Strayer 2, First Farmers

5/5/2016

Amy Vaughan

29/7/2016 17:57:34

Hi Mr. Bingham. I'm studying the WHAP vocabulary, and I was wondering if we need to know the given definitions word for word, or if paraphrasing will count against us on the test. Thanks, Amy V.

Bingham

30/7/2016 16:09:03

Hi Amy!

That's a tough question, because it depends on the circumstances. Some terms are ones that the College Board really wants you to know. Broader concepts can, and should be, expressed in your own words.

Bring this up the first day of class. For now, make sure you know the nouns, and any terms in the "what's the significance" list at the back of the chapter.

See you soon!

Amy Vaughan

15/8/2016 19:59:53

Hi again! With school fast approaching, I thought I would kick off the discussion of margin and big picture questions for the assigned chapter of Strayer. I'll try tackling margin question 2:

What accounts for the initial breakthroughs to civilization?

For certain, the Agricultural Revolution played a major role in the breakthrough to civilization, bringing about surpluses of food capable of sustaining large populations. However, the other part (or parts) of the equation is not clear. Historians have offered up possible explanations:
-large-scale irrigation projects (although upon further examination these have been discovered to occur after the initial formation of civilizations)
-the human need for order in a growing population
-innovation/competition inspired by a limited environment
-states were able to protect the privileges of a favored group
-a strong, organized state was an advantage in warfare
-the introduction of social inequality

OR a combination of the listed events. Ex: The Ag. Rev. allowed for a growth of a population. However, said population was surrounded by rival groups, making territorial expansion impossible. This competition provided a reason for innovation, such as irrigation, to maintain a great enough food source to support the population. Now the population was strong enough to pick a fight with its next door neighbors, and instituted a government to help organize such an effort. When they defeated their neighbors, the losing side was absorbed into the population as slaves, forming a hierarchical system and introducing inequality into the budding civilization.

As Mr. Zhao would say, "Questions, concerns, comments?" Please let me know!

Bingham

16/8/2016 14:36:26

Hi Amy!

I like your first answer, I think it clearly answers the question. Here's how I organized my answer.

Civilizations had their roots in the Agricultural Revolution, which allowed communities to produce sufficient food surpluses to support large populations and the specialized or elite minorities who did not themselves produce food.
Scholars have offered various theories as to why some agricultural societies formed into civilizations and other did not, including a need to organize for large-scale irrigation projects; the efforts of favored groups to protect their privileges; the needs of warfare; and the influence of trade.
Robert Carneiro combines several of these factors to argue that:
1. The growing density of population, producing more congested and competitive societies, was a fundamental motor of change, especially where rich agricultural land was limited either by geography or by powerful competing societies.
2. Such settings provided incentives for innovations, such as irrigation or plows that could produce more food, because opportunities for territorial expansion were not readily available.
3. These same environments generated intense competition among rival groups that led to repeated warfare. A strong and highly organized state was a decided advantage in such competition.
4. Since losers could not easily flee to new lands, they were absorbed into the winner’s society as a lower class.
5. Successful leaders of the winning side emerged as an elite with an enlarged base of land, a class of subordinated workers, and a powerful state at their disposal.

Mia Wei

21/8/2016 10:45:07

Class

Upper class
-wealth in land or salary
-exempt from physical labor
-special treatment in legal punishments
-clothing, houses, manner of burial

free commoner
-forced to pay taxes & rents to upper class
-manual labor, especially farmers

Slaves
-property of another person

Gender

Patriarchy
-men>women and sons>daughters

Men
-property and legal rights
-masculinity; rulers, warriors, scholars
-polygamy
-social and sexual control of women in the family (sometimes by law)

Women
-productive and reproductive roles in the home
-considered weak; needed protection and control of men
(in some areas)
-divorce easier for husband
-powerful goddesses replaced with male deities
-veiled:married, respectable women
unveiled: slaves, prostitutes, respectable women

Mia Wei

21/8/2016 10:49:57

Oops I forgot to write the question!...

In what ways was social inequality expressed in early civilizations?

Bingham

21/8/2016 20:14:04

This is good. You might want to consider comparing patriarchy in Egypt and Mesopotamia since Strayer made a point of the comparison.

Bingham

21/8/2016 20:17:22

I just realized, you are on the wrong forum!

Mia Wei

21/8/2016 21:35:26

Oh! Haha no wonder nobody is answering!

Mia Wei

21/8/2016 21:36:32

I found the correct forum

Bingham

Welcome class of 2019. Some years students collaborate in this space effectively, some years not so much. One thing I know, collaboration significantly enhances learning. If you want access to my thoughts, this is the collaboration space to use. Most people propose an answer to margin questions, big picture question, or anything else related to managing Strayer. Other people can then comment leading to a stronger answer. I'll keep an eye on these pages, and pop in when I think you need me.

Strayer 2, First Farmers

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