Chapters 1 & 2


I found it interesting that 95% of time (history) was spent in the prehistoric era (Paleolithic and Neolithic).  It is incredible to think that people were able to survive during those era’s since they didn’t have the things as readily available as we do today, they had to create everything!  The book mentions that 3.5 million years ago the hominid species start changing and their brains grew larger.  2.3 million years ago the homo habilis began creating (simple) stone tools which made me wonder if the previous increase in their brain size had any relation to their generation of stone tools (pg. 3).  I never once stopped to think about how humans, animals, crops, etc. were able to increase in numbers overtime.  I never realized or even understood the enormous role that the Industrial Revolution (1750) played during this time.  These chapters have helped me to better understand the role it had and why it was considered the age of agriculture. 
On page 5 of our text the author mentions that communities all over needed to work within their surroundings so that they were able to develop a consistent supply of food.  This agricultural working environment was said to be the most profound transformation of human life in all of history (pg. 12).  This statement caused me to think that people during that time lived and worked cohesively together better than we do now (in some cases) which is sad.  On page 21, the text notes that the relationships between men and women were far more equal than in the later societies.  I couldn’t believe that when I read it, and it made me really ponder why the equality between the two had changed so much overtime. 
I thought it was interesting but not surprising that the term “masculine identity” was given to male hunters that were successful in killing large animals.  However, the book mentions that women accounted for a greater percent of the meals rather than the meat that was brought back from hunting.  I was annoyed but not at all surprised that there wasn’t an endearing term such as “masculine” given to the successful gatherers who were probably more consistent in bringing back food for their people.
Overall, I just can’t believe how smart and innovative humans were millions and millions of years ago.  I sat in amazement after reading because I just can’t fathom how anyone could survive those eras and be as productive as they were.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chapter 16...

I feel like I’m learning about the American and French Revolutions for the first time.   The British decided to introduce additional taxes in North America without warning.   This introduction of new taxes led to the American Revolution because the British government was trying to extract more revenue by adding taxes that would help to tighten its control over the separate colonies.    It’s interesting that France joined North America by being able to come together and fight against the British government.   The North America Revolution took place between 1775-1787 with the Declaration of Independence in 1776 that resulted in a military victory in 1781 which then created the Federal Constitution in 1787 which brought together 13 previously separated colonies into a new nation.   I was happy to read that slavery was gradually being abolished in the Northern states, although it shouldn’t have taken that long.   I cannot fathom why the southern states c...
Read more

Missed BLOG

The diseases that were transmitted during the growth of the silk, sand, and sea roads were incredibly deadly with the Black Death accounting for the deaths of half the population of Europe.   It was interesting to read that some Europeans gained an advantage because of the diseases in transit.   The text mentioned that, the exposure the Europeans had to the diseases over time caused them to develop some degree of immunity to Eurasian diseases.   When the Europeans confronted the Native Peoples societies which had no exposure to domesticated animals and diseases, they didn’t have any kind of immunity that the Europeans had.   The Native peoples had little to no defense against the diseases, so their societies quick died out in horrendous numbers.   I really enjoyed the picture on page 309 because it is so incredible to see a path that was made so long ago!   I enjoyed the zooming in section of the text that talks about the Japanese poet and loved named...
Read more

The Crisis Within

The Taiping Uprising is also known as the Taiping Civil War or, the Taiping Revolution which was caused by the culmination of China’s internal crisis (1850-1864).   The leader of the Taiping rebels asserted that he (Hong Xiuquan) was the younger brother of Jesus who was sent to purify “the world of demons and to establish a ‘heavenly kingdom of great peace.’”   The Taiping rebels followed a unique form of Christian ideology while Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism were rejected.   The Taiping rebels wanted prostitution and opium smoking to be terminated along with the abolition of private property and, a redistribution of land.   Meanwhile, Hong Xiuquan’s cousin, Hong Rengan had generated plans that would transform China into an industrial nation.   Some of his plans included, health insurance for all, newspapers, railroads, and widespread public education.   It’s interesting to see how Rengan was pushing for health insurance for all (so long ago) and, it...
Read more