Today it is perfectly natural for us to shake hands when we greet someone, or say good-bye. But like so many other things we do without thinking such actions at one time probably (36) something else.
For example, in (37) life the hand was probably a symbol of power and (38) . The hand was used to fight enemies, kill animals and make spears and tools. So when the hand was (39) to someone, it could have represented good will, since it showed that the person was not (40) or ready to fight.
We know that the hand was an important symbol in early (41) , probably as a mark of power. The Greeks (42) to their gods with raised hands. Presenting hands palm to palm was at one time the way an inferior person paid respect to a (43) Among the Arabs, (44) Later on, polite Arabs began to resist the efforts of people to kiss their hands, and sometimes they would end up clasping hands as each tried to prevent the other from showing this mark of "inferiority".
(45) . The hand and what was done with it have been full of meaning to people down through the ages. (46) .
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So while we shake hands，we are really carrying on a custom t......