Chapter 6

Chapter 6

How did Africa’s proximity to Eurasia shape its history? And how did America’s separation from the Eastern Hemisphere affect its development?

Africa’s proximity to Eurasia shape its history via the integration of North Africa into the Mediterranean world— leading to trade and adoption of Eurasia’s culture. The separation of the Americas from Eurasia was a challenge because it limited the trade. Crops were unable to grow properly and the lack of animal domestication made farming even harder. Eventually crops adapted to the land of the Americas.

Greco-Roman

Chapter 5

Why do you think slavery was so much more prominent in Greco-Roman civilization than in India or China?

Indians and the Chinese had very few slaves; it was mainly due to the fact that they had a “lower-class” population that did much of the work that slaves did. Hence, it was not necessary for them to have an abundance of slaves. On the other hand, slaves were an important factor in the growth and wealth of the Greco-Roman civilization, so, they were needed to keep their economic position afloat.

Secular outlook

Chapter 4

Is a secular outlook on the world an essentially modern phenomenon, or does it have precedents in the second-wave era? 

A secular outlook on the world is not an essentially modern phenomenon. It precedents in the second-wave era. For example, legalism focused on rules and laws enforced by way of punishment, and religion was not considered. Also, Confucianism's primary focus was on human relationships, effective government, and social harmony. While Greek philosophers focused on human reason (argument and logic), thus, separating philosophy from religion.   

Second-wave empires

Chapter 3

Do you think that these second-wave empires hold “lessons” for the present, or are contemporary circumstances sufficiently unique as to render the distant past irrelevant?

I absolutely think that these second-wave empires hold “lessons” for the present. If we think about it and compare, there are great similarities between the now and then except that in today’s society corruption tends to be “hidden” more, or so they think. It is clearly shown through the centuries that military strategies and brutal leaders do not last very long—eventually collapsing. Nevertheless, an important lesson to take into consideration is that democracies tended to have less corruption than dictatorship. Moreover, another important lesson is that the unity of the people leads to a better and stronger country. 

I was surprised that...

It was surprising to learn that scholars of all kinds have been arguing about the origins of civilization for a very long time—with no end in sight. There are many theories of how humankind began to “settle down” and form civilizations. “However they got started…the First Civilization, once established, represented a very different kind of human society than anything that came before. Although civilizations had their roots in the Agricultural Revolution, not all agricultural societies developed into civilizations.

What was even more surprising to me are the cities that the text describes. For example the city of Harappa, “featured large, richly built homes of two or three stories, complete with indoor plumbing, luxurious bathrooms, and private wells.” (Ways of the World, 70) To me this sounds like Real-Estate flyer featuring a home in a wealthy area of today (2020). “Even larger…was the Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan, located in the central valley of Mexico…Broad avenues dozen of temples, two huge pyramids, endless stone carvings….” (Ways of the World, 70) Sometimes I (we) forget how beautiful architecture is and how advanced it was thousands of years ago.

I was disapointed to read that..

I was disappointed to learn that history courses and history books often neglect the long phase of the Paleolithic era—instead history books “choose to begin the story with the early civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and elsewhere.” (Ways of the World, 12) It is disappointing to me that important information about our past is neglected. There is a lot to learn from our world, our past, and how we have evolved over millions of years. Even though, “written records are absent, scholars have learned a great deal about Paleolithic and Neolithic peoples through their remains: stones, and bones, fossilized seeds, rock paintings and engravings, and much more.” (Ways of the World, 12) It is amazing to me that we are learning so much about our past through archeologists, biologists, botanists, demographers, linguists, and anthropologists, yet, not pay much attention to it—quite disappointing if you ask me. “Furthermore, the achievements of Paleolithic peoples—the initial settlement of the planet, the creation of the earliest human societies, the beginnings of reflection of the great question of life and death—surely deserve our attention.” (Ways of the World, 12)

I found it interesting to read that...

I found it interesting to read that the small Paleolithic societies were seasonally mobile. They moved frequently in order to find more food and water according to the changes in seasons. Due to the fact that they were always moving, they did not have an accumulation of goods. Additionally, all of the moving “resulted in highly egalitarian societies, lacking the many inequalities of wealth and power that came later with agricultural and urban life.” (Ways of the World, 20)  Lack of wealth and power allowed for no formal chiefs, kings, bureaucrats, soldiers, nobles, or priests. I found it interesting that Paleolithic men and women were free from cruel and or oppressive government rule “than any subsequent kind of human society, even if they were more constrained by the forces of nature.”(Ways of the World, 21) Moreover, most people possessed the same skillset (allowing for more equality) Men were the hunters while women were the gathered; it is important to know that one was not more important than the other. Women gathered 70 percent of their diet (plants) men gathered 30 percent of their diet (meat).

Timeline

1. Cosmic time (13.7 billion year lifetime of the universe) is commonly used in the Big Bang models.

2. Paleolithic period (Old Stone Age) about 2.5 million years ago to 10,00 B.C.

3. Neolithic period (New Stone Age)  around 8000 B.C to 3000 B.C. This era is connected with agriculture and animal domestication. It is interesting to know that because agriculture developed at different times in different places of the world, the dates for the Neolithic era vary from 9000 B.C.E to 2000 B.C.E.
https://www.ancient.eu/Neolithic

4. The ancient era began “give or take” 3000 B.C. The Ancient era encompasses the first cities in Mesopotamia, the unification of Egypt, and the Bronze Age. Additionally, this was the era where the earliest known actual writings were recorded (cuneiform and Hieroglyphs). The date for when the ancient world ended is not clear; however, it is estimated that it ended with the fall of Rome in AD 476.
https://www.ancientworldmagazine.com/articles/defining-ancient-world/

5. Classical era began roughly around 476 AD according to historian of texts. The date of when the classic era ended varies from 1453-1492.
https://www.inrap.fr/en/periods

6. Modern times is said to be seen as an age of transition between the middle ages and modern time. The Modern era is dated from around 1450-1800. During the late Modern period we come to see demographic growth, industrialization/productivism, political revolution, wars, the decline of Christianity, agriculture, progress in medicine…etc.

