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Age of Sages The Amazing 6th Century B.C. Phoenicians - 600 - Achaemenid "I was not born to understanding. I loved the past, and questioned it earnestly. There may be men who act, without understanding why. I do not. To listen much, pick out the good and follow it." Confucius (7:19,27) compiled and edited by Gaylen K. Bunker | |||
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1. Thales (624-547 B.C.) Myletus/Ionia 2. Solon (638-558 B.C.) Cyprus/Athens 3. Aesop (620-560 B.C.) Samos/Athens 4. Cyrus (580-529 B.C.) Persia 5. Amasis (590-525 B.C.) Egypt 6. Ezekiel (623-571 B.C.) Israel 7. Daniel (617-535 B.C.) Israel 8. Zarathustra (630-551 B.C.) Persia 9. Darius (521-485 B.C.) Persia 10. Hanno (625-564 B.C.) Carthage 11. Pythagorus (569-475 B.C.) Italy 12. Buddha (563-483 B.C.) India/Nepal 13. Lao Tzu (604-524 B.C.) China 14. Confucius (551-479 B.C.) China | |||
(624-547 B.C.) Thales was the son of noble Phoenician parents. He was given citizenship when he arrived in the Greek city of Miletus in the Ionian province (in western Turkey). He was the first in Athens to be called one of the Seven Sages and is considered the father of western philosophy. After engaging in politics he became a student of nature and declared the immortality of the soul. He studied astronomy and spoke of lunar and solar circles. He learned geometry from the Egyptians, traveled extensively, and became a great friend of another one of the Seven Sages, Solon the lawgiver. He discovered the seasons of the year and dividing the year into 365 days. One of his basic principles was: "Know Thyself." Centuries after Thales lived, Aristotle referred to a classic story about his predecessor to illustrate the principle of how to acquire wealth. Aristotle began by advising that it would be well to study the various stories of how people have succeeded in amassing a fortune. Thales' neighbors berated him for his indifference to real "work" and prosperity. They felt that anyone who passed his time studying nature, observing the stars, and seeking wisdom provided little value to society. Thales decided to teach them a lesson, show that philosophy was of ultimate value, and could easily result in the accumulation of a great sum of money. While it was still winter, Thales knew, as a result of his astronomical studies, that the next summer's harvest of olive oil would be a bumper crop. The previous years had produced only a modest yield and as a consequence the olive-presses had been underutilized, resulting in lower than expected income for their owners. Though he had very little money, Thales went to all the owners of olive presses in his city and the surrounding area. He offered to make advance deposits in return for exclusive use of the presses during the coming season at a , but modest price. No one bid against Thales and so the owners were glad to accept a secure price and reduce their risk.
When the great harvest came, the presses were inundated with a huge demand for their services, but everyone had to deal with Thales. He set the price at whatever level he pleased and made a fortune. He suggested to his neighbors that philosophers can easily become rich if they so decide, but their ambition is directed to other ends. Aristotle's conclusion is that Thales used a universally applicable device---nothing more than the creation of a monopoly. The sayings of Thales are: "What is difficult? To know thyself" "What is easy? To give advice to another." "What is most pleasant? Success." "What is divine? That which has no beginning or end." "How can one best bear adversity? To see an enemy in worse plight." "How shall we lead the best and most righteous life? By refraining from doing what we blame in others." "What man is happy? He who has a healthy body, a resourceful mind and a docile nature." "Remember friends, whether present or absent." "Take not pride in outward appearance, but in beauty of character." "Shun ill-gotten gains." "Let not idle words prejudice thee against those who have shared they confidence." "Whatever provisions thou hast made for thy parents, the same must thou expect from they children." | |||
(638-558 B.C.) Solon spent his early years on the island of Cyprus. His parents were Greek citizens of noble Phoenician descent, but due to his father's generosity lost most of their fortune. Solon had to put away his carefree youth and go to work as a merchant. He traveled extensively, spending some time with Thales in Egypt where they became fast friends and learned secrets of the ancients. In 594 B.C., the forty-five year old Solon found himself in Athens where a major crisis was brewing. The poor were so oppressed by the rich they were on the verge of rebellion and totally disrupting the society of Athens. The moderate merchant class, trying to prevent the inevitable violence, proposed that Solon, a businessman, be made head of the government. He pursued a democratic solution with the idea that if the laws were crafted well then all would want to support them. He was advised that laws are like spiders webs: they ensnare the weak, but the rich and powerful break right through them. He became the great lawgiver of his day. He devalued the currency reducing the burden for all debtors. He ended imprisonment for debt, canceled taxes that were in arrears, and established a graduated income tax system with the rich paying twelve times the taxes of the poor. He organized the courts on a more popular basis and implemented a rule that the sons of those who had died in war for Athens should be raised and educated at the government's expense. Most protested his reforms, but within a generation most agreed that his reforms had saved Athens from revolution and laid the foundations for the great city that it became. Solon determined that he should serve for only a limited number of years and so stepped down to travel in the pursuit of learning. He left provision that his laws should remain in place for ten years. He lived again in Egypt for a time with king Amasis before traveling on. The wealthiest country of that day was Lydia in what is now central Turkey. The king of Lydia was Croesus who welcomed all the great sages of the day to his kingdom to admire his splendor. Solon was anxious to make Croesus' acquaintance.
