The Divine Right of Kings and the French Revolution

When first reading this passage from King James I, I immediately thought of the Divine Right of Kings, and what he explained about it, in the context of the French Revolution. One of the main causes of the French Revolution was the people’s limited amount of power and equality held between the monarch and the rest of society. France was an absolute monarchy which ran in accordance to the Divine Right of Kings. Ironically, one of the major shifts which occurred during and after the French Revolution was the transition from a primary belief in religion to beliefs of science and rationality. Before the Revolution, however, society operated completely off of the structure of the Church, and religious status indicated and controlled everything about an individual’s life. That is why France functioned governmentally by an absolute monarchy; the Divine Right of Kings identifies a king as a god, representing divine powers and attributes, making the King the closest individual to god. The king was the highest religious official, therefore had the most, and all of the power to control France entirely. Logically, society would not rebel, as they too believed that religion defined every aspect of life. Therefore, they respected, obeyed, and followed the king as he was the closest one to god. He had the power to create or destroy, give life, send death, etc., which are all attributes of god which everyone throughout society attempted to obtain. But, they could not as the king’s power, authority, and life came from god himself, allowing him to have all the potential power at his hands, just like god does. Interestingly, in the second paragraph, King James I makes a profound distinguishing point as he draws the line between the two different types of kings. One king is elected by the people as their character and effectiveness serves for the law. The other king is appointed (assumedly by god) and set out on conquest to achieve civility and policy (law). King James I defines himself as the second type of king, as he is self-determined to obtain the reputation of a king who was careful to have his law observed by his governed people, and to hand over his governed and government to the king which will follow him in the order which he found and manipulated it. This is exactly what the people of France detested of regarding their governing structure, as the kings were merely a line of generations of the same family, because supposedly, their ancestor(s) were placed in such a position by god himself. The Divine Right of Kings hands over the right to govern to an individual whose ancestors were on a holier level than all others, therefore making them as holy, giving them the right to power. But, as France shifted from religion to rationality, the Divine Right of Kings did not apply to society or the government itself anymore, as it spoke of things considered incorrect, or irrelevant; the overthrowing of the absolute monarchy and the Divine Right of Kings was a foreshadowing, in a way, of the way governments would be designed to function as today: for the people and of the people. Regardless, King James I states that kings have the power of god beside them, but to use such power without good reason, rationality, or unlawfully, they are betraying the very force which provides them with their power position. King James I, in a way, foresaw the French Revolution, and set an example for kings to follow him that even though the Divine Right of Kings appointed them as divine and godlike individuals, it does not give them the power to deprive their governed of their rights and humanity; kings should use their power and enlightenment with reason, rationality, good will, and lawfully. Clearly, Louis XVI didn’t get the message.

The Effects of Feudalism

How does government effect society? In what ways does it do so?

Government and forms of leadership is the defining factor of a society in history. All components which make up a society depend upon and operate according to the governmental structure which it functions under. Consequently, if the government is influenced, changed, or effected in any way, an equal effect would be felt on all components of the governed, as well as the governed institutions which makeup the societal foundation. But, if the government makes an improvement or success, that triumph is sure to be felt throughout the foundations of society, including aspects such as the economy and instated laws. It can be said that history is generally made when change happens, and one of the biggest changes which can occur happens in government and the way a society is ran and functions. In Europe, Feudalism is an ideal demonstration of how the government effects the very foundations of society with every change it undergoes. Feudalism, the new principle of law and governing structure of Europe between the ninth and fifteenth centuries, vastly influenced the entire population of the continent, as well as how it operated and abided by aspects of life. Firstly, the way by which the government, or positions in society (rankings) were taken was drastically changed as a result of the shift in governing structures. Under Feudalism, no one was “crowned head” or “sovereign”. Instead, the King, lords, vassals, and people (serfs) were joined by a contract, all part of a symbiotic lifestyle; Feudalism worked as a mere relationship and mutual responsibility, so to speak. Although there was still a notion of supremacy, it was a much more involving and inclusive structure than it was before. Thus, we see the first change which Feudalism imposed on society, as it was an encompassing governing effort, opposed to a monarchial system. Additionally, because of the serf-lord contract, there was everything but a shortage of work, surplus of production, and a great amount of food! Feudalism redefined the way a peasant lived their life, as the lord provided them with everything they strived to attain themselves: protection, food, work, occasionally money, and a home. The “manor” of the lord became the village, which included housing of the lord and peasantry, vast farmlands, and more. Rarely would a serf abandon the lord and their estate, as they would loose everything the lord provided. The people also received the administration of justice, something which was quite challenging to obtain before Feudalism was instated in society. Part of the justice was the right to food, as the peasants received a portion of the produce which they worked for. Essentially, Feudalism reestablished the way common people lived their lives, making them a much more participatory and influential role in society. Not only effecting social class, Feudalism also influenced the economy. With the lord and serf relationship, and all the giving (lords) and working/receiving (peasants), money was not very much needed as no currency was being exchanged! Virtually (in Europe), no money was being circulated since the new currency was forms of work and loyalty. This, of course, had an immense effect on the economy as Europe was pretty much removed from the economic edge of things for a good while; they might have sold produced materials and goods, but had little intake as they sustained themselves from what was being made/had locally. The government dictated the economic flow and status throughout the society which it governed. Lastly, Feudalism was in great support of and greatly impacted the religious role of leaders and beliefs in society. As the manorial system was based agriculturally (land-wise), it makes sense to say that the clergy and religious officials were incredibly supported during the reign of Feudalism and they were the ones who owned such lands, and therefore, good and workers. The church in Europe held much of the land in form of manors, as the lords were primarily (if not all) religious officials and members of the higher clergy. Therefore, an increased importance of the church was imposed throughout Europe as the governing structure was based off of religiously related leaders. Feudalism illustrates how a governmental structure of a society completely redefines the way it functions and the principles which its population operates by, as Feudal standards made an enormous impact on how European society functioned lawfully, agriculturally, socially, economically, and religiously. Governments develop standards by which societies regulate upon, making the governing structure of a society one of the key components which defines such a society and the way which it is managed; this also makes a profound effect on history itself. Feudalism totally redefined Europe, as well as the history of government and leadership as we know it.

