Strayer 6, Everywhere Else

17/9/2016

Remember what I said in class, this chapter is organized differently. In the last three chapters, looking at a theme, and seeing the variations across societies works well. Here, you'll be well served by a chart, or charts, that describes the themes within each culture.

Do the work, and the success has to follow!

82 Comments

Bingham

17/9/2016 17:03:42

BPQ2: “The particular cultures and societies of Africa and of the Americas discussed in this chapter developed largely in isolation from one another.” What evidence would support this statement, and what might challenge it?

Evidence in support of this statement includes the complete physical separation and lack of contact between the African and American cultures and societies discussed in this chapter;
The geographic and cultural separation between Meroë and Axum on the one hand and the Niger Valley civilization on the other also provides support.
So too does the significant physical distances that separated Andean, North American, and Mesoamerican civilizations, along with the lack of sustained contact between these three regions.

Evidence to challenge this statement includes the extensive interaction between the Maya and Teotihuacán civilizations; the conquest of Meroë by Axum; and the encounters between Bantu-speaking peoples and gathering and hunting groups, including the Batwa, as the Bantu-speaking peoples migrated into Africa south of the equator.
The Chavín religious cult, which provided for the first time and for several centuries a measure of economic and cultural integration to much of the Peruvian Andes, also challenges the statement.
Additional challenging evidence is the critical arrival of maize from Mesoamerica into the Ancestral Pueblo and mound-building societies.

Amy Vaughan

21/9/2016 19:21:29

Could the Indian Ocean trade system b/w East Africa and Eurasia count as an exception? Also, the spread of Christianity and eventually Islam w/in Africa?

Taylor Scott

21/9/2016 23:28:08

I think the first statement should be more in general because there were many trade routes, such as the Nile or the Red Sea. I think the second one is good. What do you think?

Amy Vaughan

17/9/2016 22:35:44

Is it just me, or are the civilizations discussed in this chapter more clearly organized into SPICE themes?

Eliza Pillsbury

18/9/2016 14:20:11

I think you're right. In the past few chapters, the chapter itself has been a SPICE theme! Now Strayer has to make them more clear as he breaks down each civilization.

Sofia Puccio

18/9/2016 11:16:06

Wow, this felt like a really long chapter!
Here is my answer to MQ 1:
Similarities: agricultural revolution took place on all three major continents, and subsequently civilizations emerged.
Differences:
-Population distribution was uneven (Eurasia had the highest population, followed by Africa and then the Americas)
-Absence of most domesticated animals in the Americas meant there were no pastoral societies (guns germs and steel anyone?)
-Metallurgy was less developed in the Americas
-Writing was much more widespread in Eurasia than anywhere else
-Geographically, Africa is adjacent to Eurasia and frequently interacted with Eurasian peoples, while America developed apart from the Afro-Eurasian network for a long time until the arrival of Colombus

Bri Al-Bahish

19/9/2016 19:20:37

I would just add that the Americas and Africa had fewer and smaller civilizations than Eurasia, and most people lived in communities rather than cities or states.

Eliza Pillsbury

19/9/2016 23:17:00

Strayer mentions a commonality among the "historical trajectory of the human journey". I took this to mean the general trend of Agricultural Revolution to larger settlements to specialization to civilization to inequality. I also put this as a similarity among the three continents...Does that make sense to add to your list?

Bingham

20/9/2016 05:57:25

Good observation. This is one of those big trends, one of our "hacks". Can you think of any exceptions?

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 08:38:28

Well, if we consider state as a qualifier of civilization, then the Indus River Valley and the Mayans do not fit this model.

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 18:11:08

Also, I think your list of similarities and Bingham's question of exceptions could be combined to answer this question:
"Summing it Up So Far: What features common to all civilizations of Africa and the Americas (similarities)? What distinguishing features give them a distinctive identity (exceptions)?

