In reading this text from the cover through Chapter two, I found myself focusing more on the people than the natural world. It's interesting how we discussed this in class, but I feel almost conditioned or that I am used to only exploring that aspect of history so as I read this text, I am going to actively try to focus on the natural world as well. In the first chapter, the author Strayer explains how the earlier civilizations were living in an ice age. Less water in our oceans created pathways to other continents and countries which is possibly how people could cross into another country or continent. Of course this is not the case for the present day civilizations due to global warming which many environmentalists are saying is happening right now. If that be the case, could another ice age be coming? Will history repeat itself? I don't know if I could survive in the ice age. I'm definitely a California summer-loving woman.
Page 21 illustrates more tolerant civilizations than we have today. It explains how the Paleolithic era didn't have a patriarchal society like we do today and women and men had more equality. In some cases women gathered more than half the food consumed versus the men who hunted game. I try to imagine what it would be like to be part of a society without some of the silly gender roles or discrimination and wonder if I would be happier. I am not sure because at the same time, these people had to survive without some of the luxuries we have today. In other words, I don't think I could take down a bear.
Page 57 goes into how civilizations began to form classes. There was slavery, commoners were beaten for striking someone in a higher class. Obviously as our societies became more sophisticated, people began to distinguish themselves. It makes me think of a movie that gave a great depiction of different classes and that is Titanic. The luxury of the first class passengers versus the third class was pretty sad. Especially when it came to the ship sinking and first class passengers were given the opportunity of survival in a life boat while the lower passengers were locked in. Even in a life or death situation, first class people were given benefits that were unfair. It makes us look almost less human and makes me question the mainstream as classes do still exist today.