Pericles Funeral Oration and Leadership Qualities

In class today, we defined the two required qualities by which a leader must possess in order to be considered successful, or a good leader (according to Plato’s cave, generally). These were wisdom and the ability to gain followers and convince people via using one’s wisdom for good. While reading Pericles celebrated funeral orations, I interwove these to characteristics into the picture. For the first quality, Pericles applied his evidently massive amount of knowledge and wisdom to conjure up one of the most influential and impressive orations which made a clear effect on the outcome he was looking for in addition to the influence which the speaker had on approaches to leadership throughout history. Clearly wise, Pericles put aside all other disputes and disagreements and simply made an extreme effort to force upon the notion of a united city state. He then used Sparta, the enemy, as a base of contrasting and conflicting points from which Athenians support; in other words, he contrasted everything negative of Sparta to the positives of Athens. Naturally, this fostered a sense of superiority and confidence in all of Athens, and began to force citizens to view Pericles as a worthy and beneficial leader for the city state; people began thinking in terms of nationalism rather and individualism. This powerful transition from these two states of mind ideally portrayed Pericles’ qualified characteristics and passions, showing off his wise perspective and approach to the threatening situation at hand. Through versatile tactics, he developed the thought that Athens, its beliefs, its values, and its people are worth saving, and in order to do so, the city state must follow its proclaimed leader: Pericles. Standing for something bigger than himself, Pericles proved his wisdom beneficial and positive, qualifying as a leader for Athens. Concerning the second characteristic of a leader (the ability to use the wisdom for good and attract/convince followers), Pericles basically provided a sense of community and supremacy throughout his speech which further produced a large crowd which agreed and were soon to become his followers, establishing his governmental structure. “Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors', but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit.” This is specifically interesting and applicable as by the means of amplifying Athens's institutions and foundations to a point where it directly effects the entire population, Pericles provoked a sense that this was everyone’s worthy fight with an awaiting deserved and triumphant victory; the way to get there was by following and abiding by Pericles. I found it interesting how he put the city state in front of himself, which compares to the assumption of a leader: the leader of c country--not the leader of the people. I have come to the conclusion that a leader must assume a position bigger than himself in order to completely direct the country in the right direction, and Pericles does exactly that, as he disregards himself and assumes a position which is bigger than himself, only to benefit the ones he is leading. This process allowed Pericles to gain such a vast amount of followers; along with his wisdom and ability to do god/convince, Pericles proved to be a worthy and good leader for the city state of Athens, as the Funeral Orations perfectly encompass his leadership qualities and successes in his reign.

Plato's Cave Analysis

In what ways can you connect Plato's cave to our study of government and leadership?

Plato’s cave has two groups: the ones who have shadows cast over their heads and the ones which (prisoners) and the puppeteers. These groups have distinct differences which establish the separation between the potential leaders and history-changers to the followers. The first group stares at their shadows against a wall via reflections from a  large burning fire above head. The fire imitates the sun, providing a mock source of enlightenment and clarity of reality. To the ones casting shadows on the wall, the cave and only what consists within it is their reality, as their source of enlightenment is simply the shadows themselves. The second group are the puppeteers, who are more advanced than the prisoners below considering they know the shadow are not “real”, but are still constrained to the same fire and the same confinement in the cave as the ones below in the chains. Both groups represent the make up of society; society (the cave and everyone within it) is not reality, but rather a false one. When connecting Plato’s cave allegory to principles of government and leadership, one can find an easy connection: leaders are the ones who begin their journey at the lowest point in the cave and through an extensive process, end up emerging from the cave into reality, redefining everything that they knew about life. Then, such an accomplishment will allow them to return in and out of the cave using their leadership qualities to attract and obtain others to follow them--this establishing a leader-based society, or in other words, a government. The leader must first understand that the shadows are a result of the fire as they are merely projections of the bigger selves which the prisoners can become; it is a foreshadowing, as all leaders must start at the bottom level, the shadows forecast a view of the bold and towering individuals which will sprout out of that level in the time to come. After understanding the concepts of the shadows, the individual must then comprehend the means by which those shadows are made and effected: the puppets via the ones on the “higher” level in the cave. The puppets are a metaphor for the notion that people can help create and blossom a leader’s qualities and animation, and are used in order to allow the leader to gain eminence as well as develop his knowledge of reality even more. This is done through the process of observing and understanding the fire. The fire is the source of all light. The light is the source of life, learning, and holds the capacity by which the leaders will soon uphold and surpass. The enlightened leader (with assistance from the fire, puppets, and shadows) will then discover that this reality is not the reality that they want to see, as the culmination of their leadership skills are put to the test when the individual ascends out of the cave, transforming the fake (cave) reality into the reality which exists as the outcome of the leader’s transformation; realities are created and destroyed as leaders emerge, dictating reality’s presence and composition. Once a leader understands what reality is (their reality to be exact), they are able to reenter the cave and enlighten the imprisoned--the leader acts as the new fire. They inform the prisoners in the cave about what is in store for them beyond it, and passing his leadership qualities along, the leader becomes the key to the new reality for the prisoners. The act of taking the people and allowing them the opportunity to delve into a new reality via convincing, creating, and a lengthy process, illustrates the establishment of followers to a leader. Followers are essential in a leader’s success, and in addition to followers, the cave allegory and leadership process is similar to the establishment of a government; governments are made up of a leader(s) and followers which are drawn in and abide by the leader since they confide in him as much as he confides in himself (leader-like quality). Thus, the foundation of leadership and governments come from the emersion of a group of people into an entirely redefined reality, so to speak, as an individual or group of individuals provide them a convinced and self-assured better reality. The cave is the starting point which the leader is to base his to-be-developed new reality as it defines crucial components which make up or break down a structure of society--components which are to be determined by the leader himself. He receives this power from the inhabitants of the cave, who believe that this leader is something special and to believe in because he did precisely what they could not. The cave is the assessment of a leader, which provides the qualities and materials which a leader needs in order to successfully establish what will become the new cave. Successful leaders throughout history are the ones who take what was before them and redefine it to establish a new reality, and gain popularity as they convince others that their new reality is improved from the previous one; the old cave to the outside. 

The Balance of Leadership and Citizenship

What was the connection between leadership and citizenship in Ancient Greece?

In Athens, a direct democracy was instituted in society and controlled the foundation of government. This dictates that every single citizen in Greece was consulted and had a strong voice on each decision and actions that was being carried out by the governmental structure. However, there were a large number of qualifications needed in order to have such a strong say in the government of the region. These include financial, age, and gender guidelines which must be met and have minimal leniency by which an individual can become a considered “active” part of the government. This means that all participants in the government had to be considered and declared a citizen. In addition to the guidelines listed above, state qualifications also had a role in determining who would become a part of the leadership organizations and make decisions which would have prominence and effectivity throughout the region. Citizens needed to participate in the military practices and pay certain taxes, as well as abide by a specific set of laws which governed the greater society, in order to be recognized as a citizen. Once granted and earned citizenship, individuals were allowed to and did play a significant role in governing and leading Ancient Greece through history. This meant that realistically, merely free and independent men were allowed to have a say in government and their ultimate lives! This brings up the concept of the struggle to find a balance between leadership and citizenship. Leaders are “supposed” to account for everyone in the region and direct, choose, and live according to the best and recognized interests and benefits; therefore, shouldn’t the governing system have taken everyone, free or not, qualified or unqualified, into account and rule and govern them? If a direct democracy truly calls for an accepted and wide range of citizenships, why was the governmental structure and properties to selective and executive? I believe that it is because of the solid and positive leadership structure instituted in Athens; that the leaders in the region and government used their power and availability to options in order to make a leader-like decision regarding the population as a whole! The leaders and governments thought it was (and it probably was) the best thing for everyone to be ruled and governed by people who were the most experienced, exposed, involved, and overall qualified. As leaders, they were looking out for the population’s best interests, and it was in their favor that they did not have a random and unreasonable individual ruling their lives, therefore making the governmental acceptance process a strenuous and selective one, but only because it was in the interest of the people. The leaders of Ancient Greece proposed and installed a method in society by which they could most effectively and surely direct and develop society into the best possible future and to make their history a good, effectual one. As leaders, it is their job to make decisions like this based solely off of what they believe will allow their governed society to reach their full potential in development and existence, the question is when is it taken a step to far. Citizenship is merely a method utilized by leaders to select the ones best fit for the power position which the government holds; its a valuable tactic, but as the process gets too selective and overwhelmed, societies tend to develop into the opposite form of government where citizenship isn’t even taken into consideration: monarchy/oligarchy, etc. Citizenship is vital in sustaining a balance between the leaders of the people and the people themselves.

