Good Government Essay

1361 Words6 Pages
Lauren Tyce November 18 2012 AP World History 2A Based on the following documents, analyze the perceptions of good government, c. 2200 B.C.E-700 C.E. Identify and explain what additional type of document(s) or sources would help analyze the perceptions of good government in this era c. 2200 B.C.E to 600 C.E. In the times of 2200 BC through 700 each country or section of the world had their own beliefs of what a good government included. The shown perceptions of good government in these documents are based off of religion and strict rules, the use of good architecture, appointing one powerful person or a group of powerful people to make laws and take charge, and by having loyal followers. The conception of what a good government was varied among civilizations. Whether it was a democracy or autocracy, monarchy or oligarchy, cultures lived by the thought that their system was the best one. Based on the documents provided there were two perceptions of good government presented. One is a government ruled by an ideal leader. The second is a government ruled by a leader who has absolute power. Advisor to King Assa, Ptah-hotep of the Egyptian 5th dynasty exclaimed one view of an ideal leader in his excerpt from the Prisse Papyrus. “If you are a leader, setting forward your plans according to that which you decide, perform perfect actions which posterity may remember.” This means the leader should not only make an impact on their civilization for the time that they reign, but also for generations to come; not be power hungry and indulge oneself with the luxuries of a ruler. “Command only to direct; to be absolute is to run into evil. Let not your heart be haughty, neither let it be mean,” Ptah-hotep continued. The leader must not torment, tyrannize nor abuse his people or he will find himself overthrown. The leader must never be arrogant or
Open Document