1-30-13

Today we took a pop quiz on pre-history, and we immediately got our scores on it, and I got a 60%. Also, on the blog for West Civ, there was an assignment that we had to complete. The assignment was to take brief notes on a section we were assigned to read. My notes include the following:
-Steppes-vast semiarid grasslands or plains
-People of the Nile moved toward civilization (neolithic age)
-Egyptian civilization is more stable the Mesopotamian 
-Pharaoh-The rulers of ancient Egypt
-Egyptian civilization was linked with a single state under a single ruler
-Pharaohs are like "presidents"
-Pharaohs were identified with three of the country's ruling deities
-Thousands of priests daily served the gods and goddesses in hundreds of temples  up and down the Two Lands
-The Pharaohs had many other wives besides their principle wife
-Most of the wives had to live apart form the pharaohs
-The most successful ruler was Hashbesut, who resigned as king after 1500 B.C.

1/24/13

Today in class we watched a video on youtube of a author/comedian who was doing a segment on prehistory, which is what we're learning now. The video was very interesting, and I enjoyed it, even though he talked a bit to fast. As well as watching the video, we had a discussion on the domestication of animals, mainly cows and chickens, and how they are raised in some atmospheres, compared to how they are raised in others. The part of the video that was interesting to me what when it said that in 15,000 years a humans went from hunting and gathering their necessites, to creating airplanes, the internet, and burgers, etc..that sparked my attention because i just find that amazing that we accomplished all those creations in a little amount of time. It's also weird to think that about 12,500 years ago people hand processed their own food, and now we have machines that do it for us. A word was brought up in the video and it is "palio-biology" and i didn't know what it meant, until Mr.Schick brought it to our attention, and it means how people lived in the pre-historic ages. Not to mention, it has "Palio" like paleolithic stone ages, which is the old stone ages. Next, instead of what i was used to saying, hunting and gathering, they used something different, forging and hunter. Forging was another name for gathering. Lastly, they touched up on the agriculture some more, and i found out and was refreshed about how llamas are the only domesticated animals native to the Americas. People needed it domesticate animals grains in order to produce alcohol, and one the seeds were planted, they automatically germinate.

1/23/13

Today in the beginning and middle of class we had a large class discussion about where technology will be when we get older. Since technology has advanced so much in just the past 50 years, from having the first phone invented to being able to video call while in different states using your phone. That took only a matter of years. I personally think the cars will be able to drive themselves, and there will be a way to lose weight without even working out. While looking over the powerpoint that was being presented I noticed two words: Paleolithic and neolithic, while looking them up i found out that paleolithic means old and neolithic means new. The humans in past generations were a part of a migratory group, they hunted, fished, and gathered plants and vegetation. 14,000 years ago people were on all the continents, and explored everywhere. During the agricultural revolution, populations grew due to increased ability to care for young children. Also, villagers were polytheistic, which means they believe in more that one god, and they thought there was multiple nature, and human and animal gods. The labor was divided up into two sections, men and women. The reason was because men are genrally stronger than women, and it is just more likely for a man to fight, and hunt rather than the woman who usually will be the housewife, collect berries, care for the children, and cook the food. Lastly, the wheel and plow was invented, which made it easier for food to be produced and stored.

1/18/13 - W-Civ assignment & day's blog post

Today in class we reviewed and read the first chapter of our Western Civilization books, as well as taking notes on good and easy way to take notes, which will also help us in future classes and collage. In the beginning of the chapter is talked about how the basic features of human existence include the following: language, religion, art, technology, farming, family life, and village communities. All of which originated from prehistoric times. Since we the chapter is talking so much about pre-history, it was important to know what the word means, and prehistory means the billions of years people lived on the earth. The very first civilizations on earth that are known is Mesopotamia  and Egypt. The paragraph also talked about economic structures which include the following: governments, writing systems, religious beliefs, scientific/technical achievements, literary/artistic styles. Those achievements began to spread to each other and neighbors. Civilizations interacted for a variety of bad and good reasons, the bad reasons included wars, stealing, and disagreeing with one another. Good reasons included sharing ideas, helping each other, and etc. The spread of civilizations never ends, and never will. In 1200 B.C. that was where the international regions of civilizations became local versions of Mesopotamia/Egypt. Mesopotamia is in the "fertile crescent" which also relates on Jared Diamond. The second chapter talked about (Before Civilization) the beginning talked about how 2.5 million years ago that is when humans first appeared on the earth. Also, a 1,000 of centuries to take their first steps before civilizations. The pre-historic era finally ended with the rise of civilized societies. The first human like species appeared in East Africa. Lastly, 14,000 years ago the human race became world wide.


Assignment: Was Jared Diamond on track with his theory of "geographic luck?"

Some say Jared Diamond wasn’t on point with geographic luck, which is the theory Jared Diamond created, of which why the European conquest of the Americas was so successful. Personally I think he was. While reading about his theories in previous units, and now looking at actual historical facts, his theory matches up to the book we are now reading, which is Western Civilization: WCIV. I do understand where people are coming from when they don’t believe in his theory, it is very difficult to think that humans changed over time. The human mind may think that we were naturally always the way we are, and never will change. I would disagree with Jared if he didn’t use as much facts to support it, as well as having evidence of when he traveled all over the world, and to places including New Guinea, which is still living in the past. Overall, I do support and agree with Jared Diamonds theory of Geographical Luck.

First day of the semester

Today was our first day  of Western Civilization. We picked our seats, and got introduced to the teacher, and got the book we're going to need to the semester. He also informed us on important it is to post in our blog, because it will help our grades, and that if we don't use our blogs we are at risk of losing one letter grade. Since I had Mr.Schick last semester it wasn't difficult to set up the blogs, and emails but some people had difficulties with that, and we had to help them. My goal for this semester is to post in the blog every night, and try harder on the exams, test, projects and blogs. Hopefully that will raise my grade tremendously.