A commonality in all civilizations is that they run on their own unique ethics, and have their own social structure that governs everyday life. Although the Ancient Egyptians, the Guptan Empire, and the Roman Republic seemingly have little in common on the surface, being of differing places and time periods, one commonality is that their religions effected the ethics and social structures of the civilization. All three of these societies at the base level were shaped in some ways by their respective religions, though to varying and differing degrees.
The most important concept of Egyptian ethics was that of ma ’at. Ma ‘at was very important to the Egyptian religion, as she was both a goddess and the abstract concept of harmony, which …show more content…
Similar to the way wives were expected to show deference to their husbands in Guptan society, the Romans strictly followed the customs of their ancestors. Honoring ancestors and customs ties into their religion with the concepts of religio and pietas, which connected devotion of the family, state, and customs with devotion to the gods. Livy talks about how the only proper way to conduct war was the way the ancestors laid out for the Romans (Livy, 5, 6). Livy also records the story of Cincinnatus, who was the idea Roman. He was made dictator in order to lead the army, which he did with great success, and then gave up the dictatorship (Livy, 8, 9). He was so praised because he embodied the ideal ethics of the romans, he served his state faithfully, and gave up the dictatorship, meaning he chose glory of the Republic over his own personal prestige (Livy, 9). There is also a connection to serving the state and serving the family, when Cincinnatus rides into the city he is greeted by his two sons, an inclusion that reminds the reader that Cincinnatus is both a father of his family, and the republic (Livy, 7). They similarly showed this moral deference to their gods through various public rituals that were with the specific goal to keep the gods happy (Valerius Maximus, 4). The Vestal Virgins were important to the spiritual running of the republic, and they had their own separate ethical expectations. They were expected to abstain from sexual activity for thirty years, and honor both the goddess as well as the state, by maintaining the sacred flame (Vestal Virgins, 5). This illustrates the direct link between religion and an ethical person is one who serves the
The most important concept of Egyptian ethics was that of ma ’at. Ma ‘at was very important to the Egyptian religion, as she was both a goddess and the abstract concept of harmony, which …show more content…
Similar to the way wives were expected to show deference to their husbands in Guptan society, the Romans strictly followed the customs of their ancestors. Honoring ancestors and customs ties into their religion with the concepts of religio and pietas, which connected devotion of the family, state, and customs with devotion to the gods. Livy talks about how the only proper way to conduct war was the way the ancestors laid out for the Romans (Livy, 5, 6). Livy also records the story of Cincinnatus, who was the idea Roman. He was made dictator in order to lead the army, which he did with great success, and then gave up the dictatorship (Livy, 8, 9). He was so praised because he embodied the ideal ethics of the romans, he served his state faithfully, and gave up the dictatorship, meaning he chose glory of the Republic over his own personal prestige (Livy, 9). There is also a connection to serving the state and serving the family, when Cincinnatus rides into the city he is greeted by his two sons, an inclusion that reminds the reader that Cincinnatus is both a father of his family, and the republic (Livy, 7). They similarly showed this moral deference to their gods through various public rituals that were with the specific goal to keep the gods happy (Valerius Maximus, 4). The Vestal Virgins were important to the spiritual running of the republic, and they had their own separate ethical expectations. They were expected to abstain from sexual activity for thirty years, and honor both the goddess as well as the state, by maintaining the sacred flame (Vestal Virgins, 5). This illustrates the direct link between religion and an ethical person is one who serves the