1st century BC practices

[Grade_A_Beef]

It's rather difficult to find practices of European, Asian, and North African cultures and armies in the 1st century BC; I have no clue where to look and where to start looking.

Specifically I'm looking for practices that western morals would find deplorable or controversial, such as slavery, extermination, salting the earth, multiple wives, etc. Mix in homosexuality, abortion, and all those other topics that rile conservatives up for good measure.

Also, I would like to look at the opposite of that. Practices that we do that ancient cultures would find disgusting during their time period.

Finally I'm looking for acts that seem merciful (edit: lenient) to cultures of the 1st century BC time period but would be considered human rights abuses in ours. For example I read somewhere that Julius Ceaser wanted to keep his image of compassionate fellow with the public, but also didn't want to let a revolting city to go unpunished. His solution was to chop off the hands of the males (or fighting men, I forgot) as a deterrent to other would be revolters. I'm sorry I don't have a source for this, I was reading randomly in book and can't remember the title

Thanks in advance.

[vartan]

We live in different times, (un)fortunately.

[Grade_A_Beef]

So true....

Not that I want to be on the receiving end of an extermination policy, but info like this is useful.

[Ibrahim]

It's rather difficult to find practices of European, Asian, and North African cultures and armies in the 1st century BC; I have no clue where to look and where to start looking.

Specifically I'm looking for practices that western morals would find deplorable or controversial, such as slavery, extermination, salting the earth, multiple wives, etc. Mix in homosexuality, abortion, and all those other topics that rile conservatives up for good measure.

most of this is after EB, but as there are next to no mentionings of arab customs, and as Arabs seem to have changed little, I think this is still relevent.

Arabs were tolerant of Nudity

Arabian peoples (especially arabs themselves) in that era did practice unlimited polygamy, free divorce (divorce without reason), contract-set marriages (where you are married for a definite period of time, purely for sex), drinking raw blood, burying unwanted babies, condoned alcoholism, condoned revenge killings, self mutilation, suicides, clothesripping (where rich rulers would buy expensive silks to wear a day, then burn it and buy more), free-wheeling spending, rampant violence, and animal sacrifice.

Also, I would like to look at the opposite of that. Practices that we do that ancient cultures would find disgusting during their time period.

well, actually, they'd be disgusted by the lack of circumcision (even pre-islamic arabs did it), lack of muroo'ah (manliness-long story) in modern men, lack of poetic creativity in Arabia, preoccupation with money (they were guilty of it anyways ), lack of generosity, lack of moral and physical courage, lack of family/tribal pride (comparatively speaking), and disrespect/replacement of "traditional" arab values.

Finally I'm looking for acts that seem merciful to cultures of the 1st century BC time period but would be considered human rights abuses in ours. For example I read somewhere that Julius Ceaser wanted to keep his image of compassionate fellow with the public, but also didn't want to let a revolting city to go unpunished. His solution was to chop off the hands of the males (or fighting men, I forgot) as a deterrent to other would be revolters. I'm sorry I don't have a source for this, I was reading randomly in book and can't remember the title

I don't know of anything merciful by arab standards that isn't merciful by today's standards. heck, some merciful acts from that time are beyond the ability of modern peoples
but when they were brutal, they always came down like hell

[Grade_A_Beef]

Yeah, that's exactly the type of stuff I'm looking for. I'll check up what moo'rah is, and find sources if I can now that I know what to look for. I'm really really bad at research, or searching in general....I'm more of a "finder", the type that stumbles into random info on said subject.

Thanks a lot, and more feedback will be even better =)

[Cute Wolf]

Personally, I think our ancestors will be disgusted in today's law, forbid much of us carrying weapons freely on the street... (for notable exception of Romaioi)

[abou]

My friend, you have a big task ahead of you. I don't know how much you can get specifically from 1st century BC, but you can get quite a bit from the era. I wish I could think of a book that collected all that stuff together, but I'm at a loss.

Your best bet, I think, is to read a lot of Cicero - his letters, his speeches, his books. That should provide some insight into specifically 1st century BC. There will be a lot of little hints of things here and there. Also try Ceasar's De Bella Gallico, which by comparing Roman and Celtic culture should give you an idea. Augustus' writings and Ovid might have a bit here and there as well - Ars Armatoria would be what comes to mind.

Unfortunately, a lot of it would be indirect. You can find a bit more outside the time frame you're looking for though. Also, try The Latin Sexual Vocabulary, which has some info there as well.

