Title Enemies of civilization : attitudes toward foreigners in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China / Mu-chou Poo

Published Albany : State University of New York Press, ©2005

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Description 1 online resource (xviii, 211 pages) : illustrations Series SUNY series in Chinese philosophy and culture SUNY series in Chinese philosophy and culture. Contents Machine generated contents note: 1. Introduction -- 2. In search of cultural identity -- 3. Representations -- 4. Relations and attitudes -- 5. Foreigners within -- 6. transformation of the barbarians Summary "Enemies of Civilization is a work of comparative history and cultural consciousness that discusses how "others" were perceived in three ancient civilizations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. Each civilization was the dominant culture in its part of the world, and each developed a mind-set that regarded itself as culturally superior to its neighbors. Mu-chou Poo compares these societies' attitudes toward other cultures and finds differences and similarities that reveal the self-perceptions of each society." "Notably, this work shows that in contrast to modern racism based on biophysical features, such prejudice did not exist in these ancient societies. It was culture rather than biophysical nature that was the most important criterion for distinguishing us from them. By examining how societies conceive their prejudices, this book breaks new ground in the study of ancient history and opens new ways to look at human society, both ancient and modern."--Jacket Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-208) and index Notes Print version record Subject Noncitizens -- Iraq -- History -- To 1500 Noncitizens -- Egypt -- History -- To 1500 Noncitizens -- China -- History -- To 1500 POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Government -- International. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- International Relations -- General. Noncitizens Civilization International relations SUBJECT Iraq -- Relations Egypt -- Relations China -- Relations. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh2008114661 Iraq -- Civilization -- To 634. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85067938 Egypt -- Civilization -- To 332 B.C. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85041266 China -- Civilization -- To 221 B.C. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85023993 China -- Civilization -- 221 B.C.-960 A.D. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85023994 Subject China Egypt Iraq Genre/Form History Form Electronic book LC no. 2004045401 ISBN 1423748034 9781423748038 079146363X 9780791463635 0791463648 9780791463642 0791483703 9780791483701

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