Search results

This textbook is divided into three sections: Africa, Asia & Americas, and Europe. It explores the history of the world from pre-historic times to 1300 C.E., paying specific attention to the interconnections (or disconnections) between peoples and regions. Students are encouraged to think beyond their experiences with western civilizations to recognize the widespread impact of historical events and trends, including how they helped shape the world today. Touching upon each world region, the readings investigate the impact of environment, economics, politics, and religion on diverse societies. Key topics are sites of change and integration such as the rise of cities, religion, technology, migration and trade, the spread of disease, gender relationships, warfare and social movements. ; https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/msl_ae_ebooks/1015/thumbnail.jpg

ABSTRACT: From the earliest times, the religious factor has said its word on several social systems. The social factor has been of great importance and relevance to the social construction of the communities as well as to the regulation of the various institutions I have chosen the ones that represent the interests of society. Among these institution is adoption, being one of the oldest law institutions. Adoption is a social phenomenon that has undergone changes that have been inevitable and a breakthrough in the turn of the century. This form of social protection of children, adoption, played a particularly important role in antiquity especially in the institutions of the Jews, the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Indians and the Romans, because the adopted person was perceived as the one to represent the perpetuation of the religious and political interests of the people, after the persons who approached the children died. KEYWORDS: adoption, adrogation, family, the system of adoption, social protection

The starting point for this essay is a conundrum encountered while conducting field research among the Jews of Cochin in South India. The Cochin Jews cherish their historical legend which narrates their arrival and prosperity in India. For analytical purposes, their legend has been treated like other myths: as cognitively powerful devices which organize the data of experience, but which are not empirical. However, for the Cochin Jews, the factuality of their legend was of paramount importance. The paper surveys what is known about ancient historical links between Israel and India and concludes that the Cochin Jews' legend is entirely plausible, that it is perhaps closer to factuality than might be assumed. Beyond the case at hand, this article attempts some generalizations about indigenous historical traditions, arguing that modern scholars ought to take them more seriously as history than many do.