The Stasi's Approach to Leadership

When I was watching the beginning of the film in class today, I tried to make the connection between this movie and the overarching concept of government and leadership. In retrospect, the movie ideally captures the essence of leadership and the significant role it plays in all different cultures and civilizations throughout the entire world. Particularly in this sense, though (in my opinion), the film portrays the negative aspect of leadership and how the notion of leaders have the potential to allow its constituents to reach new heights, but to decide whether those extremes are positive or negative is in the eyes of the beholder. In this case, I view the concept of leadership is being used to reach negative heights for greater society, and the leader(s) were doing exactly what a leader should do the opposite of! The Stasi monitored and controlled every single aspect of every individual’s life in their area of jurisdiction in Germany. They would not allow for any discrepancy in society that did not accord with their strict laws, regulations, purposes, and philosophy. The dictionary definition of a leader is: the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country; a person followed by others. As the second part of the definition may be true and apply to the situation at hand in the film, the first concept scarcely satisfies the actions, conditions, and principles of the Stasi. The Stasi were central leaders in society, looked up to, respected, accepted, and evidently a significant role in the daily life of a German citizen. As leaders, they lead, commanded, and regulated German society and civilizations in order to fit the shape which they intended for the country to head in; one which they think is the most beneficial, valuable, and merely, best! Therefore, utilizing their leader-like qualities, advancements, and power, the Stasi grasped Germany by its reigns and took every step necessary to whip the country into shape and force it to fulfill the criteria which was set by the Stasi, and for the Stasi. Ironically, a man once said that government is for the people and of the people. This is exactly the conflicting point to what occurred in Germany; their government (the Stasi) was instituted by the leaders of the country, and merely, for the leaders of the country. As they tried to protect and stabilize the population to reflect the individual/greater benefit to the communist cause, the people agreed to it, but only because they had no other option. The Stasi evidently took their power seat and used it to institute what they thought was best and right for society. But, thinking in terms of what leaders have the potential to do, it can be said that the Stasi did the wrong thing! Instead of focusing on specifically on their jurisdiction, they could use their power and apply it internationally, bringing together other countries (Germany included!) and establishing a wider, more potent power. Additionally, the Stasi could have provided minimal limitations to society, allowing it to prosper and thrive in all potential areas. In other words, use their power to indirectly elect and appoint others to make a country-wide power instead of an individual-based power. If artists, writers, singers, actors, etc. were able to fully express themselves and connect with society on greater, more intimate levels. If this were able to happen as a result of the alternative approach to leadership taken by the Stasi, the country would have the potential to reach even further heights; history has shown that when societies and diversity all culminate into one, combined power, the greatest achievements, successes, failures, and catastrophes occur. By definition, if something changes history, significance and authority is gained; the Stasi did have en effect on history, but it could have had a bigger one if it used leadership to its full, positive, and intended possibilities. In the film, the leaders of society are shutting society down of all actions that are not in accordance with what the leaders themselves abide by. They are leading themselves as well as their followers down on a decline, whereas history has been improved and extremely effected when the leaders as well as the followers work together to change it; the Stasi had the wrong approach to leadership, and consequently, an unfavorable history as well.

Chicago Heat Wave: Individual Meanings

After reading the interview with Eric Klinenberg, the foundation of the history class was a pressing thought in my mind. I continuously thought of how history, and the capacity of historical events is completely dependent on the source at which is receiving and retelling it, making history a total compilation of different individual thoughts, perspectives, and recordings. In the interview, many questions were asked along the lines of how was Chicago during the heat wave, and how did people deal with it, and how many people were immensely effected by such a disaster. His answers were consistently answered in two different parts: both from two contrasting and opposing perspectives. Particularly, in this event, social class and economic standing was a clear contributor to the capacity of the disaster, so her divided up his responses with different recording of people who were emerged in different economic conditions. Consequentially, those in poor economic standing and conditions were extremely more devastated and impacted by the heat wave, whereas the people in the higher class and richer economic conditions saw a less prevalent effects on their lives. The exponential difference between such classes obviously made the disastrous environmental catastrophe escalade to higher heights, as the contrast made developed into a bigger disaster than the nature itself. Regardless, the review of the disaster was drastically different based solely off of the individual who is explaining it. The interviewee told of the large amount of suffering senior citizens who, in retrospect, were not especially wealthy and in such good standing. Therefore, they didn’t have the options and the resources that were available to others, leading to a calamitous ending for such individuals in the lower class. Meanwhile, people in higher economic standing had a much smoother (still rough, but better) and sufficient experience when it comes to the heat wave. With them, they had the money, resources, choices, and fallbacks by which they could utilize in order to accompany and sustain their lives in such a catastrophic time period. The explanations and recordings of the individuals who had more money and options available to them were an improvement to the ones from the poorer levels of society. This difference relates to how we need to approach history by historiography, in opposition to merely accepting and applying the details and information revealed without recognizing potential biases and misconceptions of the truth and actual happenings. The interview of a dispersed individual in the Chicago Heat Wave of 1995 is an ideal example to prove such a point, as it serves as evidence that two descriptions of the same event can (and usually are) significantly different, and cannot be understood and applied to the same extent. We can do two things with the presented contrasting information. One, we can use the difference between the sources to understand important issues, separations, and characteristics of the society at the time, and apply such findings to understand the core of the sources, and answer the question why it is written like it is. Then, we can understand (a little better) the differences and take the firm information that is presented without distractions and misunderstandings from such a source. The Heat Wave interview perfectly demonstrates how history is the analysis of different perspectives of an event, as the heat wave was a completely different scenario all depending on (in this case) the social and economic standing of the individual.

Highlighting the Issues

Are environmental catastrophes and disasters truly environmental?

