a wonderful use of a sunday afternoon

The Rubaiyat and The Manners of Kings have taught me much about Persian life.  They both show that literature was an important part of their lives.  The Rubaiyat shows that they had a strong connection with nature and could successfully write down abstract ideas like love in a way that makes sense.  The Manners of Kings gives a quick glimpse into the workings of Persian government and revealed that their kings were not perfect.  It also showed that their king's decision making process is quite similar (but way more violent) to today's presidential cabinet and process.  In the stories the authors show that their people believed in fairness and livening life to the fullest.  Literature like The Rubaiyat and The Manners of Kings give invaluable glimpses into the lives of Persians and other civilizations.