Trade has played a large role throughout history in the development and expansion of religions, economic growth, philosophies, diseases, agriculture, ways of life, and specialization. Trade has enabled such diversity and development, but today trade focuses only on economic power and control as opposed to a learning tool.

            Trade used to symbolize development. If we look back at early civilization, trade was considered a major catalyst for religions like Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucism. As noted by such historical forums such as history-world.org, trade influenced the societal traditons we use today. “The early civilizationsin the Middle East and North Africa served as generators of a number of

separate and durable civilization traditions, which can still be found in

civilizations around the Mediterranean, in parts of Europe, and even across

the Atlantic.”  While trade spread the modern traditions that we see in the world today, our modern trade system does not reflect the same ideals of development.

            The United States, as well as many other countries, trade today embodies the ideals of economic growth and economic status. Goods and services are traded for other goods and services, or for a monetary fee. This is a starch contrast to the trading of philosophical ideals, and religious traditions.

           

Why does our modern day society feel that they no longer need the influence or inspiration of other countries and cultures? Our world today seems to be confident in what has been developed and too comfortable in our ways that we cannot continue to grow and develop? What will the history books reflect other than developed technology from our time?

Reflection: Religion in History

Reflection: Religion and History

            Religion has been an integral part of history since the beginning of time. There has been a long time battle between historians and religious figures regarding just how much religion had to do with history and the development of societies.  Strayer notes, “The implication-that religions are at least in part a human phenomenon-has been troublesome to some believers.” (195, Strayer) Humans have been developing since the beginning of time, and what that means is up for discussion and the center of so much religious and historical controversy. 

            Historians can argue that history has been traced by evidence from each era. Evidence, to a historian is tangible. What is not tangible is the personal experiences of such religious figures throughout history, like Mohammad and Jesus. “How could such experiences be verified, when even the biographical details of the lives of the Buddha and Jesus are difficult to prove by standards of historians? (p. 195, Strayer) Strayer points out that historians rely on facts, artifacts, and hard evidence to document a historical landmark. The word of mouth and perceived personal experiences may be expressed, but there is not necessarily a way of verifying that they actually occurred.

            While there may not be any hard evidence of such personal experiences with the Divine, a religious response to such speculation would be of course these events actually happened and the mere act of questioning such events is insulting. “These religious traditions have justified the vast social inequalities and oppressive states of human civilizations, but they also have enabled human beings to endure the multiple sufferings that attend human life and on occasion they have stimulated reform and rebellion.” (p.196, Strayer) The author points out that religion, and the very act of having something to question and explore, has provided and continues to provide the human race with the strength and purpose to continue to evolve as a species and civilization. Without religion history would not have evolved as it did, and some of the civilizations would have ceased to exist. 

            These two conflicting viewpoints are very controversial amongst historians and religious groups. While religion has been present throughout history, it is hard to imagine our society evolving the way that it has.

Reflection: Early Civilization

            Taking a look at the earliest of humankind makes one think about where we came from and how we came to be who we are. Whether an early farmer or a Pharaoh, civilizations have been evolving for thousands of years.

Some of the very first Homo sapiens to evolve into a community focused on their very primitive needs to survive. They did this by hunting large animals, gathering fruits and berries, building shelter, and organizing a workable social order as to ensure that they continued to have their needs met. Technology developed as the needs of our ancient ancestors evolved. The first use of boats and the use of ocean canoes and fishing gear led to the use of trade to make sure each community survived. Communities traded everything from feathers and stones, to herbs and grains. While trading aided in survival of some, some societies were unable to survive and disappeared throughout history.  Men and women divided the workload with women gathering and men responsible for hunting. These roles were relatively equal in rank. 

From the Paleolithic way of life came the Neolithic way. In the new Neolithic society, farming emerged and humans were learning how to manipulate the earth according to their needs.  This idea that the earth is for “our” taking is at the core of controversial ideals of how mankind evolved. As noted in our text, “And so was launched the continuing human effort to “subdue the earth” and to “have dominion over it”, as the biblical story in Genesis recorded God’s command to Adam and Eve.” (p. 27, Strayer) Embellishing the idea that humans can mold and manipulate the earth, farming grew to become not only a way of nourishing the communities, but also an economic platform for years to come. The agricultural revolution coincided with the end of the last ice age due to climate changes, and population began to increase dramatically because of these new conditions.

While farming did have its benefits, it also had its lessons. The physical labor and hard work required to farm led to deteriorating health and shorter life span.  I believe it was this hard work that led to the division of class amongst these villages. The higher up in the social ranks you sat, the less work you had to do. This era saw the first uses of slavery.

While some of the most basic yet necessary aspects to our modern day society grew from our early ancestors, so did some of the current social turmoil we see and have seen throughout history. The author of our text notes, “In popular usage, “civilization” suggests refined behavior, a “higher” form of society, something unreservedly positive. The opposite of civilized- “barbarian”, “savage”, or “uncivilized”- is normally understood as an insult implying inferiority.” (p. 89, Strayer) While those in the Neolithic society may regard their early ancestors from the Paleolithic time as uncivilized and primitive with how their communities were run, I believe that quite often, we found the behavior that was exhibited and developed by the Neolithic era to be much more uncivilized despite the evolvement of technology and the developmental beginnings of language and mathematics.