Some scholars prefer to define civilizations only as societies with enough economic surpluses to create division of labor and a social hierarchy. The chief difference between civilizations and other societies involves the emergence of formal political organizations, or states. Another trait that makes a society a civilization is when the society can produce political units capable of ruling large regions. More traits are when a merchant and manufacturing class is present, and when almost all societies have sedentary agriculture and food surplus.…
The book Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond attempts to answer the question, “Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people had so little cargo of our own?” This question was asked by Yali, a New Guinean politician talking to Jared Diamond. Jared Diamond answers this question by analyzing the development of civilization across the globe, from the deserts of Africa to the woodlands of North America. Each of these civilizations progressed in different ways, some slower than others. Mr. Diamond shows how different aspects of society were developed in different parts of the world, like how 13 large mammals were domesticated in Eurasia, but none were domesticated in Sub-Saharan Africa or Australia. These small details end up compiling together to explain exactly why different societies developed so differently. The author uses clear ideas and thoughts to explain the course of history. He systematically explores different pieces of human development, from domesticating plants and animals to creating different types of weapons. There is a certain need for this book because no one had set out to answer this question before, even though many have asked it in different ways. Scholars had always been arguing about the development of civilizations, and having one book compile information from hundreds of sources allows for a distinct answer. The author used many different types of graphs to help explain his reasoning. His thesis is that certain conditions allowed certain civilizations to develop technology and weapons more than others, allowing them to conquer other civilizations. In his words: “Technology, in the form of weapons and transport, provides the direct means by which certain peoples have expanded their realms and conquered other peoples.”…
In Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond is the response to a question Diamond had been asked by a New Guinean politician, Yali, in 1972. The question was, “Why is it that you white people developed so much cargo and brought it to New Guinea, but we black people have little cargo of our own?” This refers to the inequality between many different civilizations, quite like how Europeans developed great objects and wealth that they used to dominate over other societies. Diamond begins to wonder why that is, “Why did human development proceed at different rates on different continents?” Before explaining possible answers, Diamond clarifies that his book isn’t to justify European domination of other civilizations nor does the answer take a European historic approach. Diamond also clarifies that hunter-gatherer civilizations are not inferior to agricultural or industrial civilizations.…
Since the dawn of time, Homo Sapiens have developed and evolved in a short time, relative to Earth’s history, into a advanced and special civilization we know today as present day society. The beginnings of civilization 2.5 million years ago was known as the Paleolithic Age which ends at 12,000 BCE and leads directly into the Mesolithic Age which ends at 8,000 BCE. These two eras, Paleolithic Age and Neolithic Age, although share similar developments such as new technologies and dominion, they also differ in major new developments such as sedentary agriculture and pastoralization.…
More Characteristics of a civilization can include 1.) Agrarian based society: (society that depends on its agriculture for its primary means for support and sustenance. This society varies very much from the modern industrial society. Agrarian/Agriculturalist societies were the most common during the Neolithic era.…
The information in our text shows many different opinions on how North America was settled. An example would be the discovery of the Kennewick man. The discovery of the skeletal remains opened the door to more opinions of North American Settlement. It is still believed that the initial North American settlers are the Paleo-Indians (www.betheluniversityonline.net, 2012). The Archaic era followed with the development of agriculture. This trend was perhaps the most significant development, because settled agriculture permitted the establishment of a sedentary existence, without the need to pursue herd animals (www.betheluniversityonline.net, 2012). A food source could now be provided from grown crops. The Archaic era was then followed by what is called the Pre-Columbian era. The Pre-Columbian era is when the development of societies began to happen. The societies developed because they were now able to provide the necessary food source by growing crops. The crops gave them the ability to remain in one area for a longer period of time. There are many reasons that caused the various tribes to become differentiated from each other. Language caused a lot of issues among the different tribes. Territorial disputes, competition for resources, and traditions caused most of the instability between the settlers (www.betheluniversityonline.net, 2012). The land was the major issue among the settlers because it affected trade.…
Think about early prehistoric times for humans - a primitive society not an industrialized society.…
