Reflection on Early Civilization

Reflection on Early Civilization

Compare how different societies dealt with those outside their borders

Since ancient civilization, societies had always strived to limit the people who could access their towns and cities. Borders in early societies such as Mesopotamia shows that early civilization valued walls more than ever before. The role of the walls was to enhance security and also demarcate political territory. The people outside the society were considered strangers and even a danger to the people inside the walls. People who did not live within the walls were considered Barbarians such as the Mongols, the Huns, and the Goths. These vicious groups inspired early civilization to focus on wall building and strengthening as a full-time occupation because it meant the survival of the Kingdoms and empires. In early civilization, only the Roman Empire was open to immigration. In fact, the Roman Empire’s control of borders and immigration is more similar to the boundaries of the modern age. Border security was highly protected, and as a result, the empire readily labeled those outside its walls as excluded. In some sense, this presented a chance for the empire to expand its boundaries with regard to immigration flow. Most of the Roman borders were secure because they knew how to neutralize outside threats through division and separation before they were allowed to enter the Roman territory. Romans, for example, would divide a tribe and ensure they are settled in underpopulated areas so that they could not pose any threat to the empire. Furthermore, they were required to surrender their weapons, renounce their loyalty to their leaders. In the modern era, boundaries stopped considering walls, and more focus was on town administration. People outside country boundaries were considered foreigners that required special permission to enter the country. Today, walls are no longer in use but boundaries that separate countries and continents.

The types of people could be found in towns and the importance of integration into society and citizenship

In early civilization, it was estimated that at least one in twenty people lived in towns. The people found in towns, for example, in the Roman Empire were aediles or in other world town business managers. They were responsible for managing the grain supply, sacred buildings, ensuring weights and measures, and setting night watch whenever required. The Quaestors were the financial officers who had the authority to collect and manage common funds for the benefit of the towns. The town also consisted of senators, town magistrates, decurions, councilors, and Roman citizens. Visitors could apply for citizenship by birth or through official notification to the empire and adherence to due process. The system of municipalities is still common today in major towns across the world. The Roman town administrations are also similar to modern town administrations. Some of the traits of modern-day administration of towns originated from Spain and became engrained in American society with time. Integration in Roman life was significant for the state as it allowed the state to address any threats while collecting more taxes and more members to the army. The mayor administered the town and even set slaves free if he were to issue orders. In case the slave was set free, they could be reintegrated into society in other areas of service to the town.

How cities in early world history can be compared to the modern world

The early world cities have so much in common with modern cities. For one, the design of the cities such as the use of avenues and streets was common than just as it is now. Most of the streets and avenues conjoined at right angles, just like in the modern world. Another similarity was that the houses had several stories high and could have wide windows and open balconies like much of what we see today in American towns. For the cities, there were places of mass entertainment just like we have today. Plays, dances, and other events were done in amphitheaters while the bui9lding themselves were given the horseshoe design. Apart from mass entertainment sports, the wealthy in society acted as patrons to the less fortunate, and they would be involved in generous contributions for the common good. The wellbeing of the city was aligned with the wellbeing of the wealthy, and thus the less fortunate had to be taken care of. Even the emperors would be involved in philanthropic activities such as feeding children of the poor. This is still common even today will gala dinners and philanthropic activities such as donating for good cause Foundations. Another similarity was the walls. Despite the walls to the city being for defense purposes and controlling immigration, we see the same today through modern geographical boundaries. The common idea anyway was to keep outsiders out since they were considered strangers. Even today, borders are being used to control immigration and defend a country. Indeed, much was borrowed from the Roman Empire that has been implemented in the modern world.