Chp 7, 8, 10

    I think the development of trade is one of the most important topics we have discussed throughout the few weeks we have had in this World History course. Commerce and culture is such an important part in the development of the world as we are aware of it today and Chapter 7 and the Silk Road is a great example of our connection to history and culture in our current state of mind. Trade developed because of a peoples different needs in different regions of the world. With this we saw the development of the Silk Roads all across Eurasia connecting groups of people with extremely different ways of life, different cultures, different needs based on their environmental surroundings. It was the inception of a world market economy, similar to that as we know it today. For instance, out Eurasia consisted of a much more warm ecology with well watered land very suitable for crops and agriculture, areas like China, India, the Middle East and Mediterranean versus the Inner Eurasia like Russia and Central Asia which is much less conducive to agriculture. However these two different regions had different qualities and needs the others are able to recognize. Inner Eurasia had a surplus of hides, furs, livestock, and wool much needed by the Outer Eurasian areas in exchange for things like agricultural products and manufactured goods.
   Interestingly enough this is not much different than our modern day commerce. But the other priceless aspect that goes along with trade is the exchange of culture. The Silk Road acted as the transport of cultural aspects of Buddhism, one of the more widely spread religions in this region. It appealed more so to the people on these roads because unlike Hinduism, it gave them an opportunity to reach enlightenment. It was the first time these go getters on this trade route felt support from a higher power, another form of motivation from an already highly motivated group.

5/23 Chp 3,4,5,6

   The development of culture in these early societies is one of the main concepts that stands out to me when looking back on the reading. Although previously, as we saw groups of people coming together after the agriculture movement, we saw less specifics that defined the individuals and would help define them as a culture. In china for instance, Confucianism not only becomes a religion, but also a way of life. It is interesting to see one persons life have such a dramatic and deep impact on a society and one of the first to do so in history as we know. China has one of the oldest dynasty dating back thousands of years are were extremely influential on the development of cultures even as we understand it today.
   As opposed to focusing on the legality of society, after never landing a position in government over his lifetime, Confucius is still able to remain a moral example for the people and bring a sense of "social harmony" to such a large amount of the worlds population at the time. Confucius put a huge emphasis on the people and relied on them for much of the progress it would take for a society to better itself not just in the moment, but down the road as well. The more important a person was regarded was based on the way in which their moral compass pointed. Their willingness to seek improvement and personal growth was a major element in the measurement of their social being. It is a way of life far behind the years of Confucius and quite frankly a mindset many of those in power today could use to better our society.

5/16 Chp 1, Chp 2

   One of the more interesting topics of the reading for me was the transition overtime in the way people used and valued food. In my life today, food, the sharing of food, and how much of our lives are centered around meals is an important part of daily routine. People originally traveled based on their need for hunting and gathering resources. The amount of resources they had in one specific place determined whether or not it was time to move on to the next location. It was not until the development of agriculture and the raising of animals that civilizations began to settle in one place over a long period of time. Through this development we also see a rise in the overall population of human on the planet. This is especially important at a time when the species is extremely vulnerable to aspects of the environment making it difficult to survive, like the Ice Age. As people began to settle in one place we see societies becoming not only larger, but also more complex and socially structured.
   Through these developments we begin to see the first pieces of pottery and art, also the construction of tools like canoes, bowls and tool handles. The domestication of animals also proves as a shift in the way people functioned throughout society. It was through this settling down of nomadic people that creates one of the most influential shifts in the history of human beings. This settlement also leads to a dilemma we are facing in our lives today and that is the amount of stress large groups of people puts on Earths resources. With large groups of people living in one area the lands resources begin to deplete at a much faster rate and the food supply becomes a much more scarce commodity. This is very similar to problems like global warming and the use of fresh water in that in the moment people realize they need these type of resources, however it is hard to comprehend the idea that one day these things will run out completely.

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