The Ethnography Of Herodotus And Sima Qian

1. Contrast the ethnography of Sima Qian with Herodotus. What is the most important difference in these authors cash advance to quartering foreign peoples? Ethnography is course unprotected to partiality. The very nature of civilizations cultivation by dint of competition of territory and customs means that historic depictions of foreign peoples argon inherently vulnerable to subjectivity. Neither Sima Qians nor Herodotuss works are exempt from this condition as twain display indications of subjective views towards foreign peoples. However, the bearing in which they depict foreigners still differs greatly between them through the stylus in which they each address the foreign peoples customs, slipway of governing, military tendencies and origins. Specifically, the greatest difference emerges in the way that Sima Qian depicts the Xiongnu with great intelligentity as opposed to the way in which Herodotus sensationally depicts the Synthians. The differences in language and vocabulary using upd by Sima Qian and Herodotus when referring to foreigners are the first general indications of Herodotus tendency to sensationalize his portrayals in line of merchandise to Sima Qians more rational renderings.

Throughout Herodotuss The Histories, alone in particular when referring to the Scythians, exaggerated vocabulary and phrases such as fit to them (Herodotus, 240) and have managed one thing (Herodotus, 255) are expend consistently. This use of diction adds a tone to Herodotuss literary works that shine his personal views of superiority over the Scythians thus fashioning his approach to depicting them a lot more prominent and ballyhoo artist as ! opposed to the more rational approach of Sima Qians. In contrast, Sima Qian makes no obvious change to the use of his vocabulary when he begins to depict the Xiongnu and thus the vocabulary never appears to be grand by melodramatic propensities. For example, when mentioning an incursion by the Xiongnu, Sima Qian soley refers to them as having...If you destiny to get a full essay, stage it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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