Eliza Pillsbury

20/9/2016 23:45:19

Could you say climate would be a difference among the three? (Strayer mentions the "three supercontinents" again when talking about the environmental diversity of Africa, and this caught my eye. Not sure if it applies.)

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 00:14:56

I've also noticed a trend of civilization leading to environmental disruption which often leads to the collapse of civilization. Does this qualify as a similarity, or maybe something to add under "broader patterns of human society"?

Amy Vaughan

21/9/2016 19:25:24

If you include climate, I would emphasize its effect on agricultural productivity.

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 19:33:39

Okay, here's what I added under differences:

Climatic conditions' effect on agricultural productivity
- drier, less fertile soil in Africa
- corn-based agriculture in the Americas (less nutritious and more labor intensive)
- North/South orientation made diffusion of ideas/agricultural practices more difficult in the Americas
- environmental diversity (linked to North/South divide) in the Americas and Africa much more extensive than in Eurasia
- tropical temperatures brought disease to Africa/Americas (not agricultural but still very important)

Do you agree with this addition? Is there anything you would change?

Owen DeMarco

21/9/2016 16:44:47

For this question I also wrote that a similarity was the migration movement that Strayer mentioned at the beginning of the section associated with MQ1. However this migration answer would not be as applicable during the classical era since it took place long after the emergence and migration of modern humans... Would this still be applicable to the question despite the time period difference or not?

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 16:49:39

I think that falls under broad patterns of development. I agree that it also falls outside of the classical era, but I don't think you're wrong? It might just not be relevant to these civilizations. What does everyone else think?

Owen DeMarco

21/9/2016 16:52:51

I think that it could be applicable because the question doesn't explicitly ask about similarities and differences during the classical era.

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 16:59:59

Oh, you're right. I'm thinking of "broad patterns of human development" like so:

migration --> Agricultural Revolution --> larger population --> settlements --> specialization --> inequality --> CIVILIZATION --> environmental disruption

Does that make sense? Is there anything I should add or take away?

Eliza Pillsbury

18/9/2016 14:18:55

I'm curious how much slavery was a part of the Meroe and Axum civilizations? Strayer mentions slaves when talking about economic specialization in Meroe, and says that Axumite trade extended to slave trade. Did anyone else pick up on something that I am missing?

Amy Vaughan

18/9/2016 21:51:02

So I was reading the sections on alternatives to civilization, and I realized that on our summer list of regions/chronologies, Chaco Canyon and Hopewell culture are listed, but the Bantu are not. Is this because the Bantus encompass such a wide and diverse people whereas the people living in the dwellings of Chaco Canyon and Hopewell were smaller and sedentary? Just curious. Thoughts?

Bingham

19/9/2016 06:16:21

Good observation Amy. The Bantus, while highly significant, don't really add up to a district civilisation. Though influential, their culture absorbed and influenced the societies they encountered over their long term migration out of west Africa. Importantly, there was no clear state structure that developed as distinctly Bantu.

Bingham

20/9/2016 09:43:56

I'll help with this one.
In what ways did the arrival of Bantu-speaking peoples stimulate cross-cultural interaction?

The Bantu-speaking peoples brought agriculture to regions of Africa south of the equator, enabling larger numbers of people to live in a smaller area than was possible before their arrival.
They brought parasitic and infectious diseases, to which the gathering and hunting peoples had little immunity.
They also brought iron.
Many Bantu languages of southern Africa retain to this day distinctive “clicks” in their local dialects that they adopted from the now-vanished gathering and hunting peoples that preceded them in the region.
Bantu-speaking peoples participated in networks of exchange with forest-dwelling Batwa (Pygmy) peoples. The Batwa adopted Bantu languages, while maintaining a nonagricultural lifestyle and a separate identity. The Bantu farmers regarded their Batwa neighbors as first-comers to the region and therefore closest to the ancestral and territorial spirits that determined the fertility of the land and the people. As forest-dwelling Bantu peoples grew in numbers and created chiefdoms, those chiefs appropriated the Batwa title of “owners of the land” for themselves, claimed Batwa

Owen DeMarco

21/9/2016 21:44:51

In class you told us the Bantu adopted the Batwa religion. Is that what you mean in mentioning the territorial spirits?