When Solon got to Lydia, he was entertained by the great pomp and richness of the courts and nobility. Finally, he greeted Croesus, who was decked out with untold elegance of gold, jewels, and grandure and opened up for Solon's inspection his magnificent apartments and furniture. Solon appeared to nonchalantly despise the vain ostentation and petty pride of the display. Croesus then asked Solon if he had ever seen a man happier than himself. Solon responded with simplicity that he had and the individual was Tellus, a plain but worthy citizen of Athens. Tellus raised valuable children, was able to provide for his needs all his life, and died in glorious service to his country. Somewhat put off, Croesus pursued the issue further and asked if after Tellus who was the next happiest person. Solon responded that it was two brothers from Athens who were known for their brotherly affection and dutiful care for their mother. Croesus was now very upset and demanded to know if Solon what he meant. Not wanting to exasperate Croesus more replied, "God has given the Greeks a moderate portion of material wealth, but an abundance of democratic spirit and liberal wisdom. The challenges of life have tempered us to neither be elated by good fortune or to admire temporal splendor that is bound to change. Life is uncertain and ever changing, therefore, he who still has the dangers of life to encounter cannot be considered happy until he has completed his mission successfully." When Solon left Croesus' court he was pulled aside by Aesop, the great teller of fables. Aesop chided Solon and said; "A man should either not talk to kings at all or if he cannot avoid it then he should say what is agreeable to them." Solon, who was later elevated to the status of one of the Seven Sages of Greece, replied; "That is only partially correct. He should refrain from conversing with kings or if he must then say what is useful to them." The sayings of Solon are: "How can crime most effectually be diminished? If it caused as much resentment in those who are not its victims as in those who are." "Wealth breeds excess, excess breeds outrage." "Put more trusts in nobility of character than in an oath." "Never tell a lie. Pursue worthy aims." "Do not be rash to make friends and, when once they are made, do not drop them." "Learn to obey before you command." "In giving advice seek to help, not to please." "Be led by reason." "Shun evil company." "Honor the gods, reverence parents." "Watch every man and see whether, hiding hatred in his heart, he speaks with friendly countenance, and his tongue rings with double speech from a dark soul." "Nothing too much." | |||
(620-560 B.C.) Aesop was most likely a slave. He came from Phrygia, in central Turkey, to live on the Greek isle of Samos. His talent was so great in the telling of "fables" that he became famous and was given his freedom. Aesop told one fable about a farmer, who about to die, wanted his sons to become good nurserymen and farmers. He called them together saying: 'My days are numbered and I will soon leave this world. You must retrieve the thing of greatest value I have hidden in the vineyard. Everything I have to give you, will be found there.' After their father's death, and anticipating finding a wonderful buried treasure, they all assembled and dug until every inch of the vineyard was turned over. No hidden treasure could be found, but the vines were so well dug that when harvest came the yield was a bumper crop. Hundreds of fables are attributed to Aesop. Some of the morals are: "Time solves difficult problems."
"A wise man recognizes danger signals in time to avoid injury." "We learn wisdom by seeing the misfortunes of others." "Be cautious of advice. Natural talents and advantages could be compromised so that you fall easy prey to others." "Strife and contention are ill things, bringing danger for all parties, if they have not the sense to be reconciled." "Not content with moderate gains, men sometimes seek more alluring prospect---and are surprised to find they've lost even what they could have been sure of having." "Whatever he undertakes, a man should estimate his capacity according to his own powers, and not enter into alliance or tie himself up with people who are too strong for him." "A man who plots against another plots his own destruction." "Do not wait until danger is at hand to make your preparation." "A simple life with peace and quiet is better than faring luxuriously and being tortured by fear." "Nothing escapes the eye of divine justice; it weighs crimes in the balance and allots the appropriate punishment." "It is too late to be sorry after you have let things go wrong." "When people profess the impossible, a simplest test may reveal the impostor they are." "Meddling in other affairs may bring regret." "A serious quarrel cannot be lightly made up." "Those who stand up to a first assailant, make others afraid of them." "Expectations deceive us. Sometimes, things we fear turnout beneficial, and what we thought safe prove our ruin." "Often, when in danger, friends whose loyalty you doubted come to your aid, while those you trusted betray you." "A naturally gifted man, through lack of application, is often beaten by a plodder. "Those who have shown ingratitude to benefactors will not find others to help them when they are in a fix." "Wise men, redirect the attacks of enemies, to those better able to defend them, than they are." "The strong should help the weak; so shall the lives of both be preserved." "Nature has not endowed us all with the same powers. There are things that some of us cannot do." "Children cannot be blamed for being lazy if their parents bring them up in idleness." "It is a bad policy to trust those who offer to do one a good turn at someone else's expense." "Very often persuasion is more effective than force." "Some people are so intent on dishonest gain that they fail to see when they are providing proof of their own guilt." "If you slander a good man's character, he will often show himself towards you as black as you have painted him." "Uncontrolled rage often does serious harm to those who give way to it." "Divided, men are vulnerable; it is union that makes them strong." "Genuine friends are proved by adversity." "Possession without enjoyment is nothing." "Agitators succeed best by stirring up strife." | |||
