HIS 103 Ashworth College World Civilizations African Societies Questions
Threaded Discussion Instructions
Review the threaded discussion question posted by the course faculty. You are required to submit at least two (2) responses to this question by 11:59pm EST on Sunday. The first response should be to the faculty; the second response can be directed either to the faculty or to other students in the class. Your responses should be substantive, and reflect analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as, a thorough understanding of your reading assignment. A typical response should consist of 100-150 words in a single-spaced format. Refer to the TDQ Rubric below for more guidance on how to respond.
Describe the early societies of the Middle East. Discuss the main features and achievements of early Northeast African societies. Identify the main features of early Indian society and culture.
In this discussion board forum you should be able to, pick one, analyze the early societies of the Middle East, and hypothesize how these early societies impacted the development of later civilizations. Or, compare the main features and achievements of early Northeastern African societies and report how these features aided in the establishment and development of African societies. Or Distinguish the main features of the societies of the early Indian societies and cultures, support how these features helped other civilizations in India to develop.
In your choice of topic you should be able to evaluate its impact upon the region in which it developed.
Your reading assignment for this week (chapters 1, 2, and 3) described several early “civilizations,” emerging out of the Neolithic Revolution which established sedentary agricultural societies, in what was to become Europe and Asia. (These are not the hunting-and-gathering groups that preceded them.) These societies emerged around the Earth as the ice sheet receded, as people settled mainly along bodies of water–rivers, lakes, and the oceans–and they abandoned their previous primarily nomadic lifestyles. In the Fertile Crescent of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers of Southwest Asia, along the Nile River and coastal regions of the Mediterranean and Western Europe, among the lowlands of Central America, on the banks of the mighty Indus River in South Asia, and scattered among the major rivers of China, our early ancestors planted their societies and created their cultures.
As we study these early civilizations, it is apparent that in some ways they were different, but in other important aspects, they were similar. In fact, avoiding getting hung-up on the specifics, they tend to be more similar than different. So, please briefly describe similarities among the early civilizations of America, Europe, and Asia, in terms of their material culture (their “stuff,” or artifacts), their social Relationships, their political, economic, and religious Institutions, and other cultural Values. Please provide at least one specific example for each of the categories: cultural, social, political, economic, and religious. Along with referencing your textbook, you might draw examples from the Power Point lecture notes included at the end of your Reading Assignments section. How were their artifacts similar, and in what ways did they similarly use them? In what ways did they similarly construct their societies? And, how similar were their political, economic, and religious institutions?
Your second response, or critique of another student, should be at least one to two paragraphs and do the following: state what you agree with as to what is written; state what you might not agree with; and, add something else to the discussion. It is expected that you will be on your best netiquette when you respond to either my of other student’s writing.
Students Response Part 2:
In Northeastern African societies, most North Africans settled near the Nile River, where they clustered in farming villages along its fertile floodplains. These villages eventually formed the foundations of large, complex, dynamic societies later called Egypt and Nubia. Religion played an integral role in the life in Egypt. Egyptians worshipped many gods, including their rulers. Central to Egypt’s worldview was the concept of ma’at, the universe’s elemental order, which encompassed truth, justice, harmony, and balance. The rulers called pharaohs were powerful, godlike figures whose main duty was to maintain “ma’at”, without it which there would be chaos. Ancient Egyptians made momentous contributions to culture, knowledge, and communication. They produced many artworks by decorating temples and tombs with splendid paintings and sculptures. They also charted constellations, created a calendar, and practiced medicine based on natural remedies. They even invented an accounting system and developed mathematics to advance their architectural and engineering skills. The most influential early West Asians were the Hebrews. Who developed a monotheistic faith that would serve as a basis for some of our current today’s most influential religions which are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
