Sixth century naturalistic transformation
In the span of a single century some of the most important and influential ideologies emerged at different areas of the globe. In Western Europe was presocratic philosophers, in Eastern Europe was Zoroastrianism, In Western Asia was Confuciusion, Legalism Maoism and Taoism and in Eastern Asia was Buddhism and Jainism. While the Persian Empire conquered much of this vast era, Cyrus’ share began after Thales and didn’t reach India nor China. So what is up with this shift?
An interesting fact to note is with the exception of Zoroastrianism none of these were traditionally religious. Even Zoroastrianism has its own religious quibble. Though the religion may be millennium older. What is frequented is its official appearance in writing in the sixth century. While there is no denying that these movement could all emerge at the same time in different locations, it is interesting that they all occurred in the same century. There are other variables to consider namely their own sociopolitical makeup yet the similarities between the ideologies does seem to have an underlying connection that seems to be remiss. What is the patten that holds these ideologies closely wound? Each holds a more naturalist flow to life. Absent mythology and incoming philosophy. Some even cling to some metaphysical or spiritual aspect to keep with the old instead of denying it outright. There is a clear transition and it occurs almost simultaneously. It could be a coincidence or it could be fate. What is the secret? Where is the pattern?
Mythology was slowly losing its edge in Phoenicia and Egypt by the tenth century. Phoenicia had scholarly works that profited in the ninth century. Dedicating works to astronomy and philosophy that preempted the greek thinkers. Many greek thinkers borrowed Phoenician manuscripts to dial in their own thinking. Using it as a springboard for their own ideas. Phoenicia was a prosperous shift in thinking. Egypt may have preceded it. The holistic thought process in the eleventh century. They had reduced their paganism to more naturalistic deities. The decline of polytheism was not with Roman Christianisation. The latter ended much of paganism though Germanic paganism endured. Monotheism like Judaism or Zoroastrianism in its more ancient state shifted the balance to a single deity. The intrusion of external cultures and imperial influence reshaped the perception of religion. Paganism had a slow decline in specific areas. Those tainted by cross-cultural inspiration. Germanic tribes survived away from intruding monotheists, the same can be said of the American natives. Hinduism survived given its less theistic perspective and the non-dogmatic compulsion of eastern empires. The flux of such tendencies has a western imprint.
The gradual decline of paganism in the Middle East is no shock that the Abrahamic religions all emerge from that area as well as western philosophy. Grappling with multiple cultures at the same time only furthered the perplexity of the world. Phoenicia began its philosophical enterprise in the ninth century which made its way to the presocratics in Ionia. The late empires from Assyria to Babylon and Persia all centred around the same area. Egypt may have been at a lower stage than its previous glory but it was still a stronghold with influence. The entire Middle East from Turkey to India with areas of North Africa in the mix. There is an obvious mix and matching that allowed for the progress of history. The similarities between the cultures is baffling. Cross-references are nested in the mythological lore. There is always a creation and a flood story. While this may play into a diffused situation which classifies all various religions, the specificity that relates the middle-eastern groups is from a history of discussion and conversion. Controlling areas crossing with one another on the battlefield and trading. The Middle East was a crossroads of debate and harvest.
Which leads to the inquiry of India and China. Neither of them were part of any Middle Eastern conflict nor under their imperial rule. Unlike the europeans, they did reduce their lore. There must be a connection. Though Europe didn’t operate in the same regard. The similarities between the European tribes and American tribes may demonstrate a linkage. Both remained polytheistic for a long time. Both remained villagers for a long time. There is seemingly a lack of urbanisation and centralisation. China and India were both imperial and urban. The flow of information and trade was strong towards the east instead of the west. Though merchants did link Europe with India. There is archaeological evidence even if the depth is quite blurred. There is a theory that the Scythian empire was the catalyst for uniting the Celts with India but also the backbone of philosophy. Since the Scythians were in charge of this vast arena it wouldn’t be shocking to see that they lectured the public on the nuances of philosophy. There is some reservations namely the lacking impact in Europe, the seemingly anonymous impact on Greece and where China fits in. The Scythian impact may have been incredible but sufficient to overturn centuries of belief is quite difficult. While Christianity spread through a single empire, this theory suggests the Scythians toppled several different empires.
To be frank it is not all that crazy if the goal is simply to trade resources and ideas. Scythia was powerful. The empire ran much of eastern Europe. They spread far and wide. The array of cultural and religious notices in other cultures is quite thin though. The influence of a single civilisation on so many others is plausible but needs more evidence. Even if it is the civilisation itself, what is the initiative? Word of mouth? Secularising beliefs is a big shift beyond shifting religiosity. Meaning the potential influence on monotheism is interesting but to deconstruct mythology without leaving much of an imprint themselves is gruelling. It is more probable that it is more than a single civilisation and a blend of culture. In the same breath, Scythia despite its closer roots to Celts than Phoenicia did not alter their beliefs. Whether the Celts and other tribes were ignored can be mustered in the face of the classical fertile crescent. There was trade but apparently the ideas didn’t manifest in the same way. Scythia binds all these groups together but their own culture was polytheistic. Their religious details are found in Roman authors but the level of secularism doesn’t seem to have the same effort. Naturalisation seems to be foreign to their animal deities. Their impact on the religious naturalism seems negligible even if they made their way to the far reaches of Eurasia.
