Foundations+Theme+5

=I. The Development and Evolution of Social Structures in the Classical Period=

Social structures in the Classical period tended to support the political hierarchy. For instance in India, Hinduism developed the caste system which defined people at birth, keeping them in different unchangeable social classes, such as a warrior class or a Brahman class, which helped to balance the workforce, and to put certain people into power. Another example is in China where the philosophy of the land (e.g. Confucianism) promoted the interaction of people and held education as a very important concept, thus promoting the bureaucracy, which was focused on education and knowledge. Confucianism also promoted the mandate of heaven, the idea that the emperor had a right to rule and was justified by the gods.

II. Social and Economic Classes
All major societies in the classical period had a form of social hierarchy. The most pronounced of which in the classical era was the Indian Caste system, it was by far the most rigid hierarchy in the Classical period. Each Caste was passed down through generations. The Caste system was supported by the Indian religion, Hinduism. Each Caste was divided into Jatis, or groups within each Caste, and the number of Jatis grew as the Caste system became more complex. The Caste system was so strong, that in later eras, it was adopted by foreigners who came into India, such as the Muslims(1). China also had a firm hierarchy. The Upper class such as the Bureaucracy and Aristocracy, were only under the emperor in terms of status. Below them were the peasant class, Which included farmers and artisans. Below the peasants were the merchants. The merchants had the lowest social status in China then any other Classical civilizations at the time. Below the merchants were the mean people, the lowest class in the Chinese hierarchy. The Chinese bureaucracy, centered around education, was open to clever commoners, but it was unlikely that they passed the examination process. The civilizations in the Mediterranean had the least strict social structures during the classical era. Most people in the Mediterranean were self sustaining farmers, and Revenue was brought by extensive trade and commercial agriculture. There were also slaves in Mediterranean social structure. Slaves were an important part of the Mediterranean economy, providing labor and entertainment in the form of bloodsports.

III. Family and Kinship
Family structures in the Classical period varied from east to west. Civilizations in the east, or Asia, like India and China developed a strong patriarchal family structure, while Mediterranean civilization in the west developed less patriarchal social structures. Chinese family structures in the classical period were extremely patriarchal, the husband was the head of the family, he had the right to punish his wife and kids as he found necessary. Chinese agricultural society depended on this patriarchal family structure. While the women were limited to household work, the men would work the fields, and grow the food. Family structure was similar in India. In India, patriarchal family structure was supported by the religion that the Aryans brought to India, which would eventually be known as Hinduism(2). Like in China, the dominance of the husband was stressed. As India grew as an agricultural society, male authority became even more important. This became the case in most agricultural society. The men would take the positions of power, and do most of the work in the fields, giving them a higher status then woman. However, in Classical Mediterranean society, the wife was legally equal to the husband. Woman had major economic roles, and upper class woman would sometimes have great influence within a household. The culture and law however of Mediterranean society still held woman inferior. Roman law code says that the husband is the judge of the wife, and he can punish her for her crimes accordingly. Overall, Classical civilizations had patriarchal family structures. Emphasis was put on the husband’s role as the head of the family, and the wife’s role as a housekeeper.

IV. Racial and Ethnic Constraints
The racial and ethnic constraints in the classical period increased from west to east. Alexander the Great conquered a wide area of land, spreading Hellenistic views to the rest of the known world, while at the same time granting autonomy to a wide range of conquered areas. The Romans, who would later take control of the Mediterranean would grant autonomy to the conquered like Alexander did. The Romans would also allow people outside of the empire to join and become citizens, this usually benefited the people who joined the roman empire because they would gain the benefits of being roman citizens, while still being free to preserve their cultures and religions. The Chinese in the east however were extremely ethnocentric. They thought thought that they were the only important culture, and they were close minded to foreign ideas. The Chinese also had the least extensive trading system in the Classical period. On the other hand, India, being in the middle of the two civilizations, had the most respect for the merchant class, and the most extensive trading system(3).

V. Gender Relations
Although gender relations in the classical period were very patriarchal, The Mediterranean civilization was the most egalitarian of the time, allowing women to be something other then home makers, and also giving them a few lawful rights. Though the Mediterranean civilization still had a patriarchal society, and no women were allowed on the council seats. India was the second best in terms of egalitarianism, Indian women were recognized for their societal contributions, as well as their role of sexually comforting their husbands. However husbands were still the head of the family and had most of the power, as well as being viewed as gods by their wives. Classical India created the tradition of women burning themselves alive on their husband’s funeral pyres, a tradition that would later be adopted by the Muslims(4). Classical China was the most patriarchal civilization of the period. Women had no power independently, and could only hold a very limited amount of influence through their husbands or sons. Classical Chinese women consistently had the lowest status of all civilizations, even up to the Post-Classical period(5). Women were expected to listen to everything their husbands said, and if they disobeyed they risked punishment as the husband saw fit. They were viewed as possessions, and were not recognized culturally. Chinese women also had to recognize their inferiority and act with humility. A perfect example of how women needed to act in classical China is the document Lessons for Women, written by one of the only women writers, Ban Zhao. Over all, Classical civilizations were patriarchal, but classical China was by far the most patriarchal of the three.

=For further reference=

Ban Zhao-lessons for women []

The Laws of Manu []

Lex Julia De Adultriis, or roman adultry laws. []