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Cameron Rossman

Professor Kimberly Lark

Ancient History 134

8 December 2019

Portfolio Reflection – Law and Ethics

Ancient leaders ruled over their people with complete authority. Throughout history we

have seen that worst and the best in humanity from our leaders. The leaders we admire the most

ruled in an ethical and fair way. The idea that there are certain precise decisions a leader can make

to help men live a better life is a powerful. As an example of leaders ruling through positive laws

and ethics, I chose Cyrus the Great, Shoka, and Trajan. They developed laws so men could be free

from infringement by stronger men. They also appointed ethical and capable leaders at all levels

to administer the laws. They were loved and appreciated by the people they governed. It is through

law and ethics that these three leaders did the most to improve the lives of their peoples. They did

not give in to selfish instincts. They did the small things that made men’s lives better.

Trajan was an even handed, ethical and good Emperor. He did a lot to benefit the

general Roman population. More has been written about his even-tempered treatment of the

populace than any specific laws he produced. His edicts (laws), provided basic needs that

improved the lives of everyone, rich and poor. Good "roads”, “aqueducts" (Nerva & Trajan), and

public buildings all improved people’s lives. "He was generous to Rome’s population, giving out

cash and increasing the number of poor citizens who could receive free grain" (Nerva & Trajan).
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He treated the Christians "like other citizens" (Nerva & Trajan). "He treated the Senate with

respect thus giving the people a real voice. He also tried to find "competent and honest officials

to rule the provinces" (Nerva & Trajan). Trajan was from Spain, The first emperor not from

Rome. Because of this he knew what it was like to struggle to provide the basics. I believe

his "remembered personal experiences" (Posta) gave him an empathy for the common man.

Ashoka was another leader who served his people well through laws and Ethics. He

wasn’t always such an ethical leader though. He was an extremely sadistic and vengeful in war

and enforcing laws. There are stories of his ”elaborate torture chambers” (Time Maps) for war

prisoners and law breakers. After a very bloody and costly conflict with the city-state of Kalinga

he had a "critical turning point" (McNeil). He "renounced warfare”, “converted to Buddhism”

(Time Maps) and embraced “dharma” (Buddha); the moral law system in Buddhism. Ashoka’s

version of Dharma was more “relational” (Buddha) than the Buddhist version which espouses

improving one’s self. One of Ashoka’s Dharna rules reads like this: "Proper behavior towards

servants and employees. Respect for mother and father, generosity to friends and companions,

relations, brahmans and ascetics, and not killing human beings" (Buddha). He was a

"compassionate, tolerant but firm ruler, seeking justice and well-being for all his subjects" (Time

Maps). His laws appeared to be more along the line of "encouragements to his subjects to live in

harmony with one another”. His fairness and common sense made him an almost “saintly” (Time

Maps) to his subjects. He did not leave a tradition of solid governance, but he did show us that

man can overcome selfish and cruel tendencies. Which is a hopeful example for us all.
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Cyrus truly was an ethical king. He refused to enslave his new subjects. A revolutionary

concept in the ancient world" (Engineering). In the ancient world he stands alone. I feel he truly

loved all people. He was referred to as "father" (Wikipedia) even by those he conquered. "those

who were subject to him, he treated with esteem and regard, as if they were his own children"

(Wikipedia). We all know individuals with limitless energy and great ideas; Cyrus was one of

those people. As J.S. Mill states "the history of humanity as enacting a contest between custom

and progress" (Hodges). Cyrus understood this balance. He allowed free expression of religion,

placed competent leaders in control and provided security on the roads. These decisions

improved men’s well-being and security. One of Cyrus’ greatest accomplishments was

establishing basic civil rights law for all people in the kingdom. These laws he scripted on

the "Cyrus Cylinder" (Wikipedia). Neil MacGregor describes the Cyrus Cylinder as embodying

"the hopes and aspirations of many" (Wikipedia). Laws of "freedom of speech and religion,

abolition, and civil rights" (Wikipedia) sound like modern ideas. This is why Cyrus was a

"personal hero to many people, including: Thomas Jefferson", "The Shah of Iran, and Ben

Gurian" (Wikipedia). His intelligence and morality still inspire us today.

Through my readings and research, I have learned that there have been ethical and cruel

leaders. As McNeil states: History "enlarges our sense of human capacities both for good and evil."

The leaders from ancient times answered to no-one. If they were responsible to an individual or

political entity it was only in a superficial way. The three individuals that I have cited chose to

rule in a good way. They made laws that improved lives. They passed on a positive attitude. I

have gained hope and wisdom from these three guys. I have a new found "vision of the whole"
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(McNeil); man is capable of great goodness. I can now speak responsibly with the knowledge of

where we have been and how we can improve society. I feel I can convey the idea of improving

society through good ethics. It takes no more effort to do good than it does to do bad. As

exemplified by the three leaders mentioned here.

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Work Cited

“Buddha and Ashoka": Crash Course World History #6, 1 Mar. 201

www.youtube.com/watchtime_continue?=4&v=8Nn5uqE3C9w &feature+=emb

Accessed 6 Dec. 2019

"Cirrus the Great", Wikipedia, 30 Nov. 2019

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great, accessed 04 Dec. 2019

"Engineering an Empire: The Persians", 15 May 2014

www.youtube.com/watchtime_continue=725&v=k6cmvM5oj3Q&feature=emb_logo,

accessed 4 Dec. 2014

“Nerva & Trajan", The Roman Empire In The First Century, 2006

www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/nerva_trajan.html"vision of the whole"

Devillier Donegan Enterprises, Accessed 4 Dec. 2019

"The Mauryan Empire of Ancient India", Time Maps, 2019

www.timemaps.com/civilizations/the-mauryan-empire/ Accessed 5 Dec. 2019

Hodges, Blair Dee, "Foundations of Modernity", May 7, 2012

www.academia.edu/1539830/Hodges_Final_Essay_On_Rhetorical_

Uses_of_History_to_Understand_the_Present_tension between, Accessed 8 Dec. 2019

McNeil, William H. "Why study history (1985)", American Historical Association

Accessed 08 Dec. 2019