Bingham

19/9/2016 20:13:25

Be sure to look at comparisons between developments in Africa and the Americas.

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 22:15:06

I think what Eliza mentioned about broad patterns of development of civilizations should count as similarities. As a recap: Agricultural Revolution -> larger populations -> organized settlements -> specialization -> inequality = civilization.

Americas in General: more stable environment, no iron, no domestic animals (besides llama) or sustainable crop (had to engineer maize), small settlements, little interaction, revered nature

Africa in General: linked to Eurasian world, less conducive farming environment, iron, domestic animals and nutritious domestic plants, lots of widespread interaction/trade of culture and agriculture (think Bantu), unified by similar languages

Other ideas??

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 22:17:42

(this also answers the "Summing Up So Far" question right before the Bantu section)

Amy Vaughan

19/9/2016 20:33:56

MQ3: Description: How does the experience of the Niger River Valley challenge conventional notions of "civilization?"
-no state structure
-little warfare/conflict
-small economically specialized settlements surrounding a main city
-occupation transformed into a social system (like castes)
-independent and distinct cities trading/supporting each other

Amy Vaughan

19/9/2016 21:14:12

MQ2: Connection: How did the history of Meroë and Axum reflect interaction w/ neighboring civilizations?
Meroë:
-Egyptian influence from Nubia: divine monarch buried in splendor with human sacrifices; gods/goddesses; shared writing system
-trade with civilizations along Nile made for great wealth and military
- spread of Christianity from Egypt (unified); spread of Islam (divided)
- imperial Meroë raided Roman Egypt (int. w/ Mediterranean)
-Egypt altered trading routes, decreasing Meroë's revenue
- conquered by the Axum

Axum:
-stimulated by Red Sea/Indian Ocean trade and taxation
- formal language (Geez) derived from South Arabia
-spread of Christianity from Roman world (linked Axum to Coptic Egypt)
-imperial expansions into Arabia
-Islam's spread altered trade routes, decreasing revenues and contributing to Axum's fall.
Any other ideas?

Eliza Pillsbury

20/9/2016 23:51:00

Strayer states that the decline of both civilizations was linked to changing patterns of long-distance commerce. This was a connection that I would not have otherwise made! Cool how interaction can create such ripples within a civilization.

Bingham

21/9/2016 09:44:17

If you think about it, interaction ARE history!

Amy Vaughan

19/9/2016 21:55:45

MQ4: Comparison: With what Eurasian civilization might the Maya be compared?
The Maya had no central state; they were composed of frequently warring city-states ruled by divine kings (shamans), and never unified to form an empire. All of these properties are reminiscent of the city-states of Mesopotamia and classical Greece.

Amy Vaughan

19/9/2016 21:59:09

Furthermore, both the Greeks and the Mayans placed value on intellect, with both making significant mathematical and astrological discoveries.

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 00:09:27

Could you explain how the characteristic of being ruled by divine kings (shamans) is connected to Ancient Greece? Are you comparing the Mayans to Mesopotamia AND Ancient Greece? Sorry, a bit confused

Bri Al-Bahish

21/9/2016 03:40:41

I'm a little confused about that as well. I think Amy was just specifying how the Mayan civilization was composed with emphasis on no central state and warring city-states.

Amy Vaughan

21/9/2016 20:00:52

Maya is like Mesopotamia and Greece in that it had many warring city-states. It is like Mesopotamia in that it was ruled by divine rulers.

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 00:51:59

Hi. Could someone please help me with MQ5? I don't know if I'm headed in the direction Strayer wants me to go.

Bingham

20/9/2016 06:00:39

Let us see what you have so far Taylor.

