Hunter Musser

M13 Portfolio Reflection

04/24/19

History 134

During the duration of this 12-week history 134 course we have learned about many different

civilizations, and I found in it within these modules common themes of success. l thinks that overall all

these civilizations had one major thing in common and that is the use of the military and or police in

those societies to achieve what they needed. Looking at these society’s I believe we can answer the

following question, “What can I, as an historian of the ancient world, learn and apply from the history of

my ancient ancestors to my own role in contributing to and acting responsibly for the betterment of

society?”, the answer lies in my prior statement and that is use of the police and military to achieve

what we need as a modern day civilization. Every successful country has a successful military, for

example (United States, Great Brittan, France, Russia, South Korea, China), Regardless to my feeling

about some of these countries they all are successful, and just as successful militant wise as well.

Looking back at three historical civilizations such as the Greeks, Romans, and the Persian Empire, I

believe that we can see they used the military to make there civilization extremely successful.

The Greeks, ancient Greece used their military to transform their small little civilization of

Greece into the Greek empire. Ancient Greece was split into city states and there were times for

example like the Persian war that, that forced the ancient Greek city states to work together for the

betterment of their society and to defend democracy. Eventually defeating the large Persian empire and

retaining a democratic society. Another example came from within Greece itself during the

Peloponnesian war, where the Athenians fought the Spartans. That was another time they used the
military force they had available to retain the society in doing in which either side thought was the best

way to run to society, and who has the power to run the empire.

The Romans, the ancient roman empire used military a lot to expand. the empire was extremely

dull on natural resources, and it forced them to expand much beyond the Roman Peninsula, and fight

many wars to keep the people of Rome feed and happy. Rome had a strong army, in which they called it

the Roman legions these roman legions at its time was the strongest army there was, which is

important, the Romans took a realist view with things which mans “the view that the subject matter of

politics is political power not matters or principle” (dictonary.com). During the time of the Romans

power of a civilization was by the size of the territories it controlled, and the Romans could only achieve

that size with the use to the legions.

Finally, we have the Persian Empire, they controlled most of the area in Mesopotamia.

According to crash course world history video #5 “they controlled area as far east as the Indus valley,

west as far as Egypt, and North as far as Anatolia”. They used their military to create this ideal place to

live and to become the example for most civilizations at this time. The use of their military to forge out

this gigantic area of land owned by the Persian king in return made life great for the Persians and a so-

called golden age for the Persians. Up until the Persian wars the Persians, were and undefeated and

nearly unstoppable force throughout their rule as the Persian empire, there military was devoted and

unstoppable. They marched through these ancient civilizations with ease because being in the Persian

army was an honor and it made everyone want to be in the Persian military.

Now that we looked at successful ancient civilizations I believe we can answer the question of

“What can I, as an historian of the ancient world, learn and apply from the history of my ancient

ancestors to my own role in contributing to and acting responsibly for the betterment of society?”, that

answer is put faith in our nation’s military, they make it so we can run and operate our country the way I
needs to be. Historically a nations military has helped its civilizations achieve its goals, and we just must

keep putting faith in ours, just like I have since I enlisted.

Work cited

Muller, John. World history #5 the Persians and the Greeks. YouTube, YouTube, 23 Feb. 2012,

m.youtube.com/watch=Q-mkVSasZIM

“Realist” Dictonary.com, www.Dictonary.com/browse/realist.