7. Ecozoic era refers to the Earth entering a new geological era. (21st Century)
https://ecozoictimes.com/what-is-the-ecozoic/what-does-ecozoic-mean/

8. Gaiac time period was not easy for me to find. In fact I did not find anything of this time. Is there a different name for this time?


Based on my online research on all of this wonderful and interesting eras, I find it absolutely necessary to include the Cosmic, Gaiac and Ecozoic eras on our World History Timeline. After all, these eras are part/mesh with our existence on Planet Earth. We can not completely grasp concepts if we being studying them towards the middle or end. At least in my opinion and how I like to learn concepts are from the beginning to the end. In this way, I am able visualize and connect the dots. However, if we are studying a specific time for time management then an exception is made (in my opinion). Yet, I would still be curious of how it all began.

Collective Comments

Due to my comments not posting under the designated blogger, I was asked to post them on my blog. 

Hello Sarita, 

Business Administration is something that interests me a lot too. I am currently In the Professional Human Services Program, I intend to use my degree for Health Care Administration. I have always had a passion for health care. I am currently a pediatric nurse, however, In the future I would love to expand on what I can do when it comes to serving the public, hence, I would love to connect the 2 pathways that interest me: patient care and health care administration. I hope that you fulfill your desire to learn more about your family history.  

Hi Armine! 

Nice to meet you, I am Mexican-American; I was born in California. Although I was born in the USA, I did not speak english until I began High School. I took my first ESL classes my freshman year. I am also taking this class as a prerequisite; Nevertheless, this WH class seems to have a very different approach to the “history” I remember taking many years ago. I have a feeling that we will enjoy this class.

Nice to meet you Sarita and Armine!

“Early Humans”

1. How far does human species go?
According to Worldatlas.com Humans and their ancestors have been walking the planet for about 6 million years.
2. Was Australopithecus a species of humans?
According to https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/australopithecus-afarensis Australopithecus is one of the longest-lived and best-known early human species. Au had both ape and human characteristics; Au were apes.
3. Was Homo Erectus a species of human?
It is said that Homo erectus is the earliest human species to possess the body proportions of the modern human, thus, a human species.
4. Compare Homo Erectus and Homo Sapiens in terms of the range and duration of their presence on the planet earth.
Homo erectus lived in Northern, Eastern, and Southern Africa; Westerner Asia (Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia); East Asia (China and Indonesia). They lived between about 1.89 million and 110,000 years ago. Homo erectus is considered to possibly be the longest lived early human species-about nine times as long as our own species, Homo sapiens, has been around. On the other hand, Homo sapiens came into the picture some 300,000 years ago and we are still here now. Homo sapiens evolved in Africa and are now worldwide.

https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-erectus
https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-sapiens

“Big History”

1. What is “Big History”?
Big history is the study of the beginning of times and how everything has evolved over millions and billions of years. You can think of it as a story of how everything has become the way it is now. In return, this long story helps us in a way formulate an understanding of humanity by explaining and connecting us to all aspects of reality. Now, how do we organize all of the data that can be studied dating back to billions of years? Simple: a “big timeline.”  Additionally, big history is studied through the best available research methods: empirical evidence and scholarly methods.

2. Is this a new concept to you or have you heard of it before?
The topic of “Big History” is very new to me. I have never heard of big history and personally, I am disappointed that I have missed out on a wonderful topic throughout my years of study. However, I am excited about the opportunity that this WH course has provided me (an introduction to “Big History”).

3. Does it seem logical to you that history could be taught this way?
I believe that this is the only logical way that history could be taught! It offers food for thought; the topic awakens your curiosity; questions that you have never thought of before begin to “pop up.”


Web Sources.

bighistory.info
https://bighistory.org/

Introduction

I have been contemplating for quite some time on the question, what about myself? I am always on the go and I do not usually take the time to reflect on myself, my interest, or how to introduce myself other than, “Hi my name is Daisy.” So, let me start slow and hopefully as the course unravels I open up a bit more with every post.

My name is Daisy I am Mexican, American; I was born in Palo Alto, CA. I am a pediatric school nurse; I absolutely love being a nurse. I have two boys, my eldest is 9 years old and my youngest is 1 year old. I mostly spend all of my time in my home town, Menlo Park, CA. However, I also travel more north to my second home by Auburn, CA and stay for days or weeks at a time. Currently I am writting to you from Auburn CA. As for my family history, I would have to ask my mother for some details. I am not close to my family and, thus, know very little to nothing about my family history. I am close to my mother and my brother though.

My history is still developing!I am determined to become resourceful for those in need and my passion is nursing.

I have taken a history course before, however, I am not a history person. Yet, this course sounds unique and interesting. I am looking forward to learning everything that this class has to offer.

In the picture from left to right is my 9 year-old-son (Julian) my 1 year-old-son (Emiliano) and  my 10 year-old-brother ( Angel Gabriel).