(580-529 B.C.) Cyrus the Great was born in what is now eastern Iran. He married the daughter of the king of his country and rose to rule the Persian Empire for almost thirty years. Cyrus the head of a semi-nomadic people, sought to establish prosperity throughout the region by bringing the peoples of many nations together and creating a sense of harmony in the land. The people of the nations he defeated, especially those who recognized the value of stability for trade, supported him. Cyrus captured the domains that were on the key trade routes where gold, grain, and wealth had been gathered. From Nile grain, Ethiopian ivory, Lydian gold, to the north and east hoping to establish relations with the kingdoms in the Far East Cyrus administered his kingdom wisely. He continued the administrative practice and did not introduce drastic cultural or lifestyle changes to the land he captured. He respected the gods of the other nations and based his rule on tolerance. As a token of his generosity, Cyrus freed 40,000 Jews and their treasurers from 50 years of captivity in Babylon. Cyrus is recognized as a conqueror of the hearts of his subjects. He brought an era of justice and tranquil prosperity where before only Assyrian tyranny had ruled. Although a decisive ruler, Cyrus did not kill any kings or sack any lands. Rather he befriended defeated monarchs and rebuilt temples left in ruin by conquerors before him. "Even as his boyhood," wrote Xenophon, "grown men were captivated by Cyrus's wisdom, resilient spirit, guilelessness and physical beauty." Cyrus combined sagacity and statesmanship with valor and a zeal for world conquest. He was a determined and steadfast man who put wisdom ahead of the sword. When the aggressor Croesus, king of Lydia was defeated by Cyrus, and was about to be executed, he cried out as loud as he could: "Solon! Solon! Solon!" Cyrus, surprised at this, inquire what god or man it was he sought at such a time. Croesus answered with complete sincerity: "He is one of the wise men of Greece who visited my kingdom. My desire was not to hear his wisdom or to learn what might be of service to me, but hear him praise the glory that was mine such that my reputation might be extended. The loss of that glory I find is now a much greater misfortune than the possession of it was a blessing. My exalted state was only an exterior advantage, the happiness of opinion and the loss of that now plunges me into real suffering and misery. Solon foresaw that and advised me to consider the end of life and not to rely or grow insolent upon uncertainties." When Cyrus, who was a much wiser man than Croesus, heard this and finding Solon's advice confirmed by the example before him, he not only set Croesus free, but granted him with protection for as long as he lived. Thus Solon had the glory of saving the life of one king and of instructing the other. When Cyrus defeated the Babylonian Empire he decided to let the Jewish people return to their homeland and take with them all of their treasures for their temple. This act ensured that Cyrus the Great would become a savior for the Jews. Some of the principles that he functioned under were:
Because of all the above reasons and high moral and ethical values Cyrus the Great has scored the highest among all the greatest world's leaders both in ancient and modern times. Cyrus the Great may be said to be among the greatest political leaders of all time throughout human history. | |||
(590-525 B.C.) As the result of a military revolt Apries, king of Egypt was dethroned and Amasis, a commoner, elevated to be king. Many showed great contempt for Amasis because of his humble origins, so he surveyed the treasures of the court and found some gold footbaths, which the king and guests used to wash their feet. Amasis had them melted, used the material to fashion a statue of one of the many Egyptian gods, and placed it in a conspicuous place in the city. When the Egyptians came across the statue they showed great reverence for it. Amasis called his critics to a meeting and revealed that the statue was once a footbath used for all manner of common functions. He instructed them that like the footbath, he was once ordinary, but now the king they had better pay honor and respect to him. This persuaded them to accept him, if not only for his power, but also for his wisdom. As he began to rule, he arranged his day in such a way that he would work diligently on the business of the country from dawn until mid-morning when the markets filled. After that he would spend his time on things that amused him. His advisors were distressed by this regimen and counseled him that he was not maintaining royal dignity. They felt that to maintain the proper image he should sit all day in state on the throne attending to royal affairs suitable for a king. Amasis responded that an archer does not keep his bow strung constantly, but only when needed, otherwise it would be break and be useless when needed. So it is with people, anyone who is always serious and never allowed relaxation would go crazy and be good for nothing. This was the reason he gave for dividing his time between duty and pleasure. He created alliances with other countries,increased trade and commerce,and welcomed travelers to his country. The reign of Amasis was one of the most prosperous and peaceful times in Egyptian history. He would rule for almost fifty years. He created alliances with other countries, increased trade and commerce, and welcomed travelers to his country. He was very fond of the Greeks, encouraging their merchants and artisans to settle in one of the Egyptian ports.
