Empress Wu

Im curious as to how an empire following confucian ways, as the Tang dynasty did, can ever put a female in office, especially when one of the Confucian analects is "a female ruler is like a hen cock-a-doodle-do-ing." O some form of that. Anyone?

Asoka

His revelations after the Battle of Kalinga astound me. How does someone go from being a militaristc ruler to a supporter of absoulute non-violence? If anyone has any insight on this please, feel free to post.

Athens/Sparta

The one thing im really curious about is Sparta. In the long run, without the Pelopnessian War, i could see Athens being a succesful nation for years and years to come. Sparta, though, intrigues me because they had to realize that being a militaristc state like Sparta was, isnt a good long term option. Did Sparta maybe see the Peloponessian War coming, thus they prepared for it, or did they really have no future plan. Cause i cant see a civilization lasting years and years in a solely militaristic state. I can also see how this idea could be totally irrelevant to anything, and if so, Mr. Shrinsky, anyone, tell me if this idea is erroneus.

Alex

Syncretism of Buddhism

This is truly an interesting topic because religion is such a big factor in most every one's everyday life. I couldn't imagine life without believing what i believe in. Changing an idea that heavy wouldn't cross my mind. The amazing part though is how hundreds of people easily converted into Buddhism in Asia. I guess its all about legitimacy. The rulers promoting Buddhism so extraordinarily was a key factor in Buddhism's successful syncretism. Today with all the laws floating around, there is no push from anyone to believe in anything. All types of religions or even a lack of religion are seen throughout the US. Korea, China, and Japan all had thousands of people converting, so the rulers must have had a large influence on their subjects. Without the rulers aid in spreading Buddhism, the syncretism of Buddhism would never have happened so suddenly and successfully.


-Alex

AP World Themes

We've discussed in great detail the development and transformation of social structures in the time period of 8000 BCE-600 BCE. Gender roles and relationships of women regarding religion and social roles. How women are legally looked at as lower than women has been a major theme discussed. Confucius preached about family and kinshio, about filial piety, and about respecting those above you. Ethnic constructions and racial diversity played a role in Ancient India, with the Aryans invading and taking over the upper classes, and leaving the darker-skinned, original inhabitants to fight over the lower places on the social hierarchy. One last part that theme adressed in this time period is the social and economic classes. The Hindus had a rigid social hierarchy in the caste system and the opposite was that of the Buddhist religion, which had no social hierarchy, leaving all genders and backgrounds the equal ability to achieve succes in their religion. All these different themes were addressed in the time period 8000 BCE-600 BCE in great detail.