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 18:23:14

1) largest urban complex in the Americas
2) because of the lack of information about the original name, the language, and the kind of government, the history is more focused on later civilizations with more evidence
3) foundation for ritual sacrifices for future civilizations
4) administrated the Mesoamerican region from 300 to 600 CE
5) Aztec Empire knows it as "the city of the gods"

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 00:59:21

MQ6: What kind of influence did Chavín exert in the Andes region?

Because of Chavín's location on trade routes, Chavín was able to diffuse its religious ideologies, which later started a widespread religious cult. The cult provided an amount of economic and cultural integration to the Peruvian Andes.

Is there anything I am missing? Is this answer concise? Please let me know.

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 08:34:27

The spread of the Chavín religion was accompanied by the spread of Chavín architecture and art styles, and turned Chavín into a pilgrimage site/training grounds for all religious people.

Marissa Kapp and Jacqueline Touchet

20/9/2016 17:17:38

Jacqui and I came up with a margin question regarding the Bantu religion.
How does the Bantu religion compare and contrast to major Eurasian religions?

Contrasts:
- Generally, the Bantu people placed less emphasis on a Supernatural or All Encompassing God, whereas an omnipotent God is present and is a major focus in Eurasian religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.
- There was a popular belief that angry witches were the reason why bad things happened to people in the Bantu community, whereas in Hinduism and Buddhism, bad things happened due to karma and your actions in your past life.
- The Bantu people believed in "continuous revelation" meaning new messages from the supernatural world could constantly be received, whereas in major monotheistic religions they had "once and for all" revelations from God.(Bible, Quran, and Torah)
- The Bantu religion had no desire to be universal, so it was geographically confined unlike Christianity which had strong evangelical impulses

Comparisons:
- Both the Bantus and the Chinese placed high honor and power in their ancestral spirits.
- The Bantu religion and Daoism placed a similar emphasis on the natural world rather than the supernatural world.

Let us know if we missed anything!

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 18:53:25

Another contrast could be the emphasis on the supernatural. In Bantu tradition, they relied heavily on ancestral/natural spirits and blamed witches for misfortune (which you already mentioned), whereas in Confucianism the supernatural was largely ignored. Do you agree?

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 18:55:16

Confucianism and Greek rationalism actually, sorry

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 18:57:27

Okay, I'm reading your comparisons and just saw the comment about Bantu and Daoism, and I guess I disagree with that. Strayer mentions quite a few significant examples of the Bantu interacting with the supernatural world...Did we interpret this differently? I'm interested to hear your thoughts

Jacqueline Touchet

21/9/2016 19:49:25

Strayer talks about how the Bantu religion had a strong emphasis on nature spirits rather than a Creator God. While Daoism has no gods or any kind of supernatural deities (such as nature spirits), it places a similar emphasis on the importance of connecting with nature. I do see your point though, and agree that this similarity is a stretch because while the Bantu religion sees great importance in nature spirits, they are still spirits which is very different from how nature is viewed in Daoism.

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 17:35:40

MQ5: Connection: In what ways did Teotihuacán shape the history of Mesoamerica?
-despite being a single city, had a wide influence and encompassed many people
-cities attracted foreigners, spreading Teotihuacán culture
-long-distance trade
-size and prestige lead to other's imitation of architecture and art styles
-military presence in Mayan cities
-diplomatic relationships

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 17:39:17

MQ7: Description: What features of Moche life characterize it as a civilization?
I'm not sure how to go about answering this- describing through SPICE themes, or establishing characteristics of civilizations and identifying any that show up in Moche? Anyone?

Bingham

21/9/2016 09:49:11

How about this.
What features of Moche life characterize it as a civilization?

The Moche civilization dominated a 250-mile stretch of Peru’s northern coast, incorporated thirteen river valleys, and flourished for seven hundred years beginning in 100 C.E.
The Moche economy was rooted in a complex irrigation system that required constant maintenance.
Politically, the civilization was governed by warrior-priests, who sometimes lived atop huge pyramids, the largest of which was constructed out of 143 million sun-dried bricks.
The wealth of the warrior-priest elite and the remarkable artistic skills of Moche craftspeople are reflected in the elaborate burials accorded the rulers. The Moche craftspeople are renowned for their metalworking, pottery, weaving, and painting.