When reading the Modern World and Chicago Heat Wave of 1995 sections in the textbook, there was one passage which really struck me. In retrospect, environmental disasters grew to such extensive capacities because of the complex and flawed society it was enveloped in, not (entirely) because of its eminence and natural effect on the environment and humanity. Many times, natural disasters have made such an indent on society because of the way society itself was established; the disaster merely highlighted them and in a way, challenged them, to force humanity to see that maybe it is not the best institution and that it must be rethought or abolished completely. Environmental disasters are something that underlines the structure of society and shakes that basis in order for it to regain the “balance” or agreement with nature; humanity must live in accordance with natures law and intents. In the case of Hurricane Katrina and the Chicago Heat Wave, both disasters were unquestionably devastating and horrific for humanity to bear and cope with, but its societal institution made it all the worse for humans as a whole. Both instances highlighted the issues of social and economic class is society, and how equality and a balance between each individual was something considered absurd and outlandish then. With Katrina, the people with the money and the resources had the capability and the availability of options by which they could choose from and decide how to survive and sustain themselves and their loved ones throughout the disaster. This, of course, upset, aggravated, and fueled the individuals in the lower class to revolt and highlight the fact that they had zero options and were completely stuck in the disaster itself and its aftermath. Clearly, this is unfair, unjust, and a sign of the corruptness of social and economic classes in society. As devastating as the Hurricane was environmentally, the true humanitarian disaster came as a result of the inequality of society and the limited options and efforts which were made in an attempt to better the lives of the people who were directly effected by the disaster. Simply, Hurricane Katrina was an environmental disaster which then further prompted humanitarian installations in society to be seen as corrupt, negative, or deficient, which then grew the catastrophe to new proportions, making it the pressing disaster as it was; but, categorizing it merely as a natural disaster is misleading--it was so much more than just an environmental obstacle. In the case of the Chicago Heat Wave of 1995, when reading the interview, it becomes clear that the community of Chicago was greatly divided, and clearly the most prevalent division dealt with economic statuses. At the time, the wealthier side of society immediately utilized their resources to better their situation and improve their living style to better cope with the major issue at hand. But, the ones without the resources, being the poorer class (a great part of the population), senior citizens, etc., took every step needed to obtain any measure which could improve their individual well being and condition. This, then, developed into an entirely new issue of supply and demand, greatly effecting the economy itself, and also destroyed many institution which parts of society heavily relied on, including power sources. As everyone was trying to get everything they could get their hands on in such a desperate time, great commotion and changes underwent throughout society. This, obviously, made dealing with the heat wave even more difficult, and forced the natural disaster to make an exponentially larger impact on society than it was meant to/would have if society was different. Evident in both Hurricane Katrina and the Heat Wave of 1995, environmental disasters have grown to new heights simply because of the flawed humanitarian institutions in society, and the disasters are merely a method by which such foundations are highlighted, and seen to need to be changed in order to improve and better prepare humanity for the next natural disaster or obstacle that we will be confronted with. 

The Cycle of Challenges

Given the results of the Industrial Revolution, how did humanity approach new challenges and obstacles, including war?

The Industrial Revolution dawned a new era of technology and perspective which mankind applied to its everyday life. One key component which enabled humanity to take such a substantial step forward was the progression in the concept and execution of mobility throughout the world. As the world progressed technologically and militarily, people simply became more mobile because there was a pressing need to do so in order to completely defend oneself and be victorious, overall. But, in warfare, the trench system proved mobility at its worst, as it became an inhumanly disgusting place. Since mobility was a key element in approaching and conquering militarily related challenges, the trench system seemed to be a full-proof and efficient plan in order to station and contain the soldiers. Trench warfare was the dominant technology which was utilized throughout World War One. Soldiers would eat, sleep, fight, go to the bathroom, live, and die in these trenches. Obviously, it became quickly overflowed with wastes and was incredibly unsanitary, as an understatement. Rainwater also destroyed the trenches, as excessive rains filled up and overflowed the trenches, drenching everything with water. The combination of water and all other wastes fostered an unavoidable disease and corruption in the trenches, ultimately making them a grave rather than a passage to fighting and therefore living (hopefully). This disease turned into something on the scale comparable to the Black Death, demolishing countless amounts of soldiers and environments. 

The sprouting of new elements to life and technology (eventually warfare) led to mobility, which is presently an enormous credit to how we know so much and plays an inconceivably large role in modern day life. But, the trench warfare disasters and diseases serve as proof to the notion that such developing technologies continue humanity on a deadly path and cycle, going from bad times to good times (as things are being further developed), leading to times which are too good, which are almost impossible to sustain, therefore eventually going back to bad times and restarting the cycle again from there. Essentially, humanity continues to come up with new methods by which it can use to benefit and improve the efficiency, quality, and condition of their lifestyle; not only is technology part of these progressions, but social class, economy, politics, etc. are all results of this cycle, striving for improvement which is realistically impossible to achieve. In other words, humanity has gotten to the point where it has outdone itself, running out of options of things to develop and investigate, therefore drawing too big of a scope for itself to attain. That is why the environment steps in to reset humanity back via methods such as disease or a natural disaster, which forces humanity to rethink, redevelop, and reinstate the ways by which we live that does not set an unattainable goal for itself, allowing it to thrive, relate, and prosper with the surrounding environment. The environment is simply a mechanism which sets humanity on the correct/towards the correct direction that will allow it to reach its full potential to best approach new challenges and obstacles at hand.

The Black Death PAPER

Purpose: To sustain Renaissance/Florentine culture by writing (he is a humanitarian) and documenting the spread, symptoms, and societal effects which the Black Death had on society and culture. The writer was incredibly passionate about having his current living style maintain its prevalence, order, and stability throughout the times following the Black Death, but throughout the passage, he makes it become clear how devastating, changing, and potent this disease was, and that his loved culture was destroyed into pieces as death, devastation, and chaos swept the population.

Argument: To point out the devastation in Florence caused by this disease, in an effort to make people feel sympathetic for his wants and needs, and to improve society as humanity is degrading. He makes his case clearly and powerfully as he describes the several difference approaches which citizens of Florence took to escape, accept, and fight the deadly disease. He also states how there was minimal support that people could use and seek when in need, as society was extremely developed in humanitarian areas of life, yet there was not much medical knowledge and advancements, so people were left with instinct, something which lead many down a poor path.

Presupposition: The writer, writing with a cultural edge, presumes that the readers understand the significance of culture in Florentine society, as well as how all the advancements which were made during the time period allowed humanity to reach new levels, but fall short medically (implying for extensive medical knowledge to be implemented in society following this pandemic). He also did not realize the extreme contrast in Florentine society during the 1300‘s which would develop (somewhat) as a result of this pandemic; not expecting such a drastic change in medical understandings and implications in society over time, the author did not realize how readers, perhaps in Florence today, would view this differently than if it were read a few years after it was written. As the difference presents difficulty to fully understand the importance and relevance of what is being said, the contrast between today and then was not presumed by the author, allowing us today to miss significant points and values which he expresses.

