Unit 3 Reflection - Mesopotamia and Fertile Crescent

Unit 3 Reflection - Mesopotamia and Fertile Crescent

Kyle C.

2/10/2011

1. In 2-3 sentences for each topic, summarize what you learned about the following:

a) The domestication of plants and animals

b) The transition from hunter-gatherer communities to the first civilizations

c) Early religion and beliefs

A) Domestication of Plants and Animals:

From the past, Domestication and farming lives had influenced the early civilizations; plant, animal domestication made possible for agriculture. Evidences show that by 11,000 – 8,000 B.C, people from Middle East knew how to farm. Domestication had been started when nomads had settled and became group of people who wanted to dwell in the region. By farming crops, people in the region could raise much more food (surplus of food meaning agricultural revolution) than Hunters and Gatherers; this could show that people had slowly adapted in an advance way or becoming civilized.

B) Transition from Hunter- Gatherer communities to Civilizations

As larger communities were formed, more advantages were made. By turning to Civilizations, the lives of the civilization became more advanced; trade relationships were created, larger communities were formed, and Division of labor had to be a deal. This tells us that, people who lived in communities instead of Hunter – Gatherers formed greater lives than others.

C) Early Religion and Beliefs

People from the past had been to known to believe in many Gods/Goddesses. Each God/Goddesses had symbolized each region or state; People believed that each God who symbolized the region gave protection; God/Goddesses supported others against the forces of nature such as flood or lack of crops. God/Goddesses sat at the highest level, they were the protection of the regions from the past and we still acknowledge that our Gods can protect us as well.

Learning about the Sumerians isn't very important since they're long gone! Let’s change their minds

Sumerians were successful in many ways; they had formed a well-balanced civilization. They maintained trading relationships, technology, Government etc. However the principal contribution of the Sumerians that we should know is the technology and inventions. Sumerians had invented the Wheel (science power), plowing techniques (animal power), and sailing (wind power). By inventing all of these followings above, Sumerians were an advanced civilization in trading, lifestyles.

2 Photos to show I identified and learned:

Mesopotamia, the region along the 2 Rivers, Euphrates and Tigris, this region was divided into Empires and the whole region was ruled by the greatest kings of Mesopotamia Sargon.

Fertile Crescent (Green) is the area which maintains “lush” in vegetation. This area was a huge support to regions located at this area.

Enheduanna of Sumer

Enheduanna of Sumer Summarizations & Questions

Kyle C.

Due 1/28/2011

Summary of Enheduanna of Sumer:

Enheduanna was the daughter and the Akkadian princess of the ruler around 2300 B.C, the greatest Mesopotamian King "Sargon of Akkad." She has been known for the first person to reveal or the first person to use their name in writing. She was actually appointed to the rule by her family; especially her Father. In additional around 2000 B.C, few of the entire women population knew how to write or read. Her poems and literary works written around 2300B.C are the first creations anywhere in the world credited to an individual person.

Enheduanna was also the priestess of the temple Nanna where they worshiped the Moon God of Akkad; this worship was an important role for the royal family.

Questions to answer:

1. The ancient books more than 4000 years ago were, written on soft clay with pointed tool called a stylus. It also looked like small clay pillows, not paperbacks.

2. Her royal family dwelled in a palace located at city-state Akkad, Mesopotamia; her father was the wise ruler of Mesopotamia.

3. Enheduanna had worked and worshiped as a high priestess in the Temple of Nanna where she offered and gave prayers to god/goddess. She had lost her job when her nephew "Naram Suem of Akkad the new king" sent her out of the palace.

4. The author mentions that 50 tablets with her poem written evidences tell her poems were bestsellers at the time.

5. At one stage, Enheduanna had written about the account of her father; the city-states that Sargon had taken united in revolt against him. They besieged the city of Akkad and exiled the goddess Inanna from her temples.

Enheduanna and the worshiping

Blog Post: Environment

From earliest times, people have changed their environments.

How have people today changed their environment?

Discuss both the good and the bad.