One custom that Amasis established was that every man was required to go to his provincial governor each year and declare the source of his livelihood. The failure to do this or the inability to verify that the source of his upkeep was from honest toil would result in his execution. Solon, the lawgiver of Athens, was so impressed with the industry and lack of poverty in Egypt that he introduced a similar custom in his country. | |||
(623-571 B.C.) Ezekiel, was one of the priests who, in the year 598 B.C., was deported as a prisoner from Jerusalem. With the other exiles he settled in Babylonia, and spent the rest of his life there. In the fifth year after his captivity, and in the thirtieth year of his life, he received his call as a prophet, continuing for the next twenty-two years. Ezekiel was inspired to assure God's faithfulness in the midst of trials. During the first period of his career, he foretold the complete destruction of the kingdom of Judah, and the annihilation of Jerusalem and its temple. After the fulfillment of these predictions, he was commanded by God to announce the future return from exile, the re-establishment of the people in their own country and, the triumph of the Kingdom of the Messiah. Ezekiel was concerned the people would despair, lose hope, and perish as a nation as the result of contact with the Gentiles and their apparently triumphed over the God of Israel. Ezekiel said: But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, and hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, and hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him; in his righteousness that he hath done, he shall live. Tyre, (Phoenicians) situated at the entry of the sea Merchant of the people for many isles Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, builders have perfected thy beauty. Trading fir, cedar, oak, ivory, blue, purple, fine linen with broidered work, cloth gold, silver, emeralds, coral, agate, ebony, iron, tin, lead, brass vessels, bright iron, men, horses, mules, lambs, rams, goats, white wool, wheat, honey, oil, balm, wine, and spices, from every known corner of the world. They employed mariners, pilots, caulkers, and armies for protection from several nations. All the ships of the sea occupy thy merchandise Thou was perfect in they ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of they merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou has sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of they brightness; I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. | |||
(617-535 B.C.) In 605 BCE, the teenager Daniel was captured by the Babylonian army, during its first attack on Jerusalem. A member of the nobility, he suffered castration and spent the rest of his long life in service of the royal court in Babylon. Daniel lived in Babylon for the entire duration of the Babylonian empire, a period of 72 years. He arrived during the last year in the reign of Nabopolassar, stayed through the entire 45 year reign of Nebuchadnezzar, assisted 5 succeeding kings, survived through the occupation by the Medes and into the occupation of the Persians. He was present as Israel was taken into captivity; he died two years after a fragment of the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Darius appointed Daniel as one of three chief ministers of the new kingdom of the Medes. Some jealous ministers conspired to kill Daniel. They persuaded the king to write an edict stating that anyone who petitions any god or human being other than the king during the following 30 days would be thrown into the lions' den. The conspirators caught Daniel praying to God, and presented him to the king for execution. The king tried to think of a way to avoid executing Daniel, but was unsuccessful. Daniel was thrown in a pit of lions, but survived. He credited an angel with shutting the lions' mouths. Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream: Thou, O king, art a king of kings; And wheresoever the children of men dwell, heaven hath made thee ruler over them all, Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as Iron is not mixed with clay. | |||
(600-531 B.C.) Zarathustra was a Persian (eastern Iran) prophet who saw a vision of God (Ahura Mazda) when he was 30. The concept of this God being the sole creator of all that is good introduced monotheism to what was previously an Indo-Persian society of many Gods. Although monotheistic, the teachings were dualistic in the sense that Ahura Mazda is opposed by Aura Mainyu, the spirit or evil. Zarathustra's charge by Ahura Mazda was to invite all human beings to freely choose between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and lie, and light and dark. People will be judged by their thoughts, words, and acts in two heavenly judgments: the first for the individual soul, right after death and the second for all mankind at a general resurrection. Zarathustra taught an abstinence from meat that would later become a great influence on the Greek mathematician Pythagoras.
Zarathustra traveled from place to place. To the east he visited India and then on to China, but no one received his message. Without success, scorned and ridiculed, the wandering preacher returned home. For ten years no one would heed his call, until finally his cousin joined him. Then he determined that if the King in his province would convert, many would follow. He labored for two years in the Kings court trying to make headway. King Vishtaspa, a mighty ruler in eastern Iran was devoted to the old religion of dark magic, superstition, and all of the concepts that Zarathustra found reprehensible. The chief priests and scribes of the King found Zarathustra to be a major threat to their power and the stability of the kingdom. So they proposed a duel of wits to expose Zarathustra, which was referred to as the "terrible conflict." The magicians proposed thirty-three questions that Zarathustra had to answer. The debate lasted three days, but at its conclusion Zarathustra had successfully passed the test. When the priests realized they were beaten, they bribed some guards to plant evidence of witchcraft in Zarathustra's room. When it was discovered, he was immediately thrown into prison. He languished there for several days until he learned that the King's favorite horse was ill and none of the courts physicians could heal it. The sickness had caused the horse to draw its feet into its belly.
Zarathustra sent word to the king that he could cure the horse, but only on condition that four demands be met, one for each leg. The king agreed and when Zarathustra succeeded in curing the horse the reward followed. The four conditions were: (1) The king would accept the new religion, (2) the queen would accept the new religion, (3) the king's son would be a crusader for the new faith, and (4) the priests, who had plotted against him, would be put to death. It was virtually a kingdom for a horse. The king's son may have been Darius who succeeded to lead all of Persia following the death of Chambysis, the son of Cyrus the Great. The influence of Zoroastrianism, as it was called, spread throughout all of the Persia Empire. Zarathustra said: All events of the world are based on cause and effects. Therefore, three principles apply: good reflection, good word, and good deed. In the realm of interaction, if human beings act favorably, they receive favorable reaction and vice versa. Do not use harsh words, for lying is considered the worst sin. Next to lying is borrowing money. Because, when a person is a debtor, sometimes he is compelled to tell lie. Taking advantage of the products of others toils is as the act of oppression. Everybody should take it upon himself/herself to relieve the oppressed people from exploitation by others. Everybody should subsist by the fruits of his/her own labor. | |||
(558-485 B.C.) After Cyrus had died in 529 B.C., his son, Chambysis, ruled Persia until 521 B.C. Then a group of magician priests tried to take control of the throne, but were defeated by a group lead by Darius. Three of the leaders of the group lead by Darius then sat in discussion to determine what kind of government must be established in Persia. The first to speak proposed a democratic government. He said the monarchy is neither good nor pleasant. Any one man ruling without responsibility to the people is beyond any sound system of ethics. Any one man, no matter how noble at first, is bound to succumb to the typical vices of monarchy: envy and pride. These two are the root cause of all wickedness and lead to acts of violence. Excessive wealth and power will cause a man to think he is something more than human. Under a government of the people a magistrate is appointed by vote, held responsible for his actions, and all major questions are open for debate.
