That is that “ethnic” identity was not perceived as in-eluctably set in stone. Individuals and groups of individuals often moved to new areas or changed their identities by acquiring membership in a dif-ferent group. People of the ancient world seemed to have understood that cultural characteristics were external and acquired forms of behavior, and that “barbarians” could learn to speak the lan-guage of the Romans or the Greeks and become participants in those cultures, and even citizens of these states.

As Joseph Stalin raced to turn an agricultural backwater into an industrialized nation, his government downsized the week from seven to five days. Saturday and Sunday were abolished.