1/15/2011

From the past, early settlers had utilized natural products provided by nature to maintain their lives; early ancestors developed to create achievements however some turn out to be abominable (ex. Some populations of predators had been verge of extinct). As said that, we today had utilized our environments to produce sustainable lives (connection). People today had developed and altered the environment to perform better such as a thought that could preserve and save the world. However it was not always on the positive side, by trying to upgrade to a higher level, we had damaged/caused difficulties. Some of the difficulties we caused are pollution and mainly damaging the nature. It is significant to say that, people today are the cause of disruptions since minorities of the population abides by the rule to save earth. To be said, people have to acknowledge and appreciate the importance of environment; in conclusion, I believe that the earth would be sustainable, if we try to think about the effects.

The Cause of Pollution (Cars): The most useful/most used transportation we see every day is car. This transportation had devastated and damaged the environment nevertheless; it’s a resource that is essential for our life.

Why is Catal Hoyuk an important archaeological find?

Why is Catal Hoyuk an important archaeological find?

Humanities Blog Journal

Catal Huyuk= Hub of Trade, Engaged in Trade,

1/12/2011

Catal Huyuk, a settlement of Neolithic Period is located at Anatolia, Turkey was a major importance in trade and agriculture around approximately 8000 B.C - 5500 B.C. Its name comes from Turkish root "forked mound," and this Neolithic town has maintained as an archaeological site until now. Catal Huyuk is famous for its architecture "Mud-brick houses and the agricultural farming styles which led to trading." What really was the principal of Catal Huyuk was trading.
When members of the community started to enter/dominate different roles, there became more trading. One of their epidemic products around the Middle East were crafts; crafts were created by grinding and chipping stones. Craft gave an idea to traders from overseas, the process and the creativity of people of Catal Huyuk. As they shared ideas of trading, people had interest in different traditions.

Another trading which aroused the name of Catal Huyuk was Obsidian. Obsidian is a black volcanic fragile glass chipped to make fine edged tools, by then people neighboring came to purchase the luxury. As the customers increased, the town became a city, then rich. Other trade items were turquoise and copper sold to customers.

Trade really gave an idea of communication and creating great relationships with neighboring countries. By trading, people in Catal Huyuk could learn different cultures; these were the keys to the trading industries.

Wordle Net. Unit 2 of Mine

Unit 2 Reflection

Prehistory+Early humans

1. Describe how you prepared/studied for the unit test

I felt that the test went simply well however there were needs of improvement I had to change/make. I studied by recording the facts and probably what I expected to be on the test on a recorder (But I deleted on Monday). Another reason I studied efficiently was due to relaxation with a drink, being comfortable always alter the way of studying.

a)Do you think your studying strategies were effective-why/not?

It was quite effective but once again it might had required more improvement on some parts such as essay or writing part at the end. The strategies for this test was just to make myself comfortable when I am reviewing. Comfortable=Great Technique of Studying

b) How will you prepare next time?

I should make myself a graphic organizer for the last part, study couple more details and keep adding logical thoughts when I'm studying. I think that my notebook was pretty well organized this quarter.

2. What was the most surprising thing you learned about during this unit?

The most surprising thing I had learned this unit was the Homo species in many regions. I was startled how the species could have migrated to Asia, Europe, and Middle East etc. This tells me that they had no fear in migrating; all they were following were Vegetation/Crops. It was just amazing how they had traveled distances...

3. If we had more time to spend on Prehistory+Early humans-what would you want to learn more about?

Since I am not really into Prehistory+Early humans I am not sure what to learn and understand but if I chose a topic to go in-depth, I would prefer to study the religion and the technologies of Homo species culture.

Blog Post. Who were Hobbits?

Q: Who were the hobbits?

11/23/10

By radiocarbon dating in lab scientists analyzed that this specie is a modern specie named Homo Floresiensis or nicknamed "Hobbits". In 2003, paleontologists discovered a tiny population in a cave called Liang Bua located in the island of Flores, Indonesia. Once these skulls were radiocarbon-dated scientists found that the skulls resemble something dead million years ago however these modern humans were much intelligent. Archaeologists ask "Why are these species intelligent", back then education hardly existed. They probably became smarter when generations changed. These species lived at a time of 38,000-18,000 however some say they lived as recently as 12,000 years ago. Hobbits were tiny species because they dwell in an island without limited resources. Island dwarfing was a well known evolutionary process whereby species living on isolated islands became smaller over time due to limited resources.
Although they were small we could comment that intelligence led to advanced civilization back then (ex. They had complex tools).