The second to speak recommended an oligarchy. He said that monarchy was indeed wrong, but the masses are no better because they are an ignorant and irresponsible lot. To escape the murderous caprice of a king, only to be caught by the equally wanton brutality of the rabble would be intolerable. A monarch at least acts consciously and deliberately; but the mob will not. It cannot when it has never been taught what is right and proper. The masses do not stop to contemplate the end of their actions, but instead rush blindly along sweeping all before it like the flood of a river. As for the people, let them govern our enemies, but not Persia. Only if we choose a certain number of the best men in the country will the best policies be produced. Of course we will be among that group.
Darius was the last to speak. He said the remarks about the masses were correct, but he disagreed when it came to oligarchies. In an oligarchy, many men are competing for distinction, will result in violent personal feuds, each wanting his proposals to succeed and so they quarrel. Bickering escalates to open dissension undermining the good of society. The only way out of the mess is to restore monarchy. If you were to take the best of each kind of government: democracy, oligarchy, and monarchy, the later would be greatly preferred. One ruler, who is the best man for the job, will maintain judgment in keeping with his character. Strategic positions against enemies and traitors of the state will be kept secret more easily than under either of the other governmental forms. In democracy, corrupt dealings in government services result not in private feuds, but in alliances developed for mutual support. This continues until someone comes forward as the people's champion, breaking up the cliques, winning the admiration of the masses, and being entrusted with absolute power. Again monarchy is the best solution.
We have arrived at this point, not by democracy or oligarchy, but as the result of one man. One man leading has given us our freedom. Let us not disrupt the traditions of our fathers, but select the best man for the job. Darius was selected the sole monarch and began an aggressive administration to suppress rebellion, secure the outer borders of the Persian Empire, organize the Empire into 20 states, organize a postal system, built highways, reform the currency, encourage commerce, and win respect from the large heterogeneous population. He respected other people's religion and continued Cyrus' assistance to the Jews to return to their homeland. He expanded the empire to the Indus River in the east, Egypt to the southwest, and the Danube River in Europe. He recognized the importance of commercial traffic between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean and built a canal connecting the Nile to the Red Sea. It was a time of great prosperity. | |||
(600 B.C.) Pharaoh Necho II, who reigned in Egypt from 615-595 B.C., desired to see if Africa could be circumnavigated so he commissioned a number of ships, manned by Phoenicians, for the task. They began by sailing down the Red Sea and south along the east coast of Africa. Periodically, they would stop for a while on the coast, clear a strip of land, plant a crop and after harvesting it, continued on their journey. In the third year they sailed through the Pillars of Hercules and back to Egypt again. The people of Carthage, the city/trade-port built by the Phoenicians on the north coast of Africa wanted to extend their trading network further around Africa. So they commissioned one of their admirals, Hanno, to take 30,000 people in 60 ships past the Pillars of Hercules (Straits of Gibraltar) and colonize new trading cities on the west coast of Africa. Hanno's account of his voyage was celebrated on a plaque in Carthage that was later translated by the Greeks and handed down through time. It describes his various stops along the way and his interaction with the natives. He founded several cities, met men as fast as horses who he was able to use as interpreters, and encountered exotic animals: crocodiles and water horses (hippopotami). The expedition passed a noisy island in what they called the "Western Horn" and discovered a large hill called the Chariot of the Gods, which we assume to be a volcano. Three days later, they discovered a hairy people who were called gorillas by the interpreters. They ultimately ran out of provisions and returned to Carthage. It is uncertain how far Hanno traveled down the west coast of Africa, perhaps to present day Sierra Leone. Some authors suggest he was under orders to circumnavigate the continent and he may well have done that at another time. The intent of his voyage was not to write history or make maps, but rather for the purpose of trade.
