Them And Us

Question 1

Other easterners

Answer 1

Asia Minor is soft and supine

Athenian domination encourages ‘weak’ image of Ionians according to Thucydides

Question 2

Egypt and Herodotus

Answer 2

He was dazzled by antiquity of Egypt
Egypt is a source of other’s culture
They have many strange ‘upside down’ customs

Question 3

Land of wonders

Answer 3

Rome was also fascinated by Egypt, some suspicion of cleopatra and their ‘outlandish’ animal deities. The Nile is also mysterious and wondrous.

Question 4

The foundation of racial difference

Answer 4

Environment plays a role shaping customs and physical appearance.
Polybius - environment shapes customs, appearances and colour.

Question 5

Romans and Greeks

Answer 5

Disparaging comments on Greek character - untrustworthy, undisciplined, soft-living, un-warlike, they are the antithesis of Roman values
Roman inferiority? The Greeks are a conquered people but their cultural heritage is what the Romans lack

Question 6

Romans and northerners

Answer 6

Strabo describes the Irish as uncivilised
Tacitus’ Germania
German simplicity, lack of greed, family morality and justice. They are a mirror to the sophisticated, but morally inferior Romans
Progress of civilisation often portrayed negatively

Question 7

The far edges of the earth

Answer 7

The further from the central norm, the odder things become.
Social norms of centre reversed - cannibalism and incest rumours in Ireland.
Mediterranean is the central norm - ideal balance. Inhabitants and environment get stranger the further one ventures

Question 8

Expanding horizons and increasing wonders

Answer 8

Increase travel bright new experiences and increases rather than diminishes expectation of wonder.

Question 9

Persians

Answer 9

Herodotus - Persians display intolerance of other cultures (1.134), but they also adopt other cultures

Question 10

Edward Said’s Orientalism

Answer 10

Created negative image of others to enhance image of the collective self, justify imperialism. Focuses on Eurocentric portrayals of the east. Links colonialism and imperialism to portrayal of each other.

Question 11

The Classical ‘Other’

Answer 11

Occidentalism has turned the mirrors round, to eastern stereotyping of the west. Classical authors have applied Said’s ideas to the ancient world - negative images of others justify subjection.

Question 12

Herodotus 1.134

Answer 12

Persians display ethnic intolerance, they take an imperialistic stance. Their role in the war with Greece ensured longevity of ‘eastern threat’ stereotype which helped mould Greek identity