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 17:10:05

It helps me to think of big ideas when I remember answers. I consolidated your answer to: duration/sphere of influence, advanced agriculture/economy, political organization, social hierarchy, specialization/artistry.

So then, this implies that these are all features of civilizations. But we know there are civilizations that don't exhibit a political organization, such as the Niger River civilization. Would you modify my statement in any way, changing "political organization" to something broader like "societal organization", or would you keep my statement the same while recognizing the Niger River civilization as an exception? Do the cities along the Niger River qualify as a civilization?

I guess I'm checking to make sure I am thinking about this in a correct way. Is there any error that should be pointed out? Thanks so much

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 16:39:21

I added that Teotihuacán was admired by the Aztec Empire, known as the "city of the gods", because that shapes history a thousand years later. Do you agree? It might be too specific

Amy Vaughan

21/9/2016 19:23:43

No I think that is really important! I would agree that legacy falls under the category of influence.

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 17:51:34

MQ8: Description: What was the significance of Wari and Tiwanaku in the history of Andean civilization? (I interpret this as their legacy)

When both civilizations collapsed, they formed many small kingdoms, one of which developed into the Inca Empire. Because of this, the Incans retained Wari and Tiwanaku's imperial ways, state systems, (Wari) highways, and styles of clothing and art. The Inca even claimed Tiwanaku as their place of origin.

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 18:05:27

Are you getting tired of my comments yet? Well, here is a margin question that I made up: compare/contrast Wari and Tiwanaku

Comparisons: (there are a lot, perhaps why Strayer grouped the two together)
-large urban centers, monumental architecture, pop. in 10,000s, stored surplus foods, consisting of geographically separated colonies, exchange b/w distant centers, unified by capital's prestige/influence, ideas spread beyond political borders, similar religious symbols

Differences:
Wari: terrace farming, walls of stone & mud, organized city layout, highway network
Tiwanaku: raised field farming, fitted stone walls, less centered political control

Owen DeMarco

21/9/2016 22:21:32

Your comments are more helpful than any other resource... including the book.

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 18:30:04

MQ7: What features of Moche life characterize it as a civilization?
1) complex irrigation system
2) developed state- no separation of religion and state- with ritual sacrifices

This is a similarity I found with the Roman and Han Empires
3) susceptible to aggressive neighbors while also having internal social tensions

Is there anything that needs to be added or expounded?

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 23:04:36

I tried to think about this question in terms of the overarching themes of civilization. You already covered agriculture and state/cities, so here are the others I identified:
-(agriculture) adding to "complex irrigation system," there was also a prominent fishing industry
-(architecture) they had monumental architecture in the form of pyramids
-(social inequality) elite class of craftsmen and warrior-priests vs lower laborers (ex: weavers, farmers)
-(specialization) extremely specialized craftsmen

I'm not sure if this measure of organization is really that efficient. What do you think?

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 17:17:34

Amy, you list craftspeople as part of the elite, but have weavers in the lower class? Are you separating weavers from craftspeople? Sorry for the confusion :)

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 18:43:13

Here is what we got in period 5 when answering MQ9:
In what ways did the arrival of Bantu-speaking peoples stimulate cross-cultural interaction?
1) spread Bantu languages (clicks)
2) absorbed and adopted practices from Batwa
3) adopted sheep, cattle, and grains in East Africa
4) spread diseases
5) forced migration of other people
6) enriched by sugarcane, coconut, and BANANAS from Southeast Asia
7) spread iron technology

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 20:32:23

I think Bingham answered this too, farther up the forum, if you want to compare your answers. I'm pretty sure you've got it though. :)

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 21:49:24

I noticed that as soon as I refreshed. Did you see how I responded to MQ7? Do you have anything to add?

