Systems of inequality in the classical era

Caste and Class, Slavery and Patriarchy

Classical China – Class SystemThe most shaped by “state actions” than any

other society – Powerful Centralized Bureaucracy- officials were the social elite

World’s first civil service exam – est. 124bce by Emperor Wudi- around 30,000 students by end of Han dynasty- scholar-gentry class

Terrace Farming

Classical China – Landlord ClassLandlord Class – Wealthy landowners

- could evade taxes- often had military forces to challenge imperial authority- force smaller landowners out.

Wang Mang Reforms (1st century BCE)– redistribute land, end slavery- reforms ended, Wang Mang assassinated

Wang Mang Bronze Currency (7-22CE)

Classical China – PeasantsPeasants

- majority of Chinese population– high taxes (sometimes 2/3 of crops)- used as state labor- military conscription

Periodic Rebellions- Yellow Turban (186CE) – provoked by floods and epidemics- unified by Daoism- periodic rebellions devastated economy and led to overthrow of the Han Dynasty

Classical China - Merchant ClassCultural elite disliked merchants

- “profiting from other people’s work”– efforts to control merchants - couldn’t hold public office - state monopolies - forced to “loan” to the state

However, merchants still became wealthyThey eventually won respect by purchasing

estates and educating their sons

India - CasteCaste in Portuguese means “purity of blood”

- grew from interactions of diverse people in India- Aryan “light skinned people” migrated to India- development of economic and social differences

Since 500BCE, an idea of 4 castes- Brahmins – priests- Ksatriyas – warriors and rulers- Vaisyas – peasants- Sudras – native people, very subordinate positions

Caste SystemJob specialization by caste. No mobilityJati – A caste within a casteKarma + ReincarnationEasier to exploit the poor?

Rome – A Slave SocietyDomestication of animals – model for

humans?War, patriarchy, and private property ideas

encouraged slaveryWomen captured in war were probably the

first slavesPatriarchal “ownership” of women may have

encouraged slaveryVaried considerably over place and time

Slavery Classical Greece and Rome: slave

emancipation was common                                   

Aztec Empire: children of slaves were considered to be free

China – 1% of popSlave Rome/Greece – Sometimes over

50%       

Roman SlaveryHow you become a slave

- massive enslavement of war prisoners- piracy                                    - long-distance trade for Black Sea, East African slaves- natural reproduction                                    - abandoned/exposed children

Not associated with a particular ethnic groupLittle serious social critique of slavery, even

within Christianity

Avoiding Roman Slavery Cases of mass suicide of war prisoners to

avoid slavery“weapons of the weak”

- theft, sabotage, poor work, curses FlightOccasional murder of owners

RebellionRebellion

- most famous was led by Spartacus in 73 b.c.e. - attracted perhaps 120,000 slaves- eventual military defeat, crucifixion of 6,000 rebels

Nothing on similar scale occurred in the West until Haiti in the 1790s

Roman slave rebellions did not attempt to end slavery; participants just wanted freedom for themselves

Comparing Patriarchies of the Classical EraEvery human community has created a

gender systemAt least since the First Civilizations, the

result has been patriarchy- men regarded as superior to women - men had greater legal and property rights - public life as male domain

PatriarchyPolygamy was common

- with sexual control of females of familyNotion that women need male protection and

controlPatriarchy varied in different civilizations Urbanization and empires restricted women

moreInteraction of patriarchy and class: greatest

restrictions on upper-class women. Why?

Patriarchy in ChinaConfucianismthinking about pairs of opposites applied in unequal

termsyang: masculine, related to Heaven, strength,

rationality                                               yin: feminine, related to Earth, weakness, emotionmen’s sphere is public; women’s sphere is domestic “three obediences”: woman is subordinated to

father, then husband, then son Han Dynasty –Empress Wu – women could own

property, become priestesses

Comparing Patriarchies - AthensCompletely excluded from public lifeRepresented by a guardian in law; not even

named in court proceedings Aristotle: position justified in terms of

women’s natural “inadequacy” compared to males

Patriarchy in AthensRestricted to the home  Within home, lived separately from menMarried in mid-teens to men 10–15 years

olderRole in life: domestic management and

bearing sons Land normally passed through male heirs Women could only negotiate small contracts

Comparing Patriarchies - SpartaSparta: militaristic regime very different from

Athens- need to counter permanent threat of helot rebellion- Spartan male as warrior above all - situation gave women greater freedom - central female task was reproduction

Patriarchy in SpartaWomen encouraged to exerciseNot secluded like Athenian women    Married men about their own age (about 18)Men were often preparing for or waging war, so

women had larger role in household

Sparta, unlike Athens, discouraged homosexuality- other Greek states approved

homosexuality                      -Greek attitude toward sexual choice was quite casual