Despotism - what is it?
Let's start with the most general definition of this word. So, despotism is a specific form of state when all power belongs exclusively to the monarch. Such power is not regulated by law, the monarchy is usually hereditary, and the ruler rules based on the military-administrative apparatus.
Most often, despotism was found as a form of government in the ancient Eastern empires. For example, in Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Babylonia, China, India. Naturally, in this case, the word of the despot was law and was not discussed. It was during the times of despotism that the most stupid and bloody laws were adopted. And this is not surprising, since the personality of the ruler was deified. A striking example of this is the Egyptians. Even after death, the pharaoh was equated with a god and was given appropriate honors. Despite the fact that the power of the despot was de jure unlimited, de facto this was not the case. The activities of the despot were limited and often even subordinated to the interests of a narrow circle of the nobility. Thus, despotism is a convenient form of government for elites and often coexists with oligarchy.
Despotism
Despotism translated from Greek means unlimited power . Today, by despotism we understand a certain form of state in which all power is concentrated in the hands of one ruler-ruler, as a rule, a hereditary monarch who rules the state through the military-bureaucratic apparatus.
This form of government as despotism was characteristic of the Ancient East, for example, of Ancient Egypt, Iran, India, and China.
By the way, this is where the concept of eastern despotism comes from.
Characteristic features of a despotic form of power
- complete arbitrariness of power;
- absolute lack of rights for the people.
Basic provisions of a despotic state
- The will of the tyrant is law;
- The personality of the tyrant is divine;
- The monarch is the supreme owner of the land;
- The power of a despot is unlimited.
Reasons for the emergence of despots
Historians note that the main reason for the emergence of limitless despotism is the long-term preservation of the communal way of life .
Let us recall that in a communal system, all members of the community cultivate the land together or transfer plots of land for temporary use to families. In this system, there is still no private property, so state power usually appears in this form as despotism. Despotism is also often called tyranny or monarchy.
Imagine a small group of people (community), where everyone works together to cultivate the land for further harvesting, in order to feed themselves. In power is the tribal leader, who controls this entire community, makes important decisions, gives orders about who should do what. Gradually, the community grows, turns into a settlement, a city, a state, and power remains in the hands of one tribal leader with a handful of close relatives who can give advice. But at the same time, nominally all power is still concentrated in the hands of one person - this is how despotism begins.
It is this late primitive communal system, with the long-term preservation of general rules for everyone and with one leader, that gives rise to the form of power known as despotism. And given the absolute power of the monarch and his deification, few resisted the fact that the heirs of the tyrant would be in charge.
A classic example of tyranny is Ancient Egypt. In power is the pharaoh, the son of Ra (the sun god). Legislative, judicial, executive and military powers were concentrated in his hands. The people were completely dependent on their monarch.
Despotism was traced in Babylonia, Assyria, the Persian Empire, Ancient India, China, Iran and many others. Each individual state had its own characteristics, for example, sometimes the despot was not deified.
Tyranny in action
Supreme ruler through intermediaries:
- Organized public works;
- Collected taxes;
- Built irrigation structures - additional watering of land (necessary for effective farming);
- Provided protection from external enemies;
- Captured the lands of external enemies.
All this required the formation of departments: the department of military affairs, internal affairs and public works, and at their expense the despotism could function.
There were no laws as such; the supreme ruler used a policy of intimidation. And the effective tool in this was the divine cult. The priests became so powerful that they even administered justice, but still despotism did not give them too much power.
Human rights under tyranny
1. Preservation of the communal system
The primitive communal system did not give up its positions, which means that there could not even be any talk of private property, all family members were collectively responsible and the crimes of one fell on the shoulders of all members of the community.
2. Consolidation of social inequality
Those close to the monarch by birth still had advantages, but as for slaves, freedmen and other categories of free people, their rights were infringed.
3. Religious background
Law was closely connected with moral responsibility and religious canons. For example, in honor of the celebrations of a particular god, it was forbidden to cause disturbances in the streets. Any offense was at the same time a violation of the canons of religion.
4. Oral standards of morality
Even when the state used written sources, the law still remained oral and was passed on as customs from generation to generation.
5. Reinforcing common cases
In legal practice, the despot prescribed specific cases, and then based them on the interpretation of justice in other cases.
6. Formalism of law
Legal norms remained in their infancy for a very long time.
The development of Eastern countries with a despotic form of government was slowed down due to:
- Excessive centralization of management;
- Archaism of legal norms;
- Disenfranchisement of the people;
- Stagnation of social relations.
It cannot be said that the despotic form of government was the result of the greed of some and the stupidity of others. The formation of this form of power was also determined by geographical factors. In particular, farming in the East was quite a complex task, requiring the creation of reserves in case of various natural disasters and crop failures; strict management was needed to unite communities.
But on the other hand, despotism slowed down the development of countries so much that Western civilization entered the arena of the outside world and replaced Eastern civilization in this field.
Let's consider the concept of “ancient eastern despotism”
The concept of eastern despotism comes from Herodotus, the father of history. He described a situation where rulers not only closed temples, large and small, but also forced the people to build huge, majestic tombs and tombs for themselves.