Epistemology: In comparison to the secondary source we read (textbook) about the Black Death, this source provides a much more vivid, emotional, and passionate response, providing more detail, perspective, but also more biased/room for interpretation according to the reader-author relationship. Although, this text does support the drastic effects, changes, and consequences which the disease had on humanity as described in the textbook, but this source focuses in on a specific area geographically and culturally speaking, detailing about the effects as seen by Florentines and humanitarians. From this text, one thing that we learn that is indisputable and cannot be interpreted as different, is the prevalent effect that this disease had on humanity, and how it forced humanity to question its very own humanity, assessing the situation off of a non-human point of view, as something of this proportion had never been thought of our death with before in human history.

Relate: Repeated pattens in both the textbook and this primary source include the progression of how humanity approached, dealt with, and viewed the entire spectrum of the pandemic. But more historically speaking, patterns of the corruptness of mankind, the environment, and culture emerge from both sources, as one can clearly understand that the Black Death was a result of the imbalance and interfered relationship which humans held with the environment as well as one which humans held with themselves and aspects of their lives (such as culture). These patterns of relationships have appeared several times in both readings, emphasizing the significance of the consequence which the disease made on human history and the way mankind moved forward from the first symptom which showed up.

The Industrial Revolution and Humanity's Progression Patterns

How did the Industrial Revolution effect humanity’s relationship with the environment?

The Industrial Revolution changed the path that humanity was on, and accelerated the pace by which humanity grew, developed, and changed. Before this Revolution, people primarily lived and worked on farms which took up a vast amount of space, human labor, and natural resources in society. This strengthen the relationship which humanity had with nature, utilizing and optimizing their natural resources available. But, as times progressed and populations grew, farmers began to move into cities, causing great increases in city populations and resources needed to support such increase. In addition to such increase in population, there was also a pressing need for an increase of factories to produce goods. These factories would mass produce items such as food, clothing, and other goods which were to be distributed across the region. The mass production of such items and the usage natural resources placed a huge stress on the surrounding environment. As the pace of the demand of such resources increased, the ability of the environment to provide the necessary resources. This difference in the pace at which human need for resources quickened, and the environment ability to deliver such resources weakened the relationship which both shared with each other. Naturally, the environment is a much more powerful force than humanity’s ability to affect it. Therefore, humanity and nature much strike some kind of a balance between humanity's demands for natural resources and the environment’s ability to meet those demands. A main consequence is the notion of finite resources: all natural resources which humanity strongly depends on are finite and will eventually run out (e.g. coal). Natural forces teach humans that we must either slow down the rate by which they are using up resources or find alternatives to the resources that are currently relied on in society. Humanity has developed a blind eye and a deaf ear to this important question, as we are unable to face the idea that there are consequences if we do not do so. Considering how dependent and non-resourceful society has been for the past 100 or so years, and it is extremely difficult to make that change; but, when resources such as coal run out in the near future, humanity will face a new challenge along with the environment to fulfill the function which that resource provided for such a massive amount of people for such a massive amount of time.

RESEARCH DAY 2

Boodhoo, Niala. A Look at Rebuilding Haiti's Earthquake-Shattered Economy. United States, Washington: McClatchy - Tribune Information Services, 2010. http://search.proquest.com/docview/458455117?accountid=3360.


This explains that Haiti's economy was based of agriculture, as most of its population gained their profit and life agriculturally. It also states how Haiti will need to rebuild from the industries native to the country, including rum production. Lastly, it converses about how the fact the insurance and coverage is so rare in Haiti, it made the quake ever so more devastating. 




Merten, Kenneth. "Sunday Perspective: Recovery is Slow, but we'Re Working to Rebuild." Oakland Tribune, Jan 16, 2011. http://search.proquest.com/docview/840286719?accountid=3360.


This article explains what and how the United States is playing a role in the re-consecutuive improving economic structure of Haiti as effected by the quake (and before). It tell of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) that assembles relief and development projects in order to build a bridge between the beneficial US economy and the defective Haitian economy' what governments (mostly US) are doing to help.




Clinton, Bill. "Business can Help Haiti." Business Week no. 4166 (Feb 15, 2010): 84-84.http://search.proquest.com/docview/236800507?accountid=3360;magazine/content/10_07/b4166084349692.htm?chan=magazine+channel_business+views.


This is a quote/speech from Bill Clinton, which states how he believes that this is an opportunity rather than a disaster to redevelop and reestablish Haiti to become a country with solid infrastructure, etc. He suggests that business is the key to relief and to helping Haiti out of the ashes, as the economy will provide opportunity and investments for citizens worldwide to restart an economy which has the potential to better lives in and out of Haiti.




Guha, Krishna. "Rush to Restore Cash Flow to Economy." Financial Times, </span>, 2010.http://search.proquest.com/docview/250248775?accountid=3360.


This article describes how Haiti is simply running out/have run out of cash, causing the economy to be at a total stand still. It speaks of how all banks are shut down, there is little financial aid from governments, industries and plants shut down (textiles, etc.) allowing for no income or payments to other countries--no cah flow. It also tells of what some banks (the World Bank) are trying to do while inputting money as loans and aids to restart cash flow.




Klarreich, Kathie. "Haiti Earthquake Diary: Rebuilding a Sense of Community." The Christian Science Monitor, Jan 22, 2010. http://search.proquest.com/docview/746479718?accountid=3360.


This is notes from an interview with the Haitian Minister of Tourism, now the head of the earthquake damage assessment. He says the Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, has too big of a population than it was made for, and has a lack of the positions needed to be filled in order to have the city fully functioning again--it is the center of Haiti's and much of the Latin American economy. He also explains how there must be a government/leader that will lead the community in a direction where the economy has the potential to rebuild itself.

The Foreshadowing of the Black Death

Given the evidence of the bubonic plague, what role does the environment have in the decline of human population?

