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Understanding Western Traditions

There are many depictions of the western world in a literal sense. Essentially, the

description depends on the individual who is using the term. The basic meaning to many is one

of the cardinal directions. The first ideal places that were considered the west were crucial

regions of Europe such as Iberia, France, Scandinavia, and the British Isles. Later on in history,

the United States became part of what we know to be the west. It was to be the new world for

many colonists and they brought much of Europe to the new world. Through conclusions made

from readings and research, the west could also be understood as an idiom. The west is the

gradual change and progression of a civilization. A civilization’s advancement is usually a result

of lessons learned from a previous civilization or a need for change in government and laws.

Unfortunately, it has been said by critics that people are beginning to stray from the western

civilization model as a result of lost liberal idea and values.

Early civilizations developed the key requirements needed to ensure a fruitful

civilization. Social structure was a critical element that is commonly overlooked. Civilizations

that lacked social structure came to a crumbling fall. Societies later created the definitions of

each type of social structure. Trade and resources are required to sustain a great number of

people needed for a civilization. Beliefs, philosophies, or religions give individuals a sense of

meaning and purpose. Government consists of a group of people that keep order amongst the

people and make laws necessary for governing the people. Writing allows other to communicate

and pass things on for advancement. Culture permits individuals to have creative expression and

a sense of patriotism for their nation. Technology is considered as advances, inventions, and

processes made to help and better the people of any civilization. Examining the peoples of Israel,

Sparta, and Athens may aid in better understanding the roles of elements in western civilizations.
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The Mesopotamians were the earliest civilization and implemented many innovations that

latter civilizations adopted. They were the first to utilize language in passing down history and

important knowledge through stories. They also discovered the use of fire for essential purposes

such as cooking and warmth. Mesopotamians created their own mythic-religious ideas to explain

the world and changes in nature. In the same way, they were polytheistic because they linked

every natural thing to a particular god or deity. Over time, the Mesopotamian cities developed

and there were increased amounts of arable lands as well as irrigating canals. They grew

economically with the heavy push for trade; Roads were built to encourage trade. More

importantly, they were the first to establish a written code of law. Hammurabi, ruler at the time,

was authorized by Marduk, god of the people, to govern the people with a set of laws.

Hammurabi’s code consisted of 282 laws that were written on steles throughout the empire. The

laws addressed everything from conduct of crime to marriage and the family. Later, developing

western civilizations were able to grasp the importance of commerce, establish a code of law,

and use writing for essential purposes.

Thereafter, in 2000 BCE Abram began his great migration. “So Abram went, as the Lord

had told him; Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from

Harran.” (Genesis 12:4). This was an essential event in the rise of Hebrew civilization. They later

left Egypt to start the life God had promised them. The Hebrew people believed themselves to be

the chosen people. Their ultimate purpose was to manifest destiny. They were the first

civilization to successfully introduce and utilize monotheism. In 721 BCE Israel was destroyed

and Hebrews were eventually persuaded of the truth of the religious prophecies. The new Israel

believed that they were Yahweh’s chosen people and they were to worship only him and abide

by the law. They were heavily developed through syncretism and combined many religious
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components from the Canaanites. With Yahwism, they continued the worship of the Canaanite

gods. Yahweh was originally the tribal god of Judah and gradually became the god of the other

Hebrew tribes. Many of the liturgical practices were adopted as well, such as Rosh Hashanah

(the new year) and Succoth (celebration of the harvest). The Hebrews placed the winged angel

on the Ark of the covenant and implemented a few of the liturgical practices that were originally

introduced by Canaanites.

In 1024, the Hebrews believed a king would bring them stronger leadership. This is an

example of the way syncretism played a role in the rise of the Hebrews. Monarchies were a

major shift in the Hebrew culture. Saul was introduced as the first king of Israel. This began the

reign of the three influential kings of Israel. King David ultimately contributed to the uniting of

the monarchy. King Solomon’s greatest accomplishment during his reign was the construction of

the first temple. After his death, northern Israelites decided to part ways and a new kingdom of

Israel arose. It was eventually one of the most successful independent city-states to break away

from a larger nation. Throughout the development and division of Israel, thousands of people

were deported to Mesopotamia and Babylon. This created the large Jewish diaspora; Jewish

groups scattered themselves across Europe and Asia Minor. The Jewish people were threatened

by the domination of the Assyrians and Babylonians. Israel attempted to revolt against the

Assyrians under the leadership of King Hoshea but they were defeated which lead to the major

deportation. Solomon’s temple was destroyed in attempts to revolt against the Babylonians;

Hebrews who lived after the rebuilding of Solomon’s temple were called Jews and their religion

was referred to as Judaism.