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 19:01:38

MQ10: In what ways were the histories of the Ancestral Pueblo and the Mound Builders similar to each other, and how did they differ?

Similarities:
1) Both had a wide and loose network of exchange
2) Agriculture was based off of crops in Mexico, such as maize and corn

Differences:
1) The Mound Builders hosted an independent Agricultural Revolution
2) While the Ancestral Pueblo originally built below the ground, the Mound Builders built above the ground
3) Mound Builders had larger settlements after corn-based agriculture
4) The Mound Builders came from a long history of mound-building, whereas the Ancestral Pueblo was a start-up culture

Anything else to add?

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 22:05:27

Additional similarities:
- advancements in architecture
- urban centers
- established social inequality
- semi-sedentary

Differences:
-Pueblo (Chaco) had more direct contact with Mexico

Do you agree?

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 22:06:44

another similarity!
-focused on astronomy

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 22:21:10

How did they establish social inequality?

Amy Vaughan

20/9/2016 22:51:20

Pueblo people had an elite astronomer class, and the Mound Builders had an elite class ("honored people") and a commoners class ("stinkards").

Eliza Pillsbury

20/9/2016 23:09:10

Guys. I'm pretty sure you answered all of the margin questions. WOW! GO YOU.

Taylor Scott

20/9/2016 23:19:40

BPQ1: "The particular cultures and societies of Africa and of the Americas discussed in this chapter developed largely in isolation." What evidence will support this statement, and what might challenge it?

Support:
1) America had absence on domesticated animals (13 of 14 are in the Middle East)
2) because iron did not play a crucial role in economic and military life, the Americas had less developed metallurgy
3) writing was confined to certain areas and people, such as the Maya
4) when Eurasian control, Nubia centered on the southern city of Meroe
5) no state structure in Nile River could be a result of not knowing how other civilizations function
6) Mesoamerica and Andes had little to no contact
7) interactions between chiefdoms and city-states

Challenge:
1) Africa was adjacent to Eurasia; therefore, interaction occurred
2) Both Meroe and Axum used trading routes to gain power
3) common culture of Mesoamerican region, such as religion or agriculture
4) Teotihuacan's presence in Maya heartland
5) Chavin used trade routes to spread religion among other things
6) Bantu's migration caused stimulated of cross-cultural interactions
7) Ancestral Pueblo and Mound Builders brought innovative food from Mexico
8) large network exchanging

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 19:05:00

Could you elaborate on "interaction between chiefdoms and city-states"? How does that support the idea of isolation?

I believe you went about this question by pointing out distinctive characteristics that seem isolated in nature, and then connecting those unique features to the isolation of the societies in which they developed. And then the examples challenging are ways in which cultures did interact. Am I correct in saying this?

Taylor Scott

22/9/2016 00:03:48

I'm glad you caught that, Eliza! I meant to put interactions between chiefdoms and states under challenge, Inevitably, you are correct because I followed the order in the book when I was answering the question?

Eliza Pillsbury

20/9/2016 23:27:03

Okay, I'm jumping in, albeit a little behind.

The first Seeking the Main Point question threw me off, because it seemed very similar to MQ1. However, I did not get the same answer for the Seeking the Main Point question as some of you did for MQ1. So I'm wondering how I am approaching the question incorrectly. My answer is below.

Seeking the Main Point: To what extent did the histories of Africa and the Americas parallel those of Eurasia? In what ways did they forge new or different paths?

Parallel:
- Urban centers
- Architecture
- Long-distance trading connections (Meroe and Africa)
- Written language (Maya)
- Imperial ambitions (Meroe and Axum)
- Centralized states (Meroe and Axum)
- spread of Christianity (North Africa)

New/Different Paths:
- Looser patriarchies, women could hold political authority
- Corn-based agriculture
- City planning
- Many peoples emerged without city, states, empires common to Eurasia
- No pastoral societies in the Americas

I don't feel confident in my answer. Does anyone have something to compare? Thanks

Eliza Pillsbury

20/9/2016 23:28:50

I noticed that there were some more specific similarities between African and Eurasian civilizations than the Americas, which I would attribute to Africa's frequent interaction with the Mediterranean world.

