Using Art as Evidence

By using art as evidence we can learn a lot about the Indus Valley civilization. With the art that the Indus Valley people left for us to discover, we can see that the seals that were discovered belonged to different clans, high officials, a certain business, or a prominent individual. The image of a unicorn was the most common seal thst was found most likely used in trade. Archeologists believe that the bull symbolizes leaders because bulls are strong and it protects, however they alsp believe it could be for a sacrifice. These seals and pottery have been seen in the Indus Valley amd Mesopotamia hinting that the two civilizations probably were involved with trade with each other. There are also more women statues and figurines versus ones of men. This suggests that women were important in their society. Women were buried near their female relatives where men weren't. There is a lot of variety in clothing, hairstyles, and decorations on these figurines representing the different classes of the society.

Our level of understanding of this civilization differs from Egypt and Mesopotamia where there are many written records because there was a considerable lesser amount of art left as a whole compared to the written records of the Egyptians. Written records really helped us learn more about the civilizations because we dod not have to guess about what the art was used for.

1st Civilizations

In chapter 2 it discusses the different First Civilizations & hierarchy. It also discusses how these civilizations evolved with their own cultures. 

As for the First Civilizations I noticed that these civilizations all started by a body of water of some sort in a valley. This is the most ideal place to begin a civilization. It had the necessary resources such as water and fertile land. These civilizations grew with the refined agricultural system allowing for a surplus of food and resources. This makes sense to me because if a civilization is more well off with a surplus of food then it allows more growth for the current citizens as well as future descendants. I feel that because agriculture was such a big part of their livelihoods they relied heavily on the irrigation systems that were put in place by their leaders. These leaders put laws in place to make sure their civilization could thrive. I applaud them for that.

As for their evolution of cultures, each early civilization had their own set of traditions and customs. However I did not realize that many of these cultural things were very similar. For example, they all shared agricultural growth(irrigation), politics, and trade. Although they all came about at different times in our history they all shared similar ways of life in order to flourish. 

One thing that stood out to me was the topic of slavery. My first thought that comes to mind about slavery is slavery in America. Africans were forced onto slave ships and brought to the Americas to be used for agricultural laborers. Once a slave always a slave, even the children of slaves. However, in the 1st civilizations slaves were not this stereotype we all think about today. Slaves then were prisoners of war, criminals, or debtors. They were sold to owners and the owners decided what their job would be to help support their owner. Women mostly worked in weaving factories where men worked to maintain irrigation canals and to construct zigguts. This different look on slavery makes sense to me. These slaves were slaves because they broke the law or are enemies of the civilization. Slavery most Americans know today is bottom line unacceptable because they did nothing wrong to deserve to be enslaved.

Who is a better leader?

I think that Claudius and Xichen as leaders wanted the best for their people. Claudius completed many public works of making water accessible to his people. The projects included the aquaduct by Caligula, a drainage channel of Lake Fucine, the harbor at Ostia and The New Anio. He had hoped that the attempt on the Fucine Lake would bring glory, but at "their own cost provided the land that was drained be given them". The drainage canal took eleven years, but was always being worked on. This created many jobs for the people of Rome. The New Anio was a huge project that would purify the water. This water was accessible to anyone, but had to send in an application and once accepted must enroll one of the Imperial freedmen to help with the business. I think this was somewhat unfair. I think a better solution would be to have the option of helping with the business or just pay for the water. I do support that the Emperor did not want property to suddenly be without water so he gave them a 30 day notice to make other arrangements. 

Xinchen was a grand administrator of Nanyang. He took interest in "creating benefits for the people and regarded it as his urgent task to enrich them". He frequently visited his people's villages no matter the distance. He travelled to inspect the waters and springs he overlooked. He also "dug canals and ditches and built water gates and dikes in several tens of places" to expand the irrigated lands. The people of these areas benefitted so greatly that they had a surplus.

I believe that Xichen was a better leader because it seems to me that he was more dedicated to helping his people. He wanted them to succeed so the country could succeed. He travelled to make sure his people were getting the water they needed and "he personally encouraged farming" which I think makes the peoples' jobs easier to do.

Chapter 1: 1st Farmers

The development of the human race has been in effect for thousands of years now. We may question, how do we know how our species has developed to what it is today since the first humans could not write. Well we know about our past because our very distant relatives left us many clues about how they lived. They drew on cave walls to tell their story of what they have been doing since their existence. They made very simple tools, first made of stone&other common natural resources. Later on the discovered how to make tools and weapons out of metal. They were at first nomadic people, moving around with the season; following their food. The first humans did not all stay together when they traveled. They lived in small groups of 25-50 people. They traveled to different parts of the world and began to adapt to their surroundings. They were gather&hunters. 

Later on the discovered how to domesticate animals and plants. This made it easier for humans to live. It allowed them to finally settle in one place instep of moving around with the seasons. They did not learn to cultivate and domesticate animals and plants over night, but over many years. Once they figure out how to domesticate some plants and animals, humans only continued learning how to better their ways of domestication. Later on they learned new uses for domesticated animals, such as milking cows and using the animals hides for various things (ie: clothing, rugs, beds tents/shelter etc). 

I think that Nisa's account as what the Paleolithic peoples might have been reflects some aspects of the Paleolithic times. As for "Life in the Bush", she describes how she owns nothing, but she is happy. Her father hunted for food for her family and how "receiving food made my heart happy". She believes that if she were to give something to someone she should expect them to give her something back. In regards to marriage, it seems to me at first she did not want to get married, however after some people told her, "A man is not something that kills you; he is someone who marries you, who becomes like your father or your older brother. He kills animals and gives you things to eat" it seems to me she got some sense in her. She later is happy with the marriage and comes to like him. She lived happily with him and when he died, she was miserable. She is living through a loss like anyone else would today. She cared for her husband and he was gone. After her husband died, she remarried and on her fourth husband she began to not like his ways. I don't blame her because he would have sex with her every night and she did not like it and his ways. I do appreciate she did find someone who she could consider as a lover and that her husband understood because he had lovers as well. In "healing ritual" I can see how life in a paleolithic time was more equal than today's society. Men and women both learned to use medicine. Overall I think that Nisa's account of what Paleolithic peoples lives could have been like is mostly accurate. There are some parts where it doesn't seem like she was living in that era, but overall I do think her accounts were valid.

Yay!!! It works!!!