This is by design. Throughout civilizational history, one’s in-group was made up of the civilized and any outgroup were “barbarians”. During the colonial era, as power and wealth shifted westward, the first global narrative of this kind was proselytized where one side of the world was civilized and the other was not.
During this period a lot of the history of the Eastern world was distorted and warped to accurately fit that narrative. This was to promote the idea of a “civilizing mission”, one where the exploitation of this era could be overlooked since the “lesser” who were victimized by it were “benefitted” by proximity to those more civilized than them.
A global race based caste system is what came out of this era. Anyone with their eyes open can see it everywhere around them, regardless of which hemisphere you’re in. Now, as power in the world rebalances, perhaps closer to a more natural state, the seams of that construct are slowly coming undone and the hegemon that had once defined the global narrative will no longer be able to silence the voices it once deemed as “lesser”.
I for one am excited for a future where people get to tell their own story and explore their own history. No, I don’t think about the Roman empire very often but I do look at the Mauryan empire, Chanakya and his treatise on statecraft (the Arthashahtra), and the university of ancient Taxila with a deep fascination - and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I also enjoy reading verses from the Kamasutra which was remarkably forward thinking (though not perfect) for its time with regard to promoting financial independence for women, autonomy, mutual enthusiastic consent, respect towards sex workers and the importance of balance during courtship - all of which was cast aside as paganism when it was made known in this part of the world, in favor of the glossary on sex positions. It also discusses homosexuality and transsexuality inclusively, concluding:
"In all things pertaining to love, who can say what is right and what is wrong? Let each person follow their own nature." — Book 2, Chapter 9
This is by design. Throughout civilizational history, one’s in-group was made up of the civilized and any outgroup were “barbarians”. During the colonial era, as power and wealth shifted westward, the first global narrative of this kind was proselytized where one side of the world was civilized and the other was not.
During this period a lot of the history of the Eastern world was distorted and warped to accurately fit that narrative. This was to promote the idea of a “civilizing mission”, one where the exploitation of this era could be overlooked since the “lesser” who were victimized by it were “benefitted” by proximity to those more civilized than them.
A global race based caste system is what came out of this era. Anyone with their eyes open can see it everywhere around them, regardless of which hemisphere you’re in. Now, as power in the world rebalances, perhaps closer to a more natural state, the seams of that construct are slowly coming undone and the hegemon that had once defined the global narrative will no longer be able to silence the voices it once deemed as “lesser”.
I for one am excited for a future where people get to tell their own story and explore their own history. No, I don’t think about the Roman empire very often but I do look at the Mauryan empire, Chanakya and his treatise on statecraft (the Arthashahtra), and the university of ancient Taxila with a deep fascination - and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I also enjoy reading verses from the Kamasutra which was remarkably forward thinking (though not perfect) for its time with regard to promoting financial independence for women, autonomy, mutual enthusiastic consent, respect towards sex workers and the importance of balance during courtship - all of which was cast aside as paganism when it was made known in this part of the world, in favor of the glossary on sex positions. It also discusses homosexuality and transsexuality inclusively, concluding:
"In all things pertaining to love, who can say what is right and what is wrong? Let each person follow their own nature." — Book 2, Chapter 9
Words to live by.