The concept of ancient Eastern despotism had certain features. Thus, the head of state, the arbiter of justice and the personification of universal law was the despot ruler. He was worshiped, he was deified, he was hated and feared. The form of government was, naturally, monarchical, and power was inherited. But the despot could not rule without relying on a powerful, ramified administrative apparatus. It was necessary in order to effectively manage a diverse society in which various strata had already formed, not to mention the emerging property inequality. In addition, already in ancient times, the society of the East took shape and acquired those features that can be traced even today. For example, it was differentiated, and each social layer not only had its place in the hierarchy, but also differed in its organization, rights and responsibilities. It was on such a foundation that the beginnings of despotism in the Ancient East could take shape and bloom wildly.
Definition of the word in explanatory dictionaries
The sacred meaning of words is not hidden at all, and it is quite possible to find out the meaning of each. To do this, people turn to similar articles or scratch the pages of textbooks. New words enrich a person’s stock of knowledge and give him intelligence. They also allow guys to show off their knowledge in an unfamiliar company or for guys in front of a girl.
But enough background, it’s time to find out the meaning of the word in explanatory dictionaries. For a better understanding, all definitions have been simplified and reduced to enthymemes.
- Historical Dictionary. Despotism is a form of government characterized by authoritarianism, but the power of the despot is not limited by law. Power is transmitted through hereditary connections, a similar form of governance in nature for states that in ancient times were located in the east.
- Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language. This is the power of violence and arbitrariness; people are constantly kept in fear of the despot. Power is determined by religious or other dogmas. The despot is the only one who makes decisions in the state, however, realizing that he cannot rule alone, he takes into account the interests of his entourage.
- Historical dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian language. Despotism is the unlimited power of one person who personally decides key issues, but relies on the opinions of the people he needs. The power of a despot can be shaken due to a lack of despotism, just as cunning people perish from a lack of cunning.
- Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. This is a state that is solely controlled by a dictator (despot). He does not rely on laws, and if necessary, he invents them himself. The power of such a person is not limited by anything except the need to maintain the power itself. The despot retains his throne thanks to a complex bureaucratic system devoted to him. This form of governance was predominantly manifested in the East.
- Synonym dictionary. The unlimited power of one person, which is supported by the local elite and religious dogmas. A characteristic feature of this form of government is the completeness of power in one hand.
Perhaps we won’t touch on the rest of the dictionaries, because the descriptions in them are repeated several times, only the wording changes.
Hierarchy of ancient Eastern society
Speaking about the society of the Ancient East, we cannot ignore such a social phenomenon as slaves. Most often this was the so-called domestic slavery, when the slave was the property of a huge family. In addition, slaves worked in temple complexes, in construction, and in the fields. Who became a slave?
In principle, anyone could become a slave. Most often, this social stratum was replenished by prisoners of war. But it also happened that a free person could become a slave. This is debt slavery. The larger and stronger the community became, the greater the scale of debt slavery. If we talk about slavery in general, then in Egypt and China at the turn of the 2nd-3rd centuries, markets were even created where only slaves were sold for every taste. Even a shepherd, gardener or average craftsman could afford to buy a slave. This is also part of the characteristics of despotism. All this indicates the enormous scale of the slave trade.
§ 2. Civilizations of the Ancient East
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1. Where and when did the most ancient civilizations originate?
The very first civilizations in the history of mankind - the civilizations of the Ancient East - arose in the valleys of high-water rivers, the most favorable for the progressive development of society
2. Compare what the civilizations of the Ancient East have in common and identify their main differences from each other.
The common features of the civilizations of the Ancient East were: an economic type of management (irrigated agriculture), a sacred and despotic type of supreme power (monarchy), a hierarchical structure of society; the urban nature of the development of civilizations, the development of religious ideas (pantheon of gods, mythology), knowledge (mathematics, medicine, astronomy, etc.). The differences were the features of the political structure (over-centralization of the state in Egypt, the creation of the first empires in the Middle East), social structure (Varno - caste system in India), and in cultural and ideological terms (Buddhism, Confucianism, etc.).
3. Describe despotism and its main features. Give examples.
Despotism is a super-centralized state in which all power belonged to a hereditary monarch. The establishment of laws, state building, irrigation work, mining, foreign policy - everything was determined by the ruler. At his disposal were state resources - human, land, food, clothing. For example, in governing the country, the pharaoh relied on the court nobility and the rulers of administrative territorial units.
4. Using additional sources of information, including Internet resources, prepare a project about one of the religious and philosophical teachings of the Ancient East.
In the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. A new religion appears in India - Buddhism. Its founder was Buddha (Sanskrit - enlightened), the crown prince from the Gautama clan (another name is Shakyamuni - a hermit from the Shakya tribe). Having embarked on the path of ascetic life, Gautama came to the conclusion that since life is suffering, the way out of the circle of suffering is to renounce desires. He became “enlightened” after he reached a special state - nirvana, absolute detachment from the outside world. After the death of Gautama, his students compiled a biography and a set of sayings of the Teacher. Statues of Buddha and bodhisattvas (beings striving for enlightenment), installed in temples, are designed to save all living things from suffering. In the religious, philosophical and ethical views of Hindus and Buddhists, the most important place is occupied by the concept of “karma” (action). The sum of good or evil deeds in previous existences determines the form in which a person will be reincarnated after death (reincarnation - rebirth). Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism does not recognize caste division and the presence of gods - the creators of the world who control human lives. Over time, Hinduism in India replaced Buddhism. The latter is widespread in the countries of South and East Asia.
