Blog #1 - Civilization

Hello all.  Momentous day today as I literally post my first blog ever.  Thanks to my classmates who helped me get beyond logging on to the school computer.

CIVILIZATION

I'd like to reflect on the reflection (go and figure that) made by Strayer at the end of Chapter 3.  In this section he wrote that he "called them 'civilizations,' but scholars have reservations using the term..." (Strayer, 83).   I also had similar thoughts and questions about the term as I read through the chapters - where initially I agreed with the use of the term, but later disagreed with its use.  To bring this blog into a time perspective, I am referring to the authors description of the First Civilizations; which included the Olmee Civilization, the Norte Chico Civilization, the Nile Valley Civilization, the Mesopotamian Civilization, the Chinese Civilization, and the Indus Valley Civilization (Strayer, 58-59).

Where I agree with the use of the term "civilization" was the manner of which Home Sapiens evolved.  Our (Homo Sapiens) actions as we moved from the Paleolithic Era to the Neolithic involved a major shift in our way of life that led to our ability to increase our numbers and survive.  From the making of a simple tool called a hoe, we were able to irrigate fields and raise crops.  From the raising of livestock, we no longer had to hunt.  It was from this step, or these steps, that we were able to move forward.  It is also worthy to note that as we have moved from one era to the next, the span of time in each era has decreased - but then, I digress.

Where I disagree with the term "civilization" was its broad use of the term civilized.  Strayer wrote a section on "The Erosion of Equality" with references on Hierarchies of Class, Hierarchies of Gender, and Patriarchy in Practice (Strayer, 64-67).  I am going to use the Shang Dynasty from the Chinese Civilization as an example.  Strayer told of an ancient poem  which described the lives of farmers exploited by their landlords (Strayer, 65).  Personally (although I did not conduct any research on this specific period for this reflection) I am aware China has a history of class struggles.   These sources include discussions in previous classes, to the tone set in Chinese movies depicting various dynasties, up to current events with the demonstrations at Tiananmen Square and the government's actions in order to construct the structures for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.  Although much beauty has been garnered from this era, there are as many examples of uncivilized actions that led to these creations.

This is why I believe the use of the term "civilization" should be carefully considered and kept in the context.