The Phoenicians were the greatest commercial travelers of their time. When they would encounter people of other cultures they could not verbally communicate with that did not stop trade. They would simply unload their goods, arranging them in a neat display on the beach, return to their ships, and raise a smoke signal. The natives would come to the beach, inspect the goods, and stack a pile of gold next to the goods for what they thought was a fair price. Removed some distance the Phoenicians would come to shore and examine the gold, if it was sufficient they would take it and leave. If not adequate, they would go back on board ship and wait. The natives would bring more gold and the process would continue until all were satisfied. There was perfect honesty on the part of both parties as the Carthaginians never touched the gold until it equaled the value of what was offered and the natives never touching the goods until the gold has been taken away. | |||
(580-510 B.C.) Pythagoras was born a Greek citizen in Samos. His father was a Phoenician merchant and gem-cutter from Tyre who came to the aid of Samos and married a woman from that island. Pythagoras spent most of his early years traveling to all parts of the known world conversing and learning from the great minds of his day. He encountered Amasis in Egypt and Thales at Miletus. He adopted vegitarianism after the teachings of Zarathustra from Persia. He loved Mathematics, astronomy, and music and later in life settled in southern Italy where he founded a colony. One day, as he was walking past a blacksmith's shop, the pounding on the anvil made him stop and listen intently. The sounds seemed to beat at regular musical intervals. On further inspection he found that the hammers the smithy used were of different weights. He was constantly seeking practical applications of mathematics and he concluded that musical tones depend upon numerical ratios.
He returned to his home and set up an experiment. He placed two strings of equal thickness and tension side by side, one was twice as long as the other. When he plucked them, the sound was different by one octave. If one was half again the length of the other the sound from the two was a fifth and if one was a third longer than the other they produced a fourth. From this experiment he determined that every musical interval could be calculated and expressed mathematically. Pythagoras said: The heavens are a universe and the earth round. Take this well to heart; you must gain control of your habits; first over stomach, then sleep, and then luxury, and anger. What brings you shame, do not unto others, nor by yourself. If false calumnies come to your ears, support it in patience; Let no one with speech or with deeds ever deceive you to do or to say what is not the best or keep you from your purpose. Do nothing beyond what you know, yet learn what you may need; thus shall your life grow happy. Do not neglect the health of the body; keep measure in eating and drinking, and every exercise of the body. Follow clean habits of life, but not the luxurious; avoid all things, which will arouse envy | |||
(563-483 B.C.) Gautama Buddha's father was a chieftain of the Sakya tribe that ruled an area in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, which was located within the boundaries of what is today Nepal. Buddha was trained from childhood in the arts and aspects of a royal family. He had all the advantages that power and wealth could provide at that time. Buddha had be sheltered from all the harshness of life and so when he met an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a beggar in quick succession, he was overwhelmed. He came to realize that life is indeed full of misery and decay. He had no peace of mind contemplating how quickly happiness and pleasure can fade into old age, suffering, and death. It troubled him deeply. Although married, with a child, he decided at the age of twenty-nine to leave everything behind and start on a quest for understanding. He sought the greatest scholars he could find, but they left him unsatisfied. At that time the country was full of wise men contemplating and espousing all of the great theories of life and religion. After investigating the practice of austerity he felt he had merely ravaged his body and brought him nothing but a closer view of death and suffering. He finally took a middle ground between the two extremes of pampering and punishing the body. One day, six years after he had begun his search, while sitting in meditation under a tree, he was suddenly enlightened as to the cause of man's suffering and the cure for these sorrows. From that moment on, he became the Buddha, or the "Enlightened One," and devoted himself to a life of service to his fellow man. One day a wealthy businessman came to Buddha for advice. He said that he worked hard, was very wealthy, but had a lot to deal with. "I enjoy what I do, am very diligent, and have a fair number of employees who depend on the success of my enterprise, but in my heart I want to do what is right. Should I give up my wealth, my home, my business, and like you, seek the homeless pursuit of a religious life?"
Buddha replied; "He that cleaves to wealth had better cast it away than allow it to poison his heart. He who does not cleave to wealth, but possessing riches and uses them to bless the lives of others, will find his way. It is not wealth, and power, and life that enslave men, but their pursuit of wealth, and power, and life. On the other hand, retiring from the world to lead a life of leisure, indolence, and lack of energy is to be despised. Every man must free himself from the illusion of self, cleanse his heart, give up his thirst for pleasure and lead a life of righteousness. Whatever men do, whether they remain in the world as artisans, merchants, and magistrates, or retire from the world and devote themselves to a life of religious meditation, let them put their whole heart into their efforts; let them be diligent and energetic. If men endure the struggle of life without cherishing envy and hatred, if they live in the world and do not focus on self, but truth, then surely joy, peace, and bliss will dwell in their minds. Buddha said: Truth is wealth, and a life of truth is happiness. The self-indulgent man is a slave to his passions. To satisfy the necessities of life is not evil. To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our minds strong and clear. Lusts and desires, the cleaving to things, covetousness, and sensuality, are the causes of misery and vanity in the world. Give up selfishness, and you will attain to that calm state of mind, which conveys perfect peace, goodness, and wisdom. The rule of life that's always best is to be loving-kind. Spread joy, ease pain; thy gift is a blessing to others and thee. Avoid the ten evils: 1. Kill not, but have regard for life. 2. Steal not, everybody master of the fruits of their labor. 