Learn so Little About These Ancient Eastern

¶ … learn so little about these ancient Eastern civilizations? Ancient Greece and Rome are often called the cradles of modern, Western civilization. Greece 'gave birth' to democracy and major philosophic and scientific ideas spanning from the concept of atoms to geometry. Once upon a time, all roads famously lead to Rome, reflecting the importance of Rome in shaping the landscape of the modern globe. But simply because these civilizations were so important in shaping our own worldview does not mean we should discount the contribution of the East.

The recent excavation site of the Dadiwan relics of Qin'an at the Gansu Province is a demonstration of the richness of the early civilizations of the area. The archeological site has yielded some of the earliest findings of agriculture and pottery ever discovered, pushing back the date of the discovery of millet to a far earlier time than originally assumed. New evidence of the existence of the Chinese writing system, elaborate palace-style constructions, and concrete floors are some of the other major findings of the site.

In contrast to the hunting, gathering, and relatively transient lifestyle of the Anglos and the Saxons, the inhabitants of the Gansu Province had created a thriving and complex settled civilization. The reasons for the lack of adequate study of this period of Eastern civilization may not be entirely due to a Eurocentric bias within the school system.

Because so many of the ancient Western civilizations were conquered by the Romans and became part of a larger empire, they became much more 'connected' to a larger community than those of the Eastern world, which was not in a constant, extended dialogue with the West. The difficulty of interpreting the textual meaning of the relics without a Chinese lexicon or and a general lack of awareness of the cultural context from whence they sprung also makes it more challenging to understand the full significance of the artifacts.

The terracotta warriors were meant to protect the First Emperor Shihuangdi in the afterlife. They were built during the Qin dynasty 221-206 BCE. The emperor unified China by building the first portion of the Great Wall. The Terracotta Army is striking in its lifelike depiction of the protectors of the Emperor. They are as large as real-life warriors of the age, and their expressions and gestures are highly individualized. Their function is symbolic, given that they are supposed to protect the Emperor after death.

Yet they are also a work of highly detailed craftsmanship, and testimony to the power of the emperor. The Emperor was able to demand great detail in terms of how he was supposed to be honored after death. The afterlife was evidently of great significance for the emperor, given his willingness to put so much time and effort in planning these.