Amy

20/9/2016 23:29:57

I'm working on a chart of all the civilizations/peoples mentioned in this chapter if that is helpful to anyone. It's not done, but I'll try to finish it tomorrow. Hopefully this link works :)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EBsBE2-wW2Wxsh-A6I_zCh7KdsdDRutcT87zsdfv9YE/edit?usp=sharing

Sofia Puccio

21/9/2016 15:59:27

BPQ 3: How did African proximity to Eurasia shape its history? And how did American separation from the Eastern Hemisphere affect its development?

From interaction with Eurasia, Africans had access to more productive crops and domesticated animals. Trade with Eurasian peoples allowed for the flourishing of civilizations such as Meroë and Axum. Some African societies also practiced Eurasian religions such as Islam and Christianity. Conflicts in Eurasia also adversely affected some parts of Africa, especially North Africa (specifically, when the Romans destroyed Carthage).

American separation from the Eastern Hemisphere meant they had no access to the productive crops in Eurasia, so less civilization formed in the Americas. There were no pastoral societies because there were no domesticated animals (besides the llama). Additionally, Americans had no immunity to Eurasian civilizations, so they were extremely susceptible to contracting deadly diseases following the arrival of Colombus.

Taylor Scott

21/9/2016 17:09:06

By less civilization do you mean that populations were smaller (because the Americas couldn't produce as much food in the Eastern Hemisphere because the Americas didn't have plow-based farming)? I would also add the topic of metallurgy because iron tools and weapons were not as important in the Americas.

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 17:12:10

I think this is a fantastic answer to this question!! I echo Taylor's statement. Try adding some specificity to "less civilization"?

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 19:41:33

I would also add metallurgy, as Taylor said, and the scarcity of written language in the Americas versus in Africa.

Amy Vaughan

21/9/2016 19:58:51

Did Strayer ever clarify whether iron-working originated in Africa or Eurasia?

Amy Vaughan

21/9/2016 20:02:23

Africa was also influenced by Eurasian practices of imperialism and slavery.

Taylor Scott

21/9/2016 17:26:54

BPQ4: ("The histories of Africa and the Americas during the second-wave era largely resemble those of Eurasia." Do you agree with this statement? Explain why or why not?) seems very similar to Seeking the Main Point: (To what extent did the histories of Africa and the Americas parallel those of Eurasia? In what ways did they forge new or different paths?)

I agree because...
1) urban centers developed
2) developed own type of architecture
3) long-distance trading connections
4) written language in Maya and Meroe
5) had Imperial ambitions in Meroe, Teotihuacan, and Axum)
6) some had centralized states
7) spread of Eurasian religions in Africa, such as Christianity and Islam

I don't agree because...
1) cities without state structures
2) lack of pastoral societies in the Americas
3) food production in Africa and the Americas was slower (humus in Africa; drought and lack of plow-based agriculture)
4) number 3 leads to smaller population because of sustainability
5) there were less tense patriarchies (examples include Meroe rulers and in agriculture of Bantu Africa, there was the pre-eminence of women seen as workers and innovators)

anything else?

Eliza Pillsbury

21/9/2016 20:04:14

I have a few things to add, but I'm not sure if they're correct.

The Niger River occupational caste system resembles India's caste system.
Most African/American societies were closely connected to the supernatural, unlike Confucian or Greek rationalism's ideologies. (I'm iffy on this one because some Eurasian civilizations do resemble this emphasis on the supernatural. What do y'all think?)

Amy Vaughan

21/9/2016 21:46:16

Greece and Maya had similarities in that they both consisted of warring city-states.

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 6, Everywhere Else

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Bingham

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