Second reading

Where to start? I decided that the most interesting portion of this reading had to do with the religion portion and how it came about.  I am taking a world religion class on Monday night so I enjoyed refreshing my mind on the area of religion I had just studied.  I found that it was very interesting that although people are at opposite sides of the world, religion  and values started to come into play at the same time.  I enjoyed the reading in Chapt 5 when they compare Jesus to Buddha.  Although their backrounds are significantly different and there time on earth was different, their teachings were similar.  They talk about them both being "wisdom teachers" whom challenge the conventional ways of the time.  They ask people to renounce wealth and express the importance of love, compassion and a moral life.  Some of their sayings were very similar. I just found that interesting that two totally different men from two different walks of life can be so similar.The Classic Era seemed to be the begining of some of our most prominent religions. (Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam)  All of these religions are still around today.They have survived centuries.

Reading about Caste and Class in Chapt 6 was also eye opening. I felt sorry for those people who are born into a caste and have no hope of ever moving up.  Birth determined social status for most of those people. At the top of the heirarchy was the priests known as Brahmins, then the warriors and rulers, the common people.  Below them were the servants.  To go outside the rules of your class was forbidden. Can you imagine your class defining your status in life? the job you can choose? the person you can marry? I couldn't even imagine living like that. You couldn't even eat in the same place or with a friend of a different class or caste.  I guess if you are raised this way, it may not bother you and would not know any different. I just think it sad that if you fell in love with someone that was a different class there would be nothing you could do.  It would be forbidden.  They talk of the untouchables. They don't even allow them to use the same drinking wells and make them do the worst duties.  Is that not discrimination? They talk about Karma...isn't that treating someone unkindly? almost abusive? (making someone wear a clapper so you can hear them coming).  All I know, is I know our world is not perfect now but I am sure glad I wasn't born an untouchable.

Documents- Considering the Evidence

Reading all the chapters gave me an idea of how our civilization started. However, as I read, my mind constantly wondered "How do they know this?"  This all happened thousands of years ago and no one was there to truly see what went on so how could they possibly know. Yes, I am a skeptic.  So at the end of each chapter they have the Documents- Considering the Evidence.  This is what I enjoyed reading most.  Each chapter had stories which helped me relate to the time and gave it a more realistic feel.  Is that what the author inteneded? Maybe. It worked for me. In the first chapter, I enjoyed the story of Nisa. I enjoyed hearing her tales of living in the bush and of how her relationship with her brother progressed.  As she told her story about her life, I felt I was there along side her learning about her culture.  She spoke of marriage and what was expected.  I did not expect her to be married as a teen,  have four husbands and numerous lovers.  When she spoke of her first husband and how much she loved him and how sad she was when she lost him, I did not expect her to blame God.  She said God is the one who destroys, not the people.  What a different perspective.  Her story was  full of life and I could sense her feelings through her words.  Out of the whole chapter, I remember her story the most because that is what I enjoyed most in Chapter 1.

In Chapter 2 they talk about the revolution of agriculture.They talk about plant and animal domestication but what I enjoyed most was the visual sources they discuss at the end in the Considering the Evidence.  This era was more than just agricultural, it was the begining of artistic innovations such as weaving, pottery, stone structures, sculptures and more realistic cave drawings that included human figures.  It was a way of recording history.  There was no writing but this was a way to communicate and pass on information from generation to generation.  They did not even know they were recording history.

In Chapter 3, the first civilizations are discussed.  It seems that as time goes on there is a heirarchy that follows. I found this chapter to be the most interesting out of the three as rules start to change, greed sets in,laws set and cities start to form. We see change in the environment too. However, what I found most intriguing to read was the Considering the Evidence section again.  I was baffled by The Law Code of Hammurabi. As I read the laws, I just found it interesting in how they used to think.  I enjoyed the Epic of Gilgamesh story as it seemed to be a lesson being taught.  I have always been a fantasy/fiction reader so I feel that I enjoy the stories more than the actual facts.  They seem to draw my attention in more and bring me closer to the people in the book.  I assume that is why Strayer writes in this form.  He needs to grab the attention of those who like to read facts and those who like to read fiction in order to explain history. Being that this is a 1000+ page book, I am grateful for his Considering the Evidence sections to keep me entrigued.

Extremely frustrated

I don't have my book still. The library called me on Friday after they told me on Wed. that they may not get it until -next week. I didn't want to wait so I ordered it online (from that other place, haha) and it is not supposed to get to me until the 25th. The library is closed on Sunday and no public library has it. I even went to Barnes and Noble and they won't get it until 7-10 days. Lesson... don't count on the school bookstore to have your book on time? Order from the other place?  I have class Monday nights and work during the day so I will be reading after work Tuesday night hoping that the library at school will have the copy available. If anyone knows any other source for the book please let me know. This is so frustrating. Guess I won't be posting my blog until Tuesday night. Apologies to everyone.

Just signed up,now all I need is the book!