The environment requires a sense of balance in order for it to thrive and coexist with humanity. The balance between humanity and the environment is something which history has corrupted and forced to become defective and even to the point where it threatens humanity itself. In the instance of the Black Death, that is exactly the case. With humanity becoming ever so advanced, sizable, and elaborate (culturally speaking), humans got distracted and separated themselves from the surroundings which they were immersed in. Keeping in mind the notion of a balance between humanity and the environment, the balance was instituted since the beginning of human history, and the environment/nature has taken and will take any steps necessary in order to teach humanity a lesson that the balance must remain intact and healthy. One measure by which humanity has seen repeated in history, is disease. But, one disease grew into mass proportions, as it cut Europe’s population virtually in half. Now, the environment began this disease in the first place for one sole reason: to make the number of humans inhabiting the environment less, therefore recreating a balanced relationship between humanity and the environment, as there is a reasonable amount of space being taken up versus left alone, resources used versus resources maintained and kept untouched, to avoid potential over-pollution, etc. For whatever reasons, the environment felt the balance was off, and used nature to reinstitute it in society, whether the means by which it does so is pleasant or the total opposite. Using animals (rats, fleas), a powerful force in nature, the environment allowed for them to initiate a deadly, poisonous, threatening, and spreadable disease which effortlessly turned from a disease into a pandemic, classifying it as one of the worst natural diseases humanity has ever seen. Of course, the tactic nature used worked even better as it planned to, as human institutions and advancements allowed for easy spreading, exchanging, and fearing of the bubonic plague. Trading, a fairly new institution in society, among the Silk Road, connected almost all of the towns and nations in Europe and some of Asia. With instinctive contact, trafficking, and mistakable connections, merchandise which would eventually reach most establishments, traders who would come into other contact with humans across their journeys, and animals used in order to efficiently trade all caught, in some fashion, the disease and passed it along to wherever it passed and ended up. Trading was a vital element to the success of the pandemic as without nature’s help, reached epic proportions and effected an unpredictable amount of people. Fortunately for nature, the disease worked and allowed for the balance to be reinstated in society. With a huge fraction of humanity was wiped off of the face of the Earth, less resources were being used, more space was being left natural and undisturbed, and the overall environment was thriving as it did before humanity got ahead of itself. The Black Death is an ideal example of how nature presides over all human developments, and that humanity is a minority when it comes to the greater world and environment. This severe consequence should have been assumed by humans, and teach humanity the essential lesson to survival/to avoid any more pandemic such as this, that overpopulation and too big of steps forward will result in an enormous step back; it was a foreshadowing of the future/modern era of human history. Yet, with the massive proportions humans have grown to, we are beginning to be able to cure some effects which the environment throws at us, but are also on the edge of a great failure. Perhaps as humanity is progressing ever so much, history is being written. Or rewritten.

Sustainability of Nature and Civilization

Given the discussion on Mesopotamia versus the Mohenjo-Daro, and the Laws of Manu, how does a society sustain itself for the longest amount of time possible?

The Laws of Manu consist of strict laws by which the Hindus civilization lived accordingly to, all having a central theme of sustaining, protecting, and thriving the environment which surrounded them. Their civilization and structures which governs it ideally represents how a society must fulfill  all of the lower level of the hierarchy of needs in order to prosper in a societal place. Being such a complex and knowledgeable society, the Hindus people obtained their air, food, water and shelter from their environment around them in such abundance and quite simply, considering the astounding relationship they held with the natural resources and natures all around them. It is almost inconceivable to understand how the Hindus people understood the capacity and importance of how their society functioned and what they did every day. But, because their environment was the basis of their society, they were able to build up upon the hierarchy of needs and establish a working culture, including elements like religions, government, and law/punishment systems. The Hindus society and population has come a far way from environmentalism related laws and simple living styles, or since the textbook spoke of; Hinduism is a decently large practice today, meaning that this culture and peoples have sustained themselves from 200 CE to 2011 CE--that’s a long time. I think that this particular society was able to sustain themselves because they had a foundational relationship with their environment, therefore they worked together with nature, and naturally made it through most of modern history. Without the essential relationship and regulations they established (concerning the environment), there is a slim chance that the Hindus’ practices would have survived. I believe that societies like the Hindus was able to sustain themselves for an enormous and expansive amount of time whereas societies like Mesopotamia and Mohenjo-Daro because they were adaptive and allowed the environment to rely on them when other civilizations relied on the environment. Because of the Hindus remarkable relation and ability to apply nature into their daily life and foundational practices allowed them to adapt to whatever environment might envelope them--other societies were set in one location, and founded everything (if anything) on their surrounding environment; if something were to happen to it, or they were forced to move, they would not be able to adapt to a new surrounding because they previously developed an entire lifestyle off of one environment. Basically, it would have been too much of a change and the society would collapse and get lost in the midst of all of the adjustments. The Laws of Manu was the core of the Hindus civilization, and because it allowed the population to maintain such a natural and prospering lifestyle all according with the environment, it stuck with the environment and was carried along with wherever direction nature was headed in, allowing it to sustain itself to this day. 

RESEARCH DAY

1. Charles, Jacqueline. Politics of International Aid in Sharper Focus Following Haiti Earthquake. United States, Washington: McClatchy - Tribune Information Services, 2010. http://search.proquest.com/docview/456410514?accountid=3360.

This explains how the Earthquake prompted a new, nationwide economic uprising; as every country is out to get some of the action and hopeful economic strive from pouring money into Haiti, Haiti has turned into a pressINg conflict, as to decide where the money goes. Currently, this states most, if not all of the money is going to NGs, and it has become an issue as to which NGOs should receive the money, how it should be spent, and how Haiti can control aid agencies and reliefs. This raises a conflict of NGOs that says whether or not they are reliable, stable, and valid. It also effected Haiti's history of corruption (economically), and poses the question as to where Haiti should proceed for the better of every nation including itself.

2. Politician Makes Pitch for Donations to Haiti Earthquake Victims - and His Own Campaign Fund. United States, Fort Lauderdale: Newstex, 2010. http://search.proquest.com/docview/189705022?accountid=3360.

Interestingly, this article regards how the economic standing of the situation encompassing Haiti is a tactic to which politicians can gain popularity and prevalence. In other words, it explains how politicians are using the notion of giving money to Haiti and helping those in need, devastated by economic corruption, to get more people to agree and vote for them in the long run. Raising moral, ethical, and urgent questions, this article shows an ideal picture of how the earthquake corrupted the entire world, not just Haiti itself.

3. Morgan, Sarah. "The Haitian Earthquake's Economic Aftershocks." Smart Money: The Wall Street Journal, Jan 13, 2011. http://www.smartmoney.com/invest/markets/the-haitian-earthquakes-economic-aftershocks/

This article explains how the earthquake was a severe setback to Haiti as the disaster made a develping economy even worse than it was before--and it wasn't that good before. Being the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, all of Haiti's industries including tourism, exportation of products (apparel) and trade with other countries, the effect is sure to be felt in and out of Haiti alike.

4. Haiti to Need 11bn Dollars for Earthquake Recovery - Report. United Kingdom, London: BBC Worldwide Limited, 2010.http://search.proquest.com/docview/460146392?accountid=3360.

Compared to all other earthquakes which struck Haiti, based solely off of en economic standpoint, this one was the worst. This report provides the estimated amounts of money Haiti needs and it taking in in order ro recover from the disaster and start up a functioning society and economy yet again; it provides stattistic in all areas of development, such as territory, budgeting, government, industry, etc.

5. Picard, Andre. "To Rescue Haiti we must Look at Past Mistakes." The Globe and Mail, Jan 21, 2010.http://search.proquest.com/docview/382592141?accountid=3360.

This review tells of how Haiti was a disaster (man-made) to begin with, with poor infrastructure, homelessness, malnutrition, etc. Most of this is a result of the minimal economic development and opportunity which Haiti has seen over the past years, and now that it is in such a worsened state, countries nationwide should see it to learn from their mistakes which caused Haiti to delve into such a decline, and not create more dependency on outside nations for economic support, but to prioritize to establish a working economy with job and cash flow to rebuild Haiti from the rubble it was in before and after the earthquake.

