Intro to part 2 and Chapter 3 blog.

The second waves in civilizations and world history involved greater population growth, states and empires grew that were even bigger than the first civilizations. The first civilizations were fragile as time went on. So, Mesopotamia was taken over by other greater empires (Babylon & Assyria); Egypt was conquered by foreign states (Roman empire being the greatest at the time); Indus Valley became a desert and collapsed politically; the Norte Chico disappeared; the Olmec civilization also collapsed (Mayan collapse was noted as having a huge impact on population in the region);  and China's civilization was plagued by war.  After the First Civilizations; what changed and what didn't?  After these civilizations collapsed there was no going back:  new urban-centered and state-based societies replaced the first civilizations; smaller civilizations arose elsewhere in Ethiopia, West Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam & Cambodia so that civilization began to develop worldwide. These second wave civilizations also collapsed in time; The Roman empire, Han Dynasty in china and Mayan cities. The third wave of civilizations copied older patterns for example China. They borrowed from each other. continuity and civilizations, where the question is how the second and third wave differed from the first. The answer is they didn't differ very much. States rose and fell, kings ruled, women were kept at at a lower status than men, slavery was still prominent and there was a huge divide between the poor. There were no technological breakthroughs. Kings ruled over everyone merchants included. The first civilization was superior to the second and third because of agricultural developments. As far as changes in civilization went world population rose at an increasing rate, the size of states and empires grew even more than during the first civilization. Important innovations occurred; in culture and religion in Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism. The caste system in India made things much worse among other things. Communication and exchange improved; World trade grew as well. Basic economic and social patterns remained the same. In Chapter 3, I looked at Eurasian/North Africans in the second wave. By comparing there political and State structures. Here, culture and religious traditions, as mentioned above, are looked at very closely.

Extra Credit Blog Post - North Dakota Access Pipeline

Answers to the Questions of the North Dakota Access Pipeline 

Why is the North Dakota pipeline project controversial?

High potential for water contamination is a huge reason why the North Dakota Access Pipeline project is so controversial. If installed it would bring oil from the "Baakan Fields" eventually linking up to North Texas. Although this may seem cost efficient to some. Others especially Native Americans can agree that its harmful to the land and water supply.

What is historically significant about the way Native Americans are joining forces to protest this? 

For the first time every state and every states tribes are banning together to stop this environmental atrocity. Also to add, whereas previous protests from Natives have been brushed aside. This one in particular has been covered in main stream media across not only the US. but even internationally which include the First Nations from Canada.

 Are the Native American protestors trespassing, as claimed by some? 

Back in 1901 our 26th president Theodore Roosevelt encouraged by executive order established the conservation and preservation of our natural resources. While developing our nations National Parks. Theodore believed in conservation of the land just as the Native Americans still believe in protecting there own territory. Especially in the Cannonball Grasslands region. As claimed by some, the Native American protesters are the ones trespassing. When in actuality this is isn't true. Although, the pipeline hasn't established a final set route through this area. Natives and Environmentalists alike are still worried that it could possibly go through burial sites, water and other sacred sites. The land is owned by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. This tribe has owned the Cannonball Grassland region for decades since after 1876. It doesn't matter what tribe your from. You are always welcomed on a corresponding reservation. So all Indigenous people most specifically the Standing Rock Tribe, who own the land outright, are allowed legally because it belongs to them by treaty.

 Are the Native American protestors trespassing, as claimed by some?  Are they protesting within there rights?

Yes, the indigenous people are practicing within there civil rights. They have peaceful disobedience as well as there rightful perspective regarding there own land. Another point is that, as mentioned above, they are gaining the worlds attention. They haven't brought out any lethal weapons, hurt anyone, broke the law etc. They have tried to stay true to there culture. They stuck with the Martin Luther King theory of peacful protest as opposed to the Malcom X approach of hurting others for power.

Should Americans in other parts of the country support them?

They should support the Native Americans because of the need for clean drinking water, how it would effect the youth of the future, food, nature, the elders etc. We need to stop focusing on Fossil Fuel and find alternative energy sources.

Chapter 2 Blog Post - The Difference between First Civilizations

How did various First Civilizations differ from one another? 

The First Civilizations were marital around the time of 3500 B.C.E to around the time of 3000 B.C.E. With that in mind the various First Civilizations differed from one another. One way that these Civilizations differed from one another is that women were treated differently. In Mesopotamia society, men typically dominated the opposite sex. Women also from the Mesopotamia era who were married had to wear a vail covering there face. On the other hand if a female was a prostitute or a slave she wasn't required to do so. Now moving on to the Egyptian society. Women were allowed to make crucial decisions for themselves as well as others. More so than Mesopotamia women. A key factor is that all Egyptian women were allowed to put a signature on there divorce and marriage papers. Whereas women from Mesopotamia couldn't. They were also not required to were veils if they were married. The Mesopotamia women had a strict rule where it was not an exception.