Ancient Greek, Egyptian and Mesopotamian, Essay Example

When speculating upon which, if any, of the citizens of three ancient empires would choose to live in the 21^st century, a number of incentives arise based upon what those ancient cultures brought to the world of their day.

The Mesopotamian man comes to mind almost immediately as a possible volunteer for this “temporal relocation” because his civilization is marked by an astounding level of science set in a time not far beyond that of the prehistoric. Mesopotamian culture evolved over at least six millennia, reaching its pinnacle of cultural sophistication in the establishment of Babylon. While much of modern life would naturally be baffling to him, little of it would be totally unfamiliar, at least in terms of concept.

First and foremost, ancient Mesopotamia thrived because its earliest populations understood the vital impact of communication, as what we know of the extinct and complex Sumerian language indicates. Modern technologies, many of which exist only to expedite communication on a global order, would appeal greatly to the Mesopotamian. He would embrace the opportunities, as his people were characterized by an insatiable desire for expanding knowledge and sharing information. Moreover, and in striking contrast to other cultures of the era, both men and women were encouraged to learn. Today’s increased equality of gender, then, would as well be nothing more than an impressive extension of his society’s own precepts.

Most compelling as a reason to stay for the Mesopotamian would be the investigation of astronomy and the science we possess in this regard. Babylonians forged new insights into astronomy which would be later taken on by the Greeks, and the culture was driven in this direction. Although polytheistic, as were the Greeks and Egyptians, Mesopotamian people were equally science-driven and possessed the skills to accurately predict eclipses and other stellar phenomena. It is likely that this factor alone, that of a wealth of astronomic knowledge of which the ancient culture had only begun to explore, would induce this guest to linger.

Our ancient Grecian visitor would be as intrigued by scientific development as his Mesopotamian traveling companion, both in regard to astronomy and, more particularly, mathematics. Greek skill in the latter was such that the civilization very nearly devised calculus two thousand years before Newton’s introduction of it. Modern technology could not fail to amaze and captivate the ancient Greek, and he might stay on only because his absorption in these elements of current life just might make him miss his trip back.

He may, however, regret that missed return voyage, for it is probable that certain aspects of life today would be highly disagreeable to him. The modern and world-wide concern for equality would, ironically, strike the Greek as an alien and unwise ambition, for this culture so famous as the font of Western democratic principles was largely and unalterably caste-based. For several centuries within ancient Greece’s span as a dominant society, slaves made up as much as a third of the entire population. The ancient Greek would not be able to comprehend any culture wherein what to him are natural laws regarding identity and status were so open to debate, if not outright change.

It would as well be expected that the Greek, coming from a civilization devoted to aspirations to reason and truth, would embrace modern dissent as both expression of Socratic argument and as an exercise in spiritual and mental evolution. Yet this ignores the ancient Greek characteristic of dominance within the society. That is, the Greeks generally exalted heated exchange and fruitful debate, but only as long as the doors were closed to those unworthy of participating. The ancient Greeks, to employ an analogy, developed and esteemed rhetoric to a great degree, but primarily in an abstract manner, and a widespread availability of even this mode of communication would strike him as barbaric. For all their extraordinary measures in democracy and learning, the innately restricted and insular character of the Greek would incline him to return home.

More so than the Mesopotamian, however, could it be expected that the ancient Egyptian would choose to remain in the 21^st century. Everything we know of their culture points to one thing: a ceaseless desire to gain knowledge and expand both as a power and as a people, while nonetheless adhering to traditional bases of governance and belief.

Ancient Grecian and Mesopotamian cultures are justly celebrated for visionary pursuits, and no less is true for ancient Egypt. However, Egyptian life was marked by a distinct difference: the sheer topography of the civilization made concentrated and relentless pursuits in agricultural matters essential. Greece and Mesopotamia enjoyed fertile geographies, while Egypt perpetually struggled to conduct an elevated society in a vast dessert fed by one river.

Consequently, while as fascinated by modern surveys and data regarding the sciences and the stars as his fellow travelers, the Egyptian would be most captivated by the more mundane and, to him, spectacular advances of modern life in regard to the ease of daily living. That thriving industry and agriculture occur now in desolate regions would strike him as an accomplishment as great as flying to the moon.

The other chief attraction for the Egyptian would be in modern medicine. Obviously, the Greeks and Mesopotamians were intently interested in advancing in this realm, but it was something more to the Egyptian, whose polytheism was inextricably linked to concerns of mortal physicality. If for nothing else, the Egyptian hierarchy was built upon the life of the pharaoh, and we know how obsessively they sought to preserve that life, both before and after death. Interestingly, the Egyptian would be far less troubled than we are about ethical matters in medicine; he would seize upon them and know his spirituality was being served in the process. This alone would induce him to become a permanent resident of our time.