6. "AAAS Caribbean Division Explores the Vital Connections between Science and Human Rights." Targeted News Service, Nov 01, 2010. http://search.proquest.com/docview/761407929?accountid=3360.

This article speaks of the enormous issues which Haiti faces, including HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, lack of educational systems, human rights, etc. and how the Earthquake caused a huge setback in efforts to relieve and solve these problems. Also, that these problems are a priority to rid society from, but are a defining characteristics of Haiti. It explains individuals and groups which have missions and goals to innovate which grasps Haiti and how the economy of Haiti helps to ensure the eminence of such issues in society, even more pressing with the earthquake at hand.

The Migration of Culture

Given the lack of technology at the time, how did the Bantu languages spread?

The Bantu languages spread drastically quick and distant throughout the regions surrounding its origin. While there is not a concrete answer as to how the language became so prevalent and dominating in societies, historians have many theories to answer the question. As civilizations and populations expanded, looking for more, bigger, and resourceful territories to live in, people naturally grew and wandered off to other places in search of a more suitable and "better" life. They cannot control what comes along with them, though. Especially in large groups, which is the case with the ones who speak such languages, they rely on their previous and established culture to guide them through areas which are unfamiliar and undeveloped, to them. Therefore, where ever the population settled at the end, they brought along their culture and lived accordingly so until the assimilated and comprehended the new culture which they were dropped into. As it takes time to understand and live by new cultures, it allowed for much of their previous culture, including their languages, to catch onto society and spread, as it was something new and very significant at the time, since there was not a universal language worldwide; people wanted to develop a language system which could be used not only in their society but others around them. Therefore, wherever the population ended up, that is where they would impose and influence their language, in addition to many other cultural aspects, on the population which they intruded on. The mixing of cultures and expansion of societies have a direct relationship with each other, as one increases, the opposite one increases and reaches new heights which were never conceived of before the interaction of different people from cultural backgrounds began. Eventually, cultures expanding and populations rising led to many collaborations of people from an assortment of histories who had a diversity of knowledge, which established some of the universal cultural foundations which society lives by today.

The Mohenjo-Daro and the Hierarchy of Needs (Mock Essay)

Given the hierarchy of needs, how did Mohenjo-Daro build up their civilization?

Currently, when I think of civilization, I think of the seven definition features of one: technology, culture, writing, government, religion, food, and social structure. But, when comparing those elements to the hierarchy of needs for civilization, I found that all of them, except for one (stable food supply) are all in higher categories than the first. In order for civilization to flourish culturally, sophisticatedly, and fundamentally, it must start with the physiological needs (first level), and build up upon that structure. Without physiological aspects in life, one can not establish safety. Without safety, one can not develop senses of love and belonging. Without love and senses of belonging, one can not grow esteem. Without esteem, one can not expect self=actualization. In other words, a society can not develop a system of trade before it implements ways by which it will obtain its food and water, because without that (the essentials for survival), there would be no life; without life, there would be no need or existence of a trade system. The Mohenjo-Daro utilized their surrounding environment and natural resources in order to fulfill the fundamental level of sustainability (physiological) which allowed them to expand their society to higher and more advanced elements of civilization, such as economics, social structure, and technology.

The Mohenjo-Daro society was located in strategically appealing position, considering it easily provided the establishment with one of the essential needs for survival that is a core foundation in the first level of the hierarchy of needs: water. Situated directly next to the Indus River, the Mohenjo-Daro population can fulfill their basic need for water conveniently and naturally. Since the river provided the population with one of its fundamental necessities, the civilization could begin building up to bigger and more primitive functions. Being right on the river, the Mohenjo-Daro has easy access and transportation, the civilization was able to control and greatly influence trade via waterways. Connected to a central river network, the civilization would be able to access and dominate trade routes leading to and from the location of the society. This is an example of a civilization that ideally utilized their natural resources and strengthened their relationship with the environment by putting what it provided to efficient use. They applied their lifestyle to the environment, and allowed it to fulfill both their physiological needs, and with that, addressed more advanced and sophisticated elements of civilization. The River provided water as well as a basis for trade and a developing economic system throughout the region.

A third physiological need which must be met in order for a society to be able to build up and address other elements of civilization is food. The population of Mohenjo-Daro lived in an environment which provided incredibly poor conditions to bring up livestock or animals. Therefore, the Mohenjo-Daro primarily focused on wild plant resources for food. With fertile and growing plants comes usable, moist, and healthy soil, a main construction resource which made the Mohenjo-Daro such a distinctive and advanced civilization. Using the soil and mud, made usable by the vast plant and raw material sources, the population was able to form massive mud brick platforms and structures, an advanced building technology which came to define some of what the society became. With the mud bricks, the society was able to grow to vast proportions, with massive mounds, barriers, and structures. In addition to mud bricks, fried bricks were also a newly developed technology which the Mohenjo-Daro used in big quantities. “The Citadel” was designed especially with fried bricks, comprising of structures such as a water tank (Great Bath) and many distinguishable doorways, courtyards, and buildings. Such building technology also allowed the population to construct methods by which if the River were to flood, the civilization itself would receive minimal damage. The citizens prioritized, and obtained food sources in order to survive, and based off of their resources available, only after, began to develop a system of technology. Using the environment to grow plants to provide food for the population not only allowed the Mohenjo-Daro to establish an advanced and concrete construction technique, but also kept the ecosystem fertilized, healthy, and pure. 

The building technology also helped establish a social structure in the Mohenjo-Daro society. With a stable and reliable food and water source, the Mohenjo-Daro were able to climb further up into the hierarchy of needs to institute another aspect of civilization in their society, but one that is not essential but has grown to become a pressing need in society. With evidence of different building strategies and materials, archaeologists were able to discover the establishment of different social classes. The city was divided into functional branches: the western mounds and the lower mounds. The two were built in different places, which described who lived there and what they did. The western mounds were at ground level or higher, evidently being the administrative centers. The lower mounds were built beneath them or lower than the administrative, representing residencies and industrial areas. This allowed excavators to develop a sense that there were shifting centers of power within the society. But, when observing the construction of artifacts and crafts, archaeologists were able to discover that the ones found made of precious metals, high fired stoneware, and rare materials indicated signs of wealth (via trade) and power. The technologies influenced the unmistakable social structure which set the rulers and wealthy class from the common people and lower class. This reflects the many social and economic levels present in the civilization, proving how progressed and developed the Mohenjo-Daro civilization was.

Essentially, because the population had already supplied itself with the physiological needs, they were able to climb up the hierarchy of needs and address each level with different aspects of civilization. Using their provided environment, the population initiated ways by which satisfy the first level of the hierarchy, allowing it to focus on the next level. Perhaps the Mohenjo-Daro can be looked at as a civilization which fulfilled the hierarchy of needs, and began to look towards other ways which civilization could prosper. This is a foreshadowing of many of the civilizations to come after the Mohenjo-Daro, as humanity takes too big of a step forward without accounting for the basic necessities which survival calls for, leading the unavoidable destruction and corruption of civilization.