An alternative proposal is the breath of textualisation that rapidly spread through the Middle East. The era of classical inequity beginning in the eighth century saw a decline in mythology with the advance of literacy. Literacy was most common under imperial rule. Imperial rule centralised economies as well as pushed for urbanisation. People moved to cities for better economic avenues. With the cities being the centre livelihood and growth more were exposed to the development of man. Mythology was mainly oral. Passed down from person to person like a game of telephone. Stories embellished with fantastical aspects. Some were carved into stone or painted with cave art. For the most part this was designated to those in the scribal seats. Those of regal or aristocratic heritage. Urbanisation brought people to the centre and offered everyone the possibility of partaking in the art of writing. Human capability was furthered by the people themselves no longer needing to rely on priests for divine blessings. Literacy was a form of reformation. The rapid development of trade aided those who previously in the lower social classes to ascend. As people ascended they recognised the diabolical rituals they wished to desist from. No more human sacrifices as one example. The expansion of trade and prosperity made people question their beliefs. Scythia’s long trading range may have assisted in this but they were not the only traders. Phoenicia was among the innovators.
Instead of the caste system shoving the lower class aside to the countryside they now were all bottled up in the city centre. The economic growth led to these social inquiries and reformers seeking to take advantage of it. Many of these religious ideas were institutionalised and many sought to overthrow them for a new current of thought. The naturalism that is so prevalent sought an equality of sorts to underlie much of the institutional discrimination. With literacy rates rising and trade expanding, the caste system was seemingly obsolete. The old peasantry were now strong middle class-men. It seems more plausible that it wasn’t Scythia that brought ideas but that their linkage of both continents brought forth the conversation. It brought forth the prosperity that had people rethinking their lifestyle and philosophy. A fast-paced consumerist upheaval was gnawing at the static repression of old. Liberation was at its peak and trade being the key theme cemented its value in realistic portrayals. It was the mythology that subjugated people and nature that liberated them. An ironic ploy to the classical tenants of divine morality. If anything, it was the new non-theistic groups that began pondering the genuine aspects of life. Philosophising about the correct way of living. All of this discussion was in the Middle East to Western Asia. From Ionia to China. Areas all under urban growth and trade expansion.
Italy was further east than Greece and did not rid its paganism until Christianity wreaked havoc in the late stages of the empire. In the early days of the empire, pagans were fighting pagans. The roman gods battled the germanic gods. A war of polytheistic might. Whose gods were stronger, whose culture better. Christianity ended up corrupting and crumbling Rome as its imperial might lost its way. Yet the Hellenistic prowess did venture into Rome prior to its destruction. There were thinkers in Rome during the pagan era though by that time the state had become the centre. The empire housed the old lore but didn’t hold to its beliefs as tightly as it once did. Christianity was a triumph not over paganism but over imperialism. It was one universalist ideology over another. Nordic tribes kept to their lore until the Middle Ages. Christianity under their English powerhouse sought to erase their foolish paganism. Vikings still held tight to their oral messaging. The Danes has even conquered England but more exposure to the Christian West made them more susceptible to give up their religiosity. It wasn’t always to become Christian but to the lavish “modernity” of the Middle Ages. For others, literacy was a transition to Christianity. Christianity was superior because it was technologically superior. Danes were oral and ancient. Archaic and wrong. Christianity was mechanistic and strong. Books on Christianity overpowered the strong norse heritage.
The outgrowth of naturalism in the sixth century leading to various new ideologies finds some similarity to the rise of secularism in the age of exploration. The downfall of feudalism which had to do with more monarchical power and the death toll of the black plague brought people freedom they never had. Peasants were able to capitalise on the available open land and monarchs could retain more structure for trade than nobles. The renaissance revived the Ancient Greek teachings and spawned humanism and capitalist liberty. Leading ultimately to the reformation and secularist thinking. The enlightenment was the final straw that brought in democracy to the forefront. Urbanisation following the fall of feudalism with the spirit of the Renaissance fuelled naturalistic thinking. Galileo and Newton followed through to Bacon and Locke. A tumultuous time for rethinking in an age of transition. An age of rising literacy amongst peasantry and the peasantry making their way up the ladder. Urbanisation didn’t become entrenched until the nineteenth century with the industrial revolution doubling in size. Moving up and feeling more liberated was a process. The reformation prodded itself on equality amongst men and everyday biblical guides. Splintering much of Judaism as well into more modern focus. The Renaissance didn’t have the same degree of diverse impact nor as far reaching but it was spawned by exploration and commerce.
Trade breeds ideas. The fact that in both eras naturalism was sought indicates a common historical theme. Whether that be in ethical lifestyles or in humanistic thinking. It was commerce that united the trend with a few more variables to topple the repressive institutions preventing innovation. The static leaning rulers who wished not to break with their traditions. With more people enlightened they were able to fend for themselves. Yet they needed somewhere to look. They needed a guide. They were newly liberated. Prisoners for so long and absent direction. The binding ideological elements of humanism and protestantism paved a way for surviving in an economically successful area. To be among everyone else more free and more dignified. Away from the abuse of old to the serenity of new. Ironically they both occurred in the first century of the millennium. There is a coincidence though history does tend to repeat itself and renaissance thinkers did look to their greek ancestors for some insight before charting down an unknown future. Commerce and urbanisation cultivated new ideas. Raising the downtrodden enlightened to a new idea. A new way of life of naturalistic focus and human empowerment.
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