3. Abstain from impurity, and lead a life of chastity. 4. Lie not, speak the truth with discretion, fearlessly and in a loving heart. 5. Invent not evil reports, neither do ye repeat them. Carp not, but look for the good sides of your fellow-beings. 6. Swear not, but speak decently and with dignity. 7. Waste no time with gossip, speak to the purpose or keep silence. 8. Covet not, nor envy, but rejoice at other people's fortunes. 9. Cleanse your heart of malice and cherish no hatred, not even against your enemies; embrace all living beings with kindness. 10. Free your mind of ignorance; be anxious to learn the truth and do not fall prey to skepticism or errors. Skepticism will make you indifferent and errors will lead you astray. Earnestness is the path of immortality, thoughtlessness the path of death. Thou hast railed at me, but I decline to accept thy abuse, and request thee to keep it thyself. | |||
(604-524 B.C.) Lao Tzu was appointed historian of the secret archives of Chou. He immersed himself in history, philosophy, and literature, but struggled to reconcile the past, the present, and the future. The past certainly existed and the future was coming, but he refused to be controlled by either. He finally concluded that living in the present was the most important. One day Confucius, a young scholar, came to visit. He brought several things he'd written, placed them on the table, and began to expound with great enthusiasm. Lao Tzu listened for a few minutes and then impatiently asked the young man to get to the point. Confucius was concerned about violence, quoted from his study of history, and said the solution lay in social relations and controlling human interaction. Lao Tzu was put off by Confucius' youthful ambition and rebuffed him. He said that talk of duty to your fellow men is like a mosquito that keeps you awake all night. Don't worry about it! You can't control others. Keep your world simple, seek to understand nature, and control your own desires. Lao Tzu continued by saying that when a capable man's time comes, he rises up, if his time never comes, then he must trudge along. Good merchants keep their goods hidden to make it look as if they had none, just as a superior man with perfect character will feign simplicity. Abandon proud airs, baneful wishes, mannerisms and extravagant claims. They won't do any good. Then Lao Tzu turned and walked away. Though the two men wanted the same end, they had very different solutions, one social and one personal. When Confucius had left the interview with Lao Tzu he came upon one of his students and said; "I know that birds fly, fish swim, and beasts run. I can understand birds, fish, and beasts, but not dragons. Today I met Lao Tzu. What a dragon!" Lao Tzu practiced his Way and its Virtue, working in self-effacement and anonymity. When he was 80 years old, the changing world led him to resign his post. He traveled west to the frontier and was about to cross into another land when an official stopped him and urged that he write down his teachings for all to read. He paused long enough to complete a work of five thousand words, then left, no one knowing where he went.
63 Take hard jobs in hand while they are easy; And great affairs too while they are small. The troubles of the world cannot be solved Except, before they grow too hard. The business of the world cannot be done Except while relatively small. The Wise Man, throughout his life Does nothing great and yet Achieves a greatness of his own. Choosing hardship, then, the Wise Man Never meets with hardship all his life. The troubles of the world Cannot be solved, except, Before they grow too hard. 81 As honest words may not sound fine, Fine words may not be honest ones; A good man does not argue, and An arguer may not be good! The knowers are not learned men And learned men may never know. The Wise Man does not hoard his things; Hard-pressed, from serving other men, He has enough and some to spare; But having given all he had, He then is very rich indeed. God's Way is gain that works no harm; The Wise Man's way, to do his work Without contending for a crown. | |||
(551-479 B.C.) Confucius was born in a poor family in the state of Lu. Even though his father, commander of a district in Lu, died three years after his birth, leaving the family in poverty, Confucius received a fine education. At 19 years of age he married and subsequently had one son and two daughters. He initially worked as a merchant, then a farmer, and when he was 20 worked for the governor of his district. After his mother's death in 527 BC, he began his career as a teacher, traveling about and instructing small groups of disciples that would gather around him. Vice and corruption were everywhere with a general lack of order and moral standards. He came to believe that the only solution was a return to the principles and precepts of the sages of antiquity. He taught for many years, his theories and principles spreading throughout China as his disciples traveled about. He believed in the principle: "What you do not wish done unto you, do not unto others." He also said: " If you govern well and treat your people kindly, you will be victorious in war. If you govern selfishly and abuse the people, you shall fail in battle and your people will abandon you." Teaching the power of example he said: "Rulers can be great only if they themselves lead exemplary lives. If they live by moral principles their states will be prosperous and happy." He had little chance to demonstrate ruling principles, until at the age of 52 he was appointed to the office of magistrate. His reforms introduced the fair administration of justice that almost completely eliminated crime, but his success bred contempt that had him eventually dismissed. He spent the rest of his life traveling and teaching. "Listen, keep silent when in doubt and you'll make few mistakes. Watch; be aware of pitfalls and if you measure your actions you'll have few regrets. If your words are not wrong and your deeds on the mark; pay will follow." (2:18)