5. Discuss in class what contribution ancient Eastern civilizations made to world culture.
Each ancient Eastern civilization made a significant contribution to the development of world culture. The cultural heritage of the Ancient East includes the invention of writing and numerical symbols (digital symbols), the calendar, the beginnings of scientific knowledge (mathematics, medicine, astronomy), architectural monuments, works of fiction, and the first laws regulating public life.
Thanks to writing, the transfer of accumulated knowledge from generation to generation became sustainable, and an education system was formed. The spread of writing led to a transition from complex forms (hieroglyphic and cuneiform) to simpler and more accessible forms (letter). The first phonetic alphabet, which arose in the Middle East, in Phenicia, formed the basis of modern alphabets - Greek, Latin, Cyrillic, etc. Astronomical observations, which allowed the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Chinese to predict river floods, determine the time of solar and lunar eclipses, stimulated the development of mathematical knowledge . In Mesopotamia, the sexagesimal notation system was used, and the year was divided, as it was in the ancient Egyptian calendar, into 12 months. In the countries of the Ancient East, using mathematical calculations and technical skills, monumental architectural structures were created, and fine art - painting, bas-reliefs, sculpture - was developed.
Characteristic features of eastern despotism
Firstly, this is the religious content of the power of the despot ruler. The monarch under despotism is considered a living god, his incarnation. Accordingly, his power was given by none other than the Almighty himself, and was absolute.
The monarch was considered the only judge, the measure of the legality of any act. Everything spoke about this: from the attitude towards the monarch to his title. Such a formulation of the problem of power was supposed to unite society. And she united. After all, if power is given to the monarch from above, if it is given to him from God, then it is simply useless to contradict the ruler. This is stupid, since divine power is by definition wise and aimed at the good of the people. That’s why the despot’s power held on; the people were simply afraid to go against their ruler. Moreover, he was considered none other than the high priest or head of the entire priestly hierarchy. Let us consider other characteristic features of despotism.
Features of despotism
Like any social phenomenon, one-man rule is characterized by something:
- Power lies with one person.
- Governance of the state is inherited, practically a monarchy.
- Power is supported by a religious cult.
- The personality of the despot is idealized.
- Normal opposition is prohibited, as is criticism of the dictator.
- A large number of people in the administrative resource.
- The feeling of danger is constantly intensified, which justifies the costs of the military, of which there are a lot under an oppressive form of government.
Some characteristic features of despotism are evident to this day. You can find many of the points in your country, but they will not be so radical. Despite the apparent completeness of power, the despot does not rule alone. Often he is a convenient ruler through whom the elites resolve their issues.
Responsibilities of a Despot as Head of the Priestly Hierarchy
He had full authority to perform all religious ceremonies related to birth and the fertility cycle. In some cases, the ruler could even abolish the veneration of the old gods and establish a completely new cult (as happened in Egypt).
But what the reigning monarch should never have done was take part in rituals associated with death. This was partly due to the fact that divine power could only bring good, only win, but not sow death and grief. In addition, sometimes rulers introduced their own cult. This created the impression of inviolability and sacredness of the ruler’s body. Consequently, the attempt could be equated to sacrilege, an act against God (or gods) and was punished in the most severe manner. For example, an unlucky murderer could be executed, expelled, and the like. But not everything was so smooth.
A golden cage for a despot
Despotism is not inviolability. The monarch lived as if in a golden cage, as he was bound by many restrictions. For example, his life was clearly regulated by palace etiquette, conventions and prejudices. Often this was all done in order to protect the sacred monarch. However, sometimes a ruler could even be killed simply because, in the opinion of the astrologer, his life on earth had expired. There is no need to explain why there was always a soothsayer at the courts. Any ruler was interested in having an astrologer prolong his life as much as possible. As a result of this, it was astrologers who played the role of “gray cardinals”, since, paradoxically, the life of the semi-divine ruler depended on them.
Let us touch upon the peculiarities of the power of a despot monarch
His position had nothing to do with the identification of the ruler and the state itself. It simply took its place among other mandatory institutions of power. Still, his power was not so unlimited. For example, the ruler was subject to many laws and rules established earlier. Yes, the ruler could establish new rules of life by issuing laws and decrees, but at the same time, these laws had some restrictions.
In particular, they should not contradict the fundamental principles of social life. India is a great example of this. Although the ruler could issue any decrees, they should in no case concern the violation of the caste system and the way of life of people, or issues related to faith. A very interesting question is who decided whether this or that law corresponds to the will of the gods or violates it. Even in Babylon, the laws adopted should not have conflicted with the traditional principles of law and order. Even the first set of laws was created as an attempt to protect traditional orders from new destructive phenomena in society.
