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1 Becoming Human
2 Rivers, Cities and the Rise of Complex Societies, c. 4000-2000 BCE
3 Nomads, Territorial States, and Micro-Societies, 2000-1200 BCE
4 First Empires and Common Cultures, 1200–350 bce
5 Worlds Turned Inside Out, 1000–350 bce
6 Shrinking the Afro-Eurasian World, 350 bce–250 ce
7 Han China and The Roman Empire, 300 BCE –300CE
8 The Rise of Universal Religions, 300–600 CE
9 New Empires, and Common Cultures, 600-900 CE
10 The World Becomes “The World,” 1000-1300 CE
11 Crises and Recovery in Afro-Eurasia, 1300-1500
12 Contact, Commerce, and Colonization, 1450-1600
13 Worlds Entangled, 1600-1750
14 Cultures of Splendor and Power, 1600-1780
15 Reordering the World, 1750–1850
16 Alternative Visions of the Nineteenth Century
17 Nations and Empires, 1850–1914
18 An Unsettled World, 1890–1914
19 Of Masses and Visions of the Modern, 1910-1930
20 The Three-World Order, 1940–1975
21 Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: Globalization 1975-1999
22 Epilogue, 2000–2007

Chapter 5: Worlds Turned Inside Out, 1000–350 bce

Research Topics

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Overview:

During the first millennium BCE, philosophers and sages from previously peripheral regions of Eurasia, China and Greece, initiated a dialogue and debate within their communities as to what constituted an idea state and how it should be governed. Often from the margins of their societies, philosophers such as Lao Tse, Confucious, Plato, Herodotus and Thucydides proposed alternative ideas to the political status quo, challenging both contemporary rulers and their supporters to pursue a more stable and peaceful social and political order. While rooted in the problems of their era, these philosophers work had an enduring impact in their homelands and beyond.

Analyze the following sources making note of each philosopher's concept of an idea state and idea ruler. What ideas did they share in common? How did they differ? Using information from Chapter 5 in your textbook, explain the legacy of these ideas expressed.

Idea is Chinese v. Athenian/Greek ideas on idea state and ruler - two peripheral areas with huge influence to this day.

 

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