Utopia Book II Summary-4 PDF

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Utopia Book II: Summary

Utopia, Book II: 58 - 75 Utopian slaves are usually prisoners of war (children of slaves are NOT born into slavery though). -

A few slaves are volunteers (better than their native country).

Utopian Marriage: Raphael doesn't seem to have a huge positive spin on marriage in general. -

Women can't marry until they are 18 and men can’t marry until they are 22.

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Pre-marital sex is a huge NO NO but once they are engaged they see each other naked so they can completely understand their partners body before getting married.

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Monogamy is a must. If cheaters are caught, they are forced into slavery.

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Seduction is punished very harshly (even the idea of seduction and not actually committing the act).

Utopians have a good sense of humor, they do not take themselves too seriously. -

Talking badly about people with disabilities is severely looked down on.

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Everyone must take care of themselves physically (no make-up though).

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Encourage good behavior (honors in the square so everyone can see).

Big positions in Utopia do not get special privileges, they seem like normal people (no badges, etc). -

Some countries love the Utopian government so much that their own, elected officials are sent over from Utopia (much more modest and can't be bribed because they don't care about money).

There are only a few laws in Utopia so there is not any confusion or need for lawyers. Utopia does not believe in treaties, they think that people will cheat each other. -

They would rather assume they are trustworthy until proven wrong (innocent until proven guilty mindset).

Utopians HATE war. -

They only go into war to protect their own land, protect their friend’s land, or free those that are oppressed. -

Example: When Hythloday's ship was there, they fought a war on behalf of the Nephelogetes against the Alaopolitans since the Nephelogetes had been wronged.

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They do not celebrate war because they do not consider them particularly impressive.

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Once the war begins, they send secret agents to assassinate the big officials before the fighting occurs (the power is punished, not the innocent people). -

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Stir up conflict on the enemies side so they are not as unified.

They prefer to hire other people to fight for them, especially a neighboring people called the Zapolete (super tough guys). -

Only contributes their men as a last resort (super brave and devoted to the cause).

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Once they win, they take them as prisoners (no massacre).

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If there is a truce, the Utopians take it very seriously and don't ruin enemy land or people.

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No other army is allowed on Utopian soil - immediately stopped.

Religions of Utopia: They worship a ton of different things like the sun, the moon, but mostly Mithra. -

Once Utopians heard about Jesus and Chrisitianity, they were hooked (baptism). -

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Loved how community played a role in Jesus’s teachings.

When Utopus first conquered Utopia, he saw what damage was being done by all this fighting about religion, so he made it a law that everyone could practice whatever they wanted. -

He thought it was likely that God was present in all kinds of different beliefs and that true faith would be revealed by its own qualities, so fighting is never necessary.

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Small number of priests (very holy) - women can be priests too. -

MOST HONORABLE POSITION

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Accompany soldiers (bless them)

Churches don't have pictures of God - all up to individual interpretation. -

Men and women sit on seperate sides of church, children never sit with each other.

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No animal sacrifice - burn clothes or incense.

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Raphael believes that life is better in Utopia because people aren't worrying about money and property all the time. In other countries, the predominance of money creates all these useless jobs, like noblemen and goldsmiths that make lots of money, whereas useful jobs like carpentry make nothing....