Han Dynasty Advisor

In order to prevent the Han Dynasty from collapsing, I would focus in the hierarchy being more flexible to prevent revolts. I would advise against monarchies since that would highlight the unfairness in acquiring power. Instead, it should be given to civilians which would motivate the common people to perform better in war and education. I would also focus on less taxes, and less focus on public works. Some of the public works such as creating the massive amount of stone soldiers was unnecessary. Although public works projects do help make the city seem more beautiful, keeping the people in the city happy should be top priority.

Pocket Map 2

Daoist Sentence

Let yourself be what it wants to be, and what wants to happen happen, because the world is shaped by The Way and can not be controlled.

Pocket Map

Hymn summaries

The Hymns

Summaries of each stanza:

1. You may receive heavenly sight of the message the "Wise Creator" had through meditation.

2. You should listen to the message the speaker has with full attention.

3. The balance in the world is kept by good and evil and it is your choice what you choose as they are both equally active.

4. The followers of good will be rewarded with knowledge and awareness of this life.

5. The one who chooses evil does badly, while the one who chooses good wins the favor of Ahura Mazda.

6. The ones who pick evil go out to deceive others when they have to make decisions and are out to destroy.

7. Armaity helps the soul pass through the test as well, along with the Spirit of Holy Power, the Good Mind, and Truth.

8. There will be a day Ahura punishes the ones who chose evil known as the Untruth.

9. The people who help the world move forward and think are helped by Ahura and the divine spirits.

10. The ultimate punishment to the ones who chose evil will be when the good are accepted into Ahura's paradise.

11. Let these rules guide you because the evil will be punished while the follower of truth will be rewarded.

1. The judge deals fair consequences to the evil, the good, and the mixed.

2. Someone who outright expresses his belief in Ahura and helps others along this path is making a substantial contribution.

3. The person who follows the teachings of Ahura, regardless of social status, will be blessed.

4. Through devotion and prayer, keep the evil temptations away.

5. The inspiration inside oneself must be invoked to truly pursue truth with Ahura. 

6. I, as a priest, have pursued truth and wish to meet with Ahura.

7. I wish for the message of Ahura to be spread everywhere.

8. Accept my prayers and in return, grant me knowledge of the end and immortality.

9. With the help of the spirits, let the ones with an advanced mind go to Ahura's abode.

10. Everything good is from you, Mazda, so please allow us to advance into the next life.

11. Listen to me Ahura and be kind enough to let us enter heaven.

12. Ahura, through you help, grant me good qualities.

13. Help our minds understand and acquire the ultimate truth.

14. Zarathushtra is truly noble and dedicated to Ahura.

Post #3

Hey Pais,

The poster was done very well for the most part. I think the color was done very well on the poster and helped the head pop out. I also thought it was very neat and easy to tell which drawings belonged to each theme. I think you could have improved the fourth drawing by derailing it more since I found it difficult at first glance to tell what it was. A similarity between Mesopotamia and Mesoamerica was the amount of expansion that took place in neighboring territories. Mesoamerica fought many Mayan kingdoms to acquire the lands they came to control just like the Mesopotamians who fought neighboring city-states. Another similarity between these two civilizations is how both civilizations were primarily agricultural yet focused on crafting tools as well. The differences between our civilizations include the blood letting ceremony. These ceremonies did not occur in Mesopotamia and Mesopotamia was not nearly as religious as Mesoamerica. My one question to you is in the act of bloodletting, was death a part of the ceremony or was it only a sacrifice of blood and nothing more?

Sincerely,

Olivia

Hey Kush,

Your poster definitely stuck out as a very colorful project and it was done well. If I had one suggestion, it would be to use less tape. China and Mesopotamia both had patriarchal structures, although Mesopotamia allowed for more flexibility for women in acquiring an education. Another similarity between both civilizations was the development of bronze being used in weapons. One of the differences between the two cultures was the use of writing. In Mesopotamia, writing was used primarily for recording transactions in trade. In China, writing was used for the leisure of the rulers as well as in the oracle bones. A question I have about your civilization is mainly about the oracle bones and how they were used exactly. It seems like a very interesting subject.

Sincerely,

Olivia

Post #2

The first theme was exemplified through the wheel in Mesopotamian civilization. The wheel was a major advancement in technology. I drew a donkey inside the head since this is a widely known animal of labor. The wheel made the donkey's job of carrying large cargos considerably easier. The big picture of the wheel was improving trade. The wheel made long distance trade easier, which inadvertently helped the spread of ideas. This is why I drew a picture of two people talking and exchanging thoughts outside the head. The second theme of architecture was especially shown in the building of the ziggurats. Although this added to the scenery of Mesopotamia as a whole, it was the results of hard labor from civilians. Because of this, I drew a sick person inside the head since hard labor can take a toll on a person's health. Outside the head, I drew the ziggurat in a nice landscape since it would be seen as a thing of beauty by the outside world and society as a whole. The third theme focused on political structures which, in Mesopotamia, was monarchy. Inside the head, I drew a pitchfork, symbolizing rebellions that took place due to the general resentment the civilians had toward imperial rule. Outside the head, I drew a sword to signify the battles that took place in order to expand the territory further and conquer city-states, a result of imperial rule. In terms of creation, a major concept that helped agricultural production was irrigation. Irrigation created excess food supply due to success in agriculture which is why I drew a big family inside the head. As an average civilian, the food surplus would allow for larger families. Irrigation affected the big picture by attracting more people to migrate because of the food surplus. To symbolize migration, I drew packed bags for travel outside the head. The final theme of social structures was especially apparent in the domination of women in the obviously patriarchal society. In my opinion, if I was a woman living in Mesopotamian times, I feel as though I might see the constraints that came with the society over the places that allowed for flexibility. This is why I drew a veil inside the head which symbolized the constraints Mesopotamian women faced. Outside the head, I drew pens and pieces of paper to signify how society would feel as though they were giving women a decent amount of freedom by allowing them to assume positions such as scribes in society.