Greece and India

1. What’s McNeill’s argument?

- McNeill’s argument is that Greece and India developed societies that were different because of their cultural beliefs and structure.

2. How does McNeill define Caste? Does this match up with the textbook’s definition?

- He defines a caste as people who eat properly happily with one another and they marry their family members off. The textbooks definition spoke more about the actual differences physically such as more money or nobility.

3. What three feelings and thoughts helped to maintain the idea of caste:

1. The first was ceremonial purity

2. The second was similarity between people, something along the lines of a community

3. The third was the Varna Doctrine

4. Are these convincing?

- These feelings and thoughts are convincing because in a caste system, everything is based on social and political power. These ideas keep the caste system remaining harsh and strong.

5. Why did caste itself not cause strong political organization to form?

- The caste itself didn't cause strong political organization to form because they revolved around people who were self-centered and greedy. The caste members only were around other caste members instead of governmental organizations.

6. What causes Indian religion to shift from deity pleasing to the act of worship itself?

- The thing that caused Indian religion to shift from deity pleasing to the act of worship itself was praying. The priests or Brahmins of the caste system had integrated into the minds of people that their questions could be answered by the gods and that gave them a lot of power in society.

7. How did the Upanishads change the nature of Indian religion and thus the goals of Indian society?

- The Upanishads changed the nature of Indian religion and thus the goals of Indian society changed because of reincarnation. The main idea of their religion was based on the fact of breaking away from reincarnating and becoming one with Brahma, achieving a peace of mind.

8. How does McNeill define “Territorial Sovereignty?”

- McNeill defines "Territorial Sovereignty" by saying that each state has its own rights and ability to self-govern.

9. Why did Greeks turn away from religion as an explanatory factor in organizing society?

- Greeks turned away from religion as an explanatory factor in organizing society because it only hindered their progress; they couldn't make things up from the imaginations of people, they needed to use facts and state with reality.

10. What was the consequence of the Greeks’ rigid adherence to the polis?

- The consequence of the Greeks' rigid adherence to the polis was that there was no place for agreements, it was either they did something or not.

11. Do you buy his argument? Why or why not?

- The main idea of this article was that India and Greece are different societies. I agree that this argument is good because McNeill explains in detail why both these societies are different. In India, religion and social classes was more important than in Greece, whereas in Greece, trade and economy was more.