i can follow nietszche in setting out two basic concepts of morality - a slave morality which comes from evolutionary pressures attached to the settled, agricultural areas of the middle east and a master morality which comes from evolutionary pressures attached to nomadic civilizations, like the mongolians or the indo-europeans.

in reality, cultures are mixes of these ideas. so, the romans and greeks both initially followed very dominant master moralities, before having it softened up due to the effects of being settled into agriculture, something that ended with christianization (but started with plato). sweden is not what it was 1000 years ago, but it was arguably never fully christianized, so that difference in values is still very real.

i would have identified with the franks in 476.

and, i'll identify with the swedes, now.

sorry.