Civilizations shaped the world and societies in which we live in today. Several practices in the present world are being continued from the ancient civilizations. However, some ancient civilizations were well developed thus they did not influence some aspects in the society. The Chinese, Indus Valley and the Mesopotamia civilizations are some of the ancient civilizations that have influenced the world through social, cultural, political, economic and diplomatic aspects.
Ancient Mesopotamia developed in the fertile valleys between river Euphrates and Tigris which enabled them practice agriculture. They built canals and dikes to be used for irrigation across the land. Mesopotamia civilization had class divisions, where the wealthy were at the top and the commoners at the bottom. Low class individuals included peasants. Women in Mesopotamia civilization were less valued. Girls who reached puberty were not allowed to go to school except those from the high class families. Religion practiced in Mesopotamia was polytheistic (Alqam & Walmsley). However, this enabled women to be priestesses thus, acquiring their rights in the society with others being appointed as rulers (Alqam & Walmsley).
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The Indus Valley Civilization also practiced agriculture. However, they had planting seasons because of the rains and drought. They planted peas, wheat and barley in large quantity (Bhat, 2017). There were also different classes of people in the IVC, the merchant class and the low class. According to Bhat (2017), the IVC did not have an organized religious system. However, they worshipped fire and gods in the form of trees and animals. They also believed in evil spirits and ghosts and used spiritual protection against them. Women in IVC were given equal opportunities and treated fairly like other people, unlike in other civilizations.
In contrast to IVC and Mesopotamia civilization, the Chinese civilization was divided into four social classes. The top class was regarded for scholars and political leaders, then farmers and agricultural workers, then the artists, and lastly merchants and traders, who were wealthier than other social classes, but with a low social status. The Chinese worshipped idols and aspects of nature like stars, moon and the sun by feasting. They believed in the dead helping the living but did not offer sacrifices to them (Chinese Civilization and Its Characteristics, 2015). Chinese also practiced agriculture by digging canals along the Yellow river. Their main crop was rice. Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism also influenced the religious aspects of Chinese civilization. Confucianism taught on humanism but did not focus on religious aspects like gods and afterlife. Taoism was mainly concerned with religious aspects of life like the body and soul of the people and the nature of the world. Buddhism focused on the spiritual development of a person and acquisition of knowledge. It also influenced Chinese cultural aspects of art and literature.
Mesopotamia civilization engaged in long distance trading. The economy of the civilization grew tremendously because of agriculture. They exchanged goods like wheat and barley with the neighboring civilization and received gold, copper and timber. They invented wheels that were used to carry goods and boats down and up the river (Alqam & Walmsley). They were ruled by kings who were regarded as the most important people in the society.
The IVC also practiced trading. They exchanged goods with the neighboring civilizations, Mesopotamia included (Bhat, 2017). They also used water transport in exporting and importing of goods. They also used cotton to make their clothes. IVC did not have an organized political system but they were led by a class of merchant rulers (Bhat, 2017).
The Chinese civilization was ruled by a king who was regarded as god. He made the orders and they were followed without questioning. However, the administration in China was based on good morals (Chinese Civilization and Its Characteristics, 2015). They also traded with other civilizations by using camels and ships. They exported silk, tea and gun powder.
Mesopotamia civilization had a strong military base (Alqam & Walmsley). Mesopotamia civilization had a special order, structure, and discipline in the battle field, which enabled them to conquer their enemies. IVC lived in peace with their neighbors. IVC did not record any war but they had axes, bows and arrows for defense (Bhat, 2017). The Chinese Civilization wrote military treaties but did not glorify wars due to the teachings from Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism that insisted on the importance of the human life and nature of the earth. Therefore, they were always peaceful with their neighbors.
To sum up, the Chinese, Indus Valley and the Mesopotamia civilizations bring out the different cultural, social, political, economic and diplomatic aspects of civilizations. It is clear that all the civilizations practiced agriculture and were great traders. The administration system in the mentioned civilizations was also the same. Kings were the head rulers of the civilizations. These aspects influenced the prevalence of peace among the civilizations. However, some civilizations died while others developed.
References
Alqam, M., & Walmsley, I. P. N. To What Extent Does Archaeological Discoveries Prove that Ancient Mesopotamia was the Most Developed Civilization of its Time? https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mariyam_Alqam/publication/344025207_To_What_Extent_Does_Archaeological_Discoveries_Prove_that_Ancient_Mesopotamia_was_the_Most_Developed_Civilization_of_its_Time/links/5f4e53cb92851c250b851f78/To-What-Extent-Does-Archaeological-Discoveries-Prove-that-Ancient-Mesopotamia-was-the-Most-Developed-Civilization-of-its-Time.pdf
Bhat, A. H. (2017). The Indus valley civilization. International journal of research and review, 4(7), 106-109.
Chinese Civilizations and Its Characteristics. (2015). Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://www.historydiscussion.net/history/chinese-civilization-and-its-characteristics/1909