Following these events was the prophetic movement which was fundamental in shaping

the Hebrew civilization. It was pushed to eliminate the gap created between the rich and poor.
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“And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly

with your God?” (Micah 6:8). The distinctions between the poor and rich increased due to

centralization and a growth of state increased tax which burdened peasants. The prophets spoke

for justice and the reoccurrence of a more equal society. Prophets pushed the law and words of

the bible. Hebrew law proved its distinctions in justifying the good for all. “Do not take

advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear

their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become

widows and your children fatherless” (Exodus 22:22-24). The governing law was directly linked

to the will of God. The laws of the Hebrews greatly influenced the western legal and political

principles. They had an all-powerful God that intervened in human history which allowed

western cultures to assume the idea of human life being linear. They allowed religion to play a

crucial role in laws and punishments. Later on, developed western civilizations would follow this

model for organized and efficient civil laws. The United States has clearly drawn a line between

church and state but there are still many laws that hold aspects of religion. In sum, the Hebrew

civilization exhibited unique beliefs that gave them a sense of meaning and purpose. They also

had very distinctive laws, compared to other early western civilizations, that enabled them to

govern people fairly.

At any rate, examining early Greek civilization gives light into the other essential

elements of western civilizations. In circa 700, Homer wrote his two influential poems. They

analyzed the motives and emotions of human beings. The poems examined the Greek ideals of

Arête: moral virtue and excellence. Analyzing the importance of these poems, allows one to infer

that philosophy and higher thought was very important to Greeks. Furthermore, Greece

developed into independent city-states, that were known as a polis. They controlled all of the
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surrounding villages. Greeks used mountains, bays, and islands as natural political boundaries.

Many civilizations that were developed after Greece used this exact technique to separate

regions. A polis allowed individuals to have a sense of belonging. Citizens were a major part of

political and cultural life.

Greeks introduced the political and social theory that law did not derive from god or

divine kinds, but from the human community. Although religion was in a sense absent, many

peasants retained their devotion to their ancient cults and gods. Greeks, subsequently, made it a

required act of patriotism to pay homage towards the god of a city. This was their way of relying

on beliefs to provide a sense of meaning and purpose. The Greeks were distinctive in being that

they gradually realized community problems were caused by human beings and the only possible

solutions were human solutions. Certainly, religious traditions were not completely absent, rather

they co-existed with developing philosophies.

To be sure, the two major Greek city-states were Sparta and Athens. Many historians

often analyze these to city-states to understand the aspects of Greek government. Spartans were

focused on agriculture and a military society. “There can be no doubt then, that all this education

was planned by him in order to make the boys more resourceful in getting supplies and be better

fighting men” (Xenophon). They were taught strength, grit, and humility. They were admired by

many for their discipline and strength but critiqued for their lack of arête. The Athenians, on the

other hand, valued political freedom and sought for full development of the human personality.

Athens exhibited 4 different stages of leadership that were later shadowed by other

western civilizations. First, the monarchy called for rule by one king. This one king commanded

the army, governed the people, acted as a judge, and was given power from the gods. The

oligarchy created the most amount of inequality for serfs and peasants. The rule was given to the
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land owning aristocrats. They removed power from the kings. This allowed the aristocrats to

treat the people, especially the peasants, unfairly. Merchants and peasants protested the rule of

aristocrats and Draco was later appointed to draw up a law code. Next, tyranny was depicted as

rule by one man who seized power. Later civilizations translated this into dictatorship. Finally,

democracy was the equal rule by the people but many considered it to have unspoken factors.

Considering the history of the Mesopotamians, Hebrews, and Greeks one can understand

the lasting contributions these civilizations made to Western cultures. Civilizations that followed

the ideal western model adopted and modified innovations from these pioneering civilizations.

People are able to understand the essential elements of any successful society. Historians are also

better able to understand why other societies were unable to flourish. The western civilization

tradition accounts for reasoning, civil and property rights, public space, and a formal

government. As one can see, even in our current society, the goal has always been for

progression through the various molds that the Mesopotamians, Hebrews, and Greeks created.