Well, Hello There!

As you can probably figure out, my name is Julian and I'm taking a World History class. For the following 14 or so weeks I will be reading sections out of Ways of the World by Robert W. Strayer and Eric W. Nelson. Each week I will post my thoughts about a section we are currently reading. Enjoy!

Prologue and Chapter 1  8/30/17

Let's start with the Big Picture. Humans have some sort of interpersonal connection with one another when it comes down to storytelling. Storytelling could be as little as a little good night story and as big as a family tradition that is shared though generations. In todays time, we just turn on the television and flip to the History channel if we wanted a quick dose of history. Hundred of thousands of years telling stories amongst others was a form of education of their past and daily occurrences. 

Now learning a little background, they're are 5 era's we are learning in this class: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Ancient, Classical and Modern. Paleolithic era also known as the "stone-age" was most commonly full of people who hunted and gathered. During this time our ancestors mainly gathered foods such as nuts, berries, roots and grains. Those who did not scavenge for fruits and nuts, hunted live animals or scavenged of the remains of dead animal. Hence giving them the name "Hunters and Gatherers." Our ancestors spent a lot of time in the Paleolithic era. 

Around 12 thousand years ago agriculture and faming started to emerge. This was a technological breakthrough that led them to advance into the Neolithic era (New Stone-Age). During this time areas across the world starting inventing new technologies that started to set them further into the future. Migrations into Eurasia found newer technologies in hunting. Hunting habits were altered and the formation of the spear took place giving them a much better chance properly executing their game. Most important, cave paintings were widely discovered depicting drawing of animals and horse. In Australia invention of boats were very common. With boats being properly accessed, gave our early ancestors opportunities to fish as a source of food.

During the Paleolithic era, many societies were formed each having their own little differences. With in there own little groups consisting of an average of 35 people, close bonds were formed. Many people think this was a barbaric time, but little did they know that they were wrong. This little societies were rich and full of spiritual connections. In the text "One scholar refereed to them as 'the original affluent society', not because they had so much but because they wanted or needed so little" (page 22). If you truly understand what that text says, then you fully grasp how enlightened our ancestors were.