Haiti Economic Effects Beginning Research Bibliography

Dougherty, Conor and Kathy Shwiff. "Earthquake in Haiti: A Feeble Economy, Knocked Flat." Wall Street Journal, Jan 14, 2010. http://search.proquest.com/docview/399096340?accountid=3360.


From The Wall Street Journal, this source allowed me to get a unique perspective strictly from a business point of view. The periodical stated a couple specific companies which have a base in Haiti, and explained how the disaster impacted their businesses and economic conditions. Providing statistics regarding the population's economic standings, damage costs, and overall economic flow, this article supplied me with information on how the business world sees the pertinent effect which the earthquake made on the Haitian economic system. 
(using ProQuest)






Berger, Sebastien. "Firms Assess Haiti Impact; 'We're Trying to Figure Out Where Everybody is'." National Post, Jan 14, 2010. http://search.proquest.com/docview/330857185?accountid=3360.


This article from the newspaper National Post provided a spectrum of details, explaining Haiti's economic state and plans dating back to 1999, and described its positive and negative strides all the way up until the disaster. Detailing about the catastrophically effective disaster, it tells of many country's perspectives and impacts which Haiti's earthquake had on them. This allowed me to understand the capacity of the economic disaster and how the process by which Haiti's economy improved and worsened, and eventually became as destroyed, if not worse, than it was before.

Uncivilized Civilization

Given the definition of civilization being a “higher form of society”, is civilization something that improves or worsens humanity?

In the dictionary, civilization is defined as the stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced. Although, civilization is merely a goal. It is a state which humanity, using the advanced developments and organizations, strives to implement into reality. Because civilization is considered as an implication of superiority and a refinement of human behavior, thought, and progress, its takes humanity to a superior level, therefore establishing a notion of supremacy, or something that humanity cannot attain. Therefore, civilization is simply a goal which humanity sets for itself and attempts to construct and live by. 

The opposite of civilized refers to inferiority. This implies negativity, yet is a viewpoint which many obdurately hold and see humanity as a whole as. If civilization had been achieved early on in human history, there would be little change in structure of society, but rather minimal revision which are deemed necessary in order to improve humanity and its way of living. Looking at history allows us to understand that humanity never achieved civilization as there has been countless major (and minor) alterations in society as a result of a revolution, conflict, question, or tragedy; the structure of humanity has rarely stayed consistent throughout periods of time. Therefore, humanity can be regarded as uncivilized, as it has never achieved a firm civilization, yet continuously achieved and refined uncivilized formations and attempts to realize civilization.

Even though humanity may be seen as uncivilized, it does not deem it negative or defective as the word generally implies. Realistically, if humanity had reached a solid foundation of civilization, there would have been little, if any progression or advancements in human history. Without change, nothing which society is built upon today would have been established; change is a byproduct of uncivilized actions. None of the major installments which would provide the basis of civilization, if established, would be feasible or developed without the results of inferior civilization (which is where humanity stands). Therefore, uncivilized civilizations should be regarded as extremely positive and beneficial rather than inferior and faulty. 

Taking this into account, humanity should set a goal of being uncivilized (to a certain extent) in order to develop civilized foundations, rather than attempting to attain civilization from the beginning. Basically, uncivilized civilizations are the key to successful and superior civilizations.

The Provided Environment

Given the notion of being (one of) the first populations of mankind on Earth, how can a civilization survive in the provided environment?

When first deciding on where to locate our civilization, our group conversed about what location had the essentials, or elements which could provide the essentials more easily, already there. We decided on placing our society in the current location of Chicago, Illinois, because we figured that it provided the civilization with three significant features, environmentally speaking, which would allow the society to sustain their population and live with the essential resources around them without needing to establish anything major. 

The location of Chicago supply the civilization with resources which could be used to their extreme advantage, considering the minimal developed relationship the population had with the environment at the time. Bordering the lake, one of the few extensive mass, fresh water sources in the region, fulfills the need for drinking water, water for crops, and water for livestock. Therefore, the population would not have to establish a substantial system by which water is transported from far away distances. The closeness and connivence of the water also eliminates the chance that the water become contaminated, dirty, or infested with organisms not native to it; this places the population at a high leveled advantage that allows it to prosper without the ongoing worry of a water source. Plus, it provides a heavily relied on food source, fish, which were depended on my countless of people to fulfill the essential survival need of eating. 

Being in the location they are issues the civilization with yet an another benefit of having multiple food sources surrounding them, whether it be a biotic or abiotic aspect of the ecosystem. Fish, being one major source of food, is the first provider. Also, the area is populated with bison, being the main crucial source of meat for the population. Bison supplies individuals with the nourishment needed for survival, as well as nutrients such as iron and protein, benefiting the individual’s health in addition to the need for food. Other biotic food sources include the many species of crops, such as corn and wheat, which are harvested and grown all over the region in the ideal conditions for growing crops which the location provides us with. The civilization immensely relies on the crops grown as other food sources as meats are more expensive and rare, whereas the crops are in abundance and supply similar and different nutrients to the population. There is also a population of pigs and sheep which were obtained from the western lands as the population migrated towards the lake and harvested, produced, and kept. Pigs and Sheep also go towards fulfilling the need for food as they are sources of pork and other meats. The livestocks and animals serve more than one purpose, though, as the civilization is passionate about using resources to their utmost potential. The bison and sheep’s outer coats, wool and furs, are skinned and used as clothing for warmth purposes during the harsh winters as well as materials for construction used to build structures such as houses and coverings (roofs for shade). 

Lastly, the area is abundant and densely populated with trees. The entire civilization is fundamentally structured around the usage of trees. The trees provide a natural and solid defense system, as the entire civilization is enclosed on one side by the lake, and the remaining borders are edged by thick trees. This blocks away all potential offenders and intruders. The trees also provide shade, as the summers become incredibly high in temperature, the trees are a natural source of shade which is really valuable during the hot seasons. Trees also supply wood, the resource which is used more than any other in the civilization. Wood is put into use for construction purposes as it builds the structures of almost all the buildings which stand. It also is the basis of the irrigation system which runs through much of the civilization providing water to areas distanced away from the lake. Using wood supplies a base which is sustainable through all seasons and is stable, sprouting all other resources to blossom and allows the fundamental existence of the population; without water, no biotic factors would be able to survive--wood allows them so prosper. Trees also grow leaves and house organisms which are essential to the environment. Without the high population of trees, little fresh oxygen would be given off to all aspects of the environment, and nutrients which they provide would be absent from society, causing a potentially huge environmental catastrophe. 

Being located in central North America provides this civilization with the environmental resources all civilizations need, right at their fingertips. It has a consistent supply of water, the proper conditions, land, and species to allow food sources to grow, and an abundance of trees which serve an unlimited amount of purposes. If the environment did not supply the population with their essential survival needs and other natural resources, the structure and concept of civilization would be much changed and establish a much more challenging lifestyle.