Chapters 1-3

First reading: Ways of the World
Chapters 1-3.

It is quite alarming that we are able to affect nomadic tribes so drastically and they basically never come into contact with “modern” people. I believe we should rather learn from them about using what nature provides. Look at how health problems, such as cancer, have been on the rise in industrialized nations. Many nomadic tribes had the foresight to respect the earth that sustains them and not take too much. Lessons are to be learned... Having grown up in Africa, I have a tremendous love for the outdoors. People, who have the financial means, should do a safari in Africa and, I believe, will have a far better understanding of how magnificent it must have been to enjoy such exquisite nature.

The early settlers of places, such as the Aboriginals in Australia, have literally been wiped out. This must ring alarm bells. I can understand why the textbook describes these people as primitive but they were more sophisticated than we are now in some circumstances. We live in a “dog-eat-dog” society with a huge emphasis on hierarchy. They were able to live together without the stress of how to send their kids to private schools and had respect for everyone etc.

It would have been good to see more information on the effects on the various populations of people after the previous ice age that took place around 11,000 B.C.E.

I found it very interesting to learn about the Chumash and their development of the planked canoe, tomol. I can only imagine how that must have changed their lifestyle as they were now able to fish far into the ocean and populate small islands in the vicinity of Santa Barbara.

It is quite thought provoking to read that many civilizations started at roughly the same time due to the agriculture becoming popular. Major events on a global weather scale seem to trigger major changes in lifestyle such as the dry spell between 11,000 and 9,500 B.C.E. which we believe started the need to develop agriculture. Agriculture in different areas obviously produced different products. The bartering system must have been quite interesting to see as people realized that they could benefit from one another. It is also thought provoking that agriculture has only been a part of human existence for a very small portion.

It is amazing to see how two major civilizations, Egyptian and Mesopotamian, treat women completely differently. Egypt, with respect and equality. Mesopotamia, women were clearly the men’s subordinates and most had to lead dreadful existences. Egypt also enjoying a form of free security due to it’s surroundings seems to have influenced early literature and peoples’ positive views on their lives. Mesopotamians seem to have suffered a lot keeping intruders out and their river systems being more volatile which affected their agriculture. This affected their views on life as a lot of literature shows that life to them was a downhill struggle.