the best available guide for public

action .. . (McNeill)

History provides a cultural literacy: the cultural capital to develop a lens through which to

understand historical names, dates, events, and concepts. Apart from this, and perhaps

more importantly, history gives us meaning. It allows us to think critically about

narratives that have developed over time and, in doing so, provides us with a format to
 develop the meaningful interpretations necessary to examine the events that shape

modern society. (Postma 2011)

History is a lesson: a lesson of intentions, movements, experiments, and human

production; a lesson that builds integrity and character within our children. Is man

inherently good? Who controls the distribution of power and wealth? Whose government

is for which people? The study of history requires us to ask such complex questions as

these. Finally, historical narratives offer us stories of humility, courage, wisdom, and—

most important—hope. (Postma 2011)

I felt that these were important parts of answers to those questions. History is

important, without it, we could still be making the same mistakes past rulers made. Our

civilizations would not have made it as far as they have, and probably would have fallen already.

I don't think history has made us perfect, because we still make mistakes obviously, but knowing

the world's history helps us learn, and helps us think of ways to keep our present.

Now to answer the overall question “What can I, as an historian of the ancient

world, learn and apply from the history of my ancient ancestors to my own role in contributing to

and acting responsibly for the betterment of society?”

For me the answer is too complex to actually put into words, but I shall try. I feel

that I am a decent, responsible person who contributes to society in a positive way already. For

instance, I'm becoming a teacher, what better way to contribute then to teach our future? But,

with the theme that I chose, I would have to say that it did not teach me anything new per say,

because I don't have clear cut religious beliefs, but I do have clear cut personal morals, which I

abide by, like how to raise my daughter to grow as an amazing person, how to treat my friends,

family, and partner. I don't view, or judge others based off my own morals, because their stories
are different than mine, they didn't grow up the way I did, therefore they may not believe or see

things the way I do, and that doesn't make them a bad person. So, I guess I would have to say, all

these empires taught me not to base people off my own religious beliefs, morals, or traditions.

Therefore I shall not condemn them because they made a mistake in my eyes.
 Works Cited

"Achaemenid Empire." Wikipedia. April 26, 2018. Accessed April 29, 2018.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire.

Cartwright, Mark. "Sparta." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History

Encyclopedia, 28 May 2013. Web. 29 Apr 2018.

Hodges, Blair D. "Hodges- Final Essay, On Rhetorical Uses of History to Understand the

Present." Academia.edu - Share Research. May 7, 2012.

http://www.academia.edu/1539830/Hodges-

_Final_Essay_On_Rhetorical_Uses_of_History_to_Understand_the_Present. (It doesn't relate

specifically to my theme, it relates to any theme chosen because we must know our history in

order to understand how things have become the way they are today. We also must know our

history so that we can learn from their mistakes and know what not to do.)

McNeill, William H. "Why Study History? (1985)." American Historical Association.

Accessed April 29, 2018. https://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-

and-archives/historical-archives/why-study-history-(1985). (It doesn't relate specifically to my

theme, it relates to any theme chosen because we must know our history in order to understand

how things have become the way they are today. We also must know our history so that we can

learn from their mistakes and know what not to do.)

PBS. Accessed April 29, 2018.

http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/nerva_trajan.html.

Postma, Michael. "What Can History Teach Us Today?" ASCD Express 6.22 - What Can

History Teach Us Today? 2011. http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol6/622-postma.aspx. (It

doesn't relate specifically to my theme, it relates to any theme chosen because we must know our
history in order to understand how things have become the way they are today. We also must

know our history so that we can learn from their mistakes and know what not to do.)

"The Mauryan Empire of Ancient India." TimeMaps. Accessed April 29, 2018.

https://www.timemaps.com/civilizations/the-mauryan-empire/.

UNESCO. Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (UNESCO/NHK). June 03, 2010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W73GLWEJuQA#t=77.