When European settlers first landed on the shores of what they called terra nullius[1], they almost unknowingly started off a chain reaction that was to prove fatal to the original inhabitants of terra australis[2]. The strange natives and their seemingly outlandish and primitive customs confused the Europeans, who almost from the very beginning began applying unfair and biased judgements to Aboriginal culture, calling them ‘primitive’ and ‘simple’. Without looking at the dictionary, the anthropological definition of ‘simple’ could be something along the lines of: Lacking technology, or lacking higher level cognitive processes to use or make technology. Another meaning could be: A formless society, having no rules or laws to regulate life. When we think of the word ‘complex’, we very likely think of our own civilization. ‘Complex’ might be defined as: A community that utilises and improves modern technology, and has form and orderliness. However, when we consult a dictionary, the word “simple” is defined as: Lacking sophistication; belonging or referring to a people who do not use or rely on complex technologies. The word “complex” is defined as: Multifaceted, a whole made up of complicated, intricate and interrelated parts.[3] If we accept these definitions as being true, then the Indigenous society fits into the latter category perfectly, rather than the former, and is by no means primitive or simple, but in…
How has society created humanity in a world full of advanced humans that are civilized and compassionate? One must consult with themselves what the true meaning is to be a human, versus “savage.” Since the dawn of time, our ancestors roamed the plains of the world where humanity was sparked through an outbreak of civilization. Clusters were created, forming various outlooks, and opinions on what civilization should be. Religion, language, and rules were inserted into the foundation of which society prospered on. Society is put to the test when faced with a child who is lacking the foundation of civilization. Genie of Arcadia California was put on the pedestal when lacking nurture from her parents. She was abused by her Father, and taught not to speak. Her instincts were animal like, and quite savage. In L.O.F. the children are brought up, threw society’s standards. When faced with a fatal plane crash killing all the grownups, the children’s civilization is corrupted… Or so one thinks? Humanity’s…
Throughout history, humans have been migrating in and out and settling in different areas of the region. Migrating and settling causes people to come together and spread their ideas to others which causes civilizations. Each civilization is created to be equal but separate in their own ways. They are all related to each other in different ways. They have shared similar beliefs, experiences and obstacles. They are both unique culturally, politically and socially.…
The first Great Awakening was a religious movement among the colonies in the 1730's and the 1740's. The movement was needed because of the substantial decrease in the amount of members in the church. The Puritans had "lost its grip" on society. When the New Massachusetts law of 1691 allowed colonial Americans to worship freely and the right to vote, colonist were overwhelmed that they discarded what might be in store for them in the future. The Puritans lost faith developing a taste for material possessions and sensual pleasures.…
Although the San and the Chumash were both hunter-gatherers, their culture and lifestyle had significant differences. Many cultures around the world had their fair share of differences. If you look closer though, you can find certain patterns that occur in many of the first societies that emerged in the world. Even these days, you can find the same types of patterns in people.…
Europeans lived a much more modern way of life than the primitive lifestyle of Native Americans. Europeans referred to themselves as "civilized" and regarded Native Americans as "savage," "heathen," or "barbarian." Their interaction provoked by multiple differences led to misunderstanding and sometimes conflict. These two cultures, having been isolated from one another, exhibited an extensive variation in their ideals. Europeans and Native Americans maintained contradictory social, economic, and spiritual practices.…
Civilization occurs when a population is made up of people who are advanced in intellectual development, culture, and material. Not only do they have to be advanced in development, but they also have to maintain and progress towards healthy and safe standards of living. The first inhabitants of Canada, the aboriginals, belonged to many tribes, each with its own characteristics and background. They moved from area to area and as they did that, they were able to adapt to the new environment very easily. When the aboriginals are talked about today, they are commonly referred as savages and uncivilized, but in reality they were civilized people. Their tribes consisted of everything that we commonly find in a civilized society such as a form of a political system, roles and responsibilities, culture and religion, and a development in the field of technology and medicine.…
The technological skills and advances of a civilization are based upon their fundamental beliefs, faith, and desires. These three concepts are the foundations of societies that shape their growth and prosperity. These factors also were the underlying reason to the differences between the American Indian's and European's society. The principles the different groups held were long seeded before having produced contact with one another ultimately affecting each ones way of life. The diversity between these people both in physic and civilization was so enormous it really did show them as being from opposite ends of the globe.…