Reading Blog: Chapter Two (First Civilizations)
Greetings Learning Community,
A fact that appealed to me from Chapter Two of Strayer's Ways of the World was that though civilization paved the way for a more advanced and efficient society, fostered by the agricultural revolution, it also opened up to slavery, social class issues, and oppression, as the text mentions that civilizations were different than earlier Paleolithic and Neolithic societies. One example of this development of culture, yet the formation of an "aristocratic social hierarchy" (Strayer, pg. 67) was made evident in the Central Asian civilization located in Oxus or the Amu Dayra river valley. Within this society was the emergence of residential compounds, artisan workshops, and temples, all surrounded by walls and gates" (Strayer, pg. 67), revealing that advancement did occur, but still there was social division. We can connect this to our very advanced world, yet where there is a large inequality and wealth gap. in our local, national, and global context.
Another thought I had when reading was my fascination with the human mind and its intelligence. Though there were origins for civilizations, how did humans come to know that they needed agriculture, irrigation systems, social order, and communication? It really strikes me that these people of civilizing times were able to adapt to their world and form such unique, and advanced ways of living.
Another product of agriculture among the first civilizations was cities. As I was reading, I thought of how Mesopotamian city life could also be a characteristic of humanly traits, when examining the characteristics that Gilgamesh becomes into in their ancient epic, because it was vibrant with culture and lively with community, as it was "vibrant, noisy, smelly, sometimes bewildering and dangerous, but also exciting place" (Strayer, pg. 69).
I think Strayer makes an interesting point when he discusses the practice of slavery in the social hierarchy of civilizations, in that it was "not associated primarily with 'blackness' or with Africa" (Strayer, pg. 72). He is referencing to modern day society and textbooks, because often times we only look at slavery in the context of Africa, and that is the image that often comes to mind. It is important to acknowledge that slavery had other origins in other locations and contexts throughout history.
Another striking concept was the utter lack of gender equality in the First Civilizations. We have come a long way as of today, and though there is still work to be done in issues of gender equality in our modern world, I can only imagine how strict it was during this period of civilization. The fact that there were "written laws" (Strayer, pg. 74) promoting patriarchal family life was shocking because it defined the way a family had to live and organize its members. Women barely had any freedom and were so confined, especially in Mesopotamian societies. We can still see some of this in modern society today, as fathers are often protective of their daughters. It has become so natural for women to be protected and provided for.
Chapter Two has given me a lot of insight on how the productivity of the Agricultural Revolution helped paved the way for the development of more efficient life, but also characterized with the formation of society, systems, order, class, and structures. We can still see some of these origins reflected in our own modern society, especially those of gender equality, though changes have improved the world.
Until next time,
Catalina Gargollo
Strayer, Robert & Eric Nelson. "Ways of the World." 3rd ed. Bedford/St. Martin's. 2016. Print.
A fact that appealed to me from Chapter Two of Strayer's Ways of the World was that though civilization paved the way for a more advanced and efficient society, fostered by the agricultural revolution, it also opened up to slavery, social class issues, and oppression, as the text mentions that civilizations were different than earlier Paleolithic and Neolithic societies. One example of this development of culture, yet the formation of an "aristocratic social hierarchy" (Strayer, pg. 67) was made evident in the Central Asian civilization located in Oxus or the Amu Dayra river valley. Within this society was the emergence of residential compounds, artisan workshops, and temples, all surrounded by walls and gates" (Strayer, pg. 67), revealing that advancement did occur, but still there was social division. We can connect this to our very advanced world, yet where there is a large inequality and wealth gap. in our local, national, and global context.
Another thought I had when reading was my fascination with the human mind and its intelligence. Though there were origins for civilizations, how did humans come to know that they needed agriculture, irrigation systems, social order, and communication? It really strikes me that these people of civilizing times were able to adapt to their world and form such unique, and advanced ways of living.
Another product of agriculture among the first civilizations was cities. As I was reading, I thought of how Mesopotamian city life could also be a characteristic of humanly traits, when examining the characteristics that Gilgamesh becomes into in their ancient epic, because it was vibrant with culture and lively with community, as it was "vibrant, noisy, smelly, sometimes bewildering and dangerous, but also exciting place" (Strayer, pg. 69).
I think Strayer makes an interesting point when he discusses the practice of slavery in the social hierarchy of civilizations, in that it was "not associated primarily with 'blackness' or with Africa" (Strayer, pg. 72). He is referencing to modern day society and textbooks, because often times we only look at slavery in the context of Africa, and that is the image that often comes to mind. It is important to acknowledge that slavery had other origins in other locations and contexts throughout history.
Another striking concept was the utter lack of gender equality in the First Civilizations. We have come a long way as of today, and though there is still work to be done in issues of gender equality in our modern world, I can only imagine how strict it was during this period of civilization. The fact that there were "written laws" (Strayer, pg. 74) promoting patriarchal family life was shocking because it defined the way a family had to live and organize its members. Women barely had any freedom and were so confined, especially in Mesopotamian societies. We can still see some of this in modern society today, as fathers are often protective of their daughters. It has become so natural for women to be protected and provided for.
Chapter Two has given me a lot of insight on how the productivity of the Agricultural Revolution helped paved the way for the development of more efficient life, but also characterized with the formation of society, systems, order, class, and structures. We can still see some of these origins reflected in our own modern society, especially those of gender equality, though changes have improved the world.
Until next time,
Catalina Gargollo
Strayer, Robert & Eric Nelson. "Ways of the World." 3rd ed. Bedford/St. Martin's. 2016. Print.
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