"In my first dealings with men, I harkened to their words, and took their deeds on trust. Now, in dealing with men, I hearken to their words, and watch their deeds." (5:9) "To rank the effort above the prize may be called love." (6:20) "Were using a whip a sure road to riches, I would turn carter: but since there is no sure road, I tread the path I love." (7:11) "Waste begets self-will; thrift begets meanness: but better to be mean then self-willed. A gentleman is calm and spacious: the vulgar are always fretting." (7:35,36) "You can make men follow. You can't make them understand. Love of daring, inflamed by poverty, leads to crime and those without love, deeply ill-treated, turn to crime." (8:9,10) "A man wise, greedless, bold, skilful, and graced with courtesy and music, is a gentleman. But today who seeks a gentleman? Who in sight of gain remembers right, in face of danger risks his life, and stands by his word for a lifetime, however old the promise, him we must call a gentleman." (14:13) "A steed is not praised for his strength, but his mettle." (14:35) "By asking much of self, and throwing little on others, ill feeling is put to flight. Unless a man asks: 'Will this help? Will that help?' I know not how to help him. When all day long there is no talk of right, and sharp moves find favor, the company is in hard case." (15:14,15,16) "A gentleman has three things to guard against. In the days of his youth and his steady strength, beware of lust. When full manhood and strength are reached, beware of strife. In old age, and broken strength, beware of greed." (16:7) "Love, is to mete out five things to all below heaven: modesty, charity, truth, diligence, and kindness. Modesty escapes insult; charity wins the many; truth gains men's trust; diligence brings success; kindness is the key to men's work." (17:6) "A gentleman hates the sound of evil deeds; he hates men of low estate who slander their betters; he hates courage without courtesy; he hates daring matched with blindness. I hate those who mistake spying for wisdom. I hate those who take want of deference for courage. I hate evil speaking, cloaked as honesty." (17:24) | |||
No one can say that the great individuals who lived in the sixth century B.C. were superior to leaders of other times, or that they were the originators of some of the world's great ideas and philosophies. We probably know of their exploits and successes because we do not have access to documents from or about prior leaders. Nevertheless, we do know the men discussed in this short expose were inquisitive and dynamic. Three major movements during the time seem to have ensured that the world was tied together more closely than most people would think; (1) The Phoenicians were merchants, who traveled to the farthest corners of the known world in search of trade, (2) Israel was captured by the Babylonians and dispersed throughout all nations, and (3) The Persians conquered all the known world spreading their influence. Thus the world was a much small place, where ideas were freely exchanged as the result of trade, conquest, or expansion. Perhaps it is no wonder that a violent world spawned a great revolution of non-violent thinkers who desired a more peaceful place in which to live. They all desired a place where you do unto others as they would do unto you. They all yearned for a world of ethics, civility, respect, wisdom and understanding. At the same time they wanted a more caring environment they experienced an expansion of creativity, science, innovation, and commerce. Their message is still fresh. | |||
I have shown in another part of this work that the equality of conditions naturally urges men to embark in commercial and industrial pursuits, and that it tends to increase and to distribute real property: I have also pointed out the means by which it inspires every man with an eager and constant desire to increase his welfare. Nothing is more opposed to revolutionary passions than these things. It may happen that the final result of a revolution is favorable to commerce and manufactures; but its first consequence will almost always be the ruin of manufactures and mercantile men, because it must always change at once the general principles of consumption, and temporarily upset the existing proportion between supply and demand. I know of nothing more opposite to revolutionary manners than commercial manners. Commerce is naturally adverse to all the violent passions; it loves to temporize, takes delight in compromise, and studiously avoids irritation. It is patient, insinuating, flexible, and never has recourse to extreme measures until obliged by the most absolute necessity. Commerce renders men independent of each other, gives them a lofty notion of their personal importance, leads them to seek to conduct their own affairs, and teaches how to conduct them well; it therefore prepares men for freedom, but preserves them from revolutions. Alexis de Tocqueville | |||
"Wealth is the Baggage of Valued Service" § Return on Investment: Zarathustra would cure the horse, but on condition that four demands be met. § Financial Controls: "When people profess the impossible, a simplest test may reveal the impostor they are." Aesop "Now, in dealing with men, I hearken to their words, and watch their deeds" Confucius § Strong Cash Flows: "A steed is not praised for his strength, but his mettle." Confucius § Conservative Debt Position: "Do not use harsh words for lying is considered the worst sin. Next to lying is borrowing money. Because, when a person is a debtor, sometimes he is compelled to tell lies." Zarathustra § Management Integrity: "Put more trusts in nobility of character than in an oath." Solon § Early Information: Thales knew, as a result of his astronomical studies, that the next summer's harvest of olive oil would be a bumper crop. § Image: "Those who stand up to a first assailant, make others afraid of them." Aesop "Be feared, but not hated by subjects." Cyrus § Networks: Amasis created alliances with other countries that increased trade and commerce. § Experienced/Skilled Workforce: "A sensible man never embarks on an enterprise until he can see his way clear to the end of it." Aesop § Good Personnel Policies: Cyrus did not introduce drastic cultural or lifestyle changes to the land he captured. "Modesty escapes insult; charity wins the many; truth gains men's trust; diligence brings success; kindness is the key to men's work." Confucius § Excellent Management Team: "Learn to obey before you command." Solon "Let not idle words prejudice thee against those who have shared they confidence." Thales § Fixed Assets in good repair: "To satisfy the necessities of life is not evil. To keep the body in good health is a duty." Buddha "Do not neglect the health of the body; keep measure in eating and drinking, and every exercise of the body." Pythagoras § Innovation and Growth: "The sounds seemed to beat at regular musical intervals." Pythagoras § Sales Organization: Cyrus is recognized as a conqueror of the hearts of his subjects. § No one controlling customer: "Whatever he undertakes, a man should estimate his capacity according to his own powers, and not enter into alliance or tie himself up with people who are two strong for him." Aesop § Dominant Market position: Thales made advance deposits in return for exclusive use of the presses during the coming season. | |||
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