[Skullheadhq]

Also, try The Latin Sexual Vocabulary, which has some info there as well.

Mind giving us a link?

[Ibrahim]

Yeah, that's exactly the type of stuff I'm looking for. I'll check up what moo'rah is, and find sources if I can now that I know what to look for. I'm really really bad at research, or searching in general....I'm more of a "finder", the type that stumbles into random info on said subject.

Thanks a lot, and more feedback will be even better =)

well, now that I have some time, I'll enlighten ye:

muroo'ah literally means "manliness"; its basically everything that is supposed to make the ideal ancient arab man. according to it, a man must have:

-pride in his tribe/state/king.
-absolute loyalty to said tribe and tribe's shaikh (leader), or king or state.
-extreme pride in one's self (must be justifiable pride, otherwise its vanity, and not condoned)
-must be a freewheeling spender on his tribe/women/alcohol*, etc (i.e he must have karam, or generosity)
-must be compassionate, up to a point.
-mst be honest and blunt.
-virility
-bravery in combat.
-devotion to the old social order and religion. this is tied into tribal loyalty.
-help those who ask for it, even if they are bad. this is known as ighathatu ulmalhoof.


and that's just a few examples of what a man must be like. much of pre-islamic poetry talks about all of these in varying details; men boasted of fighting for a woman, killing a man who slights the tribe/family, etc, drinking, spending, and generosit. hati' at-ta'i could be considered the ideal pre islamic arab: generous, loyal, and kind to everybody.

wait, did I just describe European romantic chivalry?

*Arabs did put a limit on how much you could drink. drink too much, and you could become a "mufrad", or tribally expelled.

[Moros]

well, now that I have some time, I'll enlighten ye:

muroo'ah literally means "manliness"; its basically everything that is supposed to make the ideal ancient arab man. according to it, a man must have:

-pride in his tribe/state/king.
-absolute loyalty to said tribe and tribe's shaikh (leader), or king or state.
-extreme pride in one's self (must be justifiable pride, otherwise its vanity, and not condoned)
-must be a freewheeling spender on his tribe/women/alcohol*, etc (i.e he must have karam, or generosity)
-must be compassionate, up to a point.
-mst be honest and blunt.
-virility
-bravery in combat.
-devotion to the old social order and religion. this is tied into tribal loyalty.
-help those who ask for it, even if they are bad. this is known as ighathatu ulmalhoof.


and that's just a few examples of what a man must be like. much of pre-islamic poetry talks about all of these in varying details; men boasted of fighting for a woman, killing a man who slights the tribe/family, etc, drinking, spending, and generosit. hati' at-ta'i could be considered the ideal pre islamic arab: generous, loyal, and kind to everybody.

wait, did I just describe European romantic chivalry?

*Arabs did put a limit on how much you could drink. drink too much, and you could become a "mufrad", or tribally expelled.

Yep an Arab shouldn't drink more than 11 of cups of wine back then IIRC.

I'd say a lot would vary from culture at this time though. In Saba by the first century BC the clan was everything. The king was... well usefull when foreigners attacked. While the Nabataean in the north were making gods of their kings. Though in general they appear to have been men who tought one should be proud on what he has done, yet be humble at the same time. Making fincancial losses was a crime. And they are described to being very devout and faithfull when it comes to pledges, religion, or king/tribe.

[A Very Super Market]

Guns require little skill, and kill at long range. Dishonourable.

[Ibrahim]

Yep an Arab shouldn't drink more than 11 of cups of wine back then IIRC.

I'd say a lot would vary from culture at this time though. In Saba by the first century BC the clan was everything. The king was... well usefull when foreigners attacked. While the Nabataean in the north were making gods of their kings. Though in general they appear to have been men who tought one should be proud on what he has done, yet be humble at the same time. Making fincancial losses was a crime. And they are described to being very devout and faithfull when it comes to pledges, religion, or king/tribe.

making financial losses was indeed a crime in Arabia, provided that the losses were for something pointless or excessive. cases where a person was swindled, spent his money on an emergency, and/or blood money were generally the exception, at least in hijaz and the najd plains. many tribal leaders IIRC were actually cahsh strapped from their generosity

Though in general they appear to have been men who tought one should be proud on what he has done, yet be humble at the same time

hence when I said "justifiable pride". merit of one's work was a huge concept, then and now.

[antisocialmunky]

In Saba by the first century BC the clan was everything. The king was... well usefull when foreigners attacked.

Isn't that still true for much of that part of the world?