WW Part 2 Ch3-Ch6

WW Chapter3- Chapter6

2^nd Wave of Civilizations – 500 b.c.e. to 500 c.e.  We see “Mesopotamia civilization absorbed by into larger empires of Babylon an Assyria. Indus Central Asian, & Norte Chico civilization collapsed or faded away. Egypt too fell victim to a series of foreign invaders. The end of the Olmec civilization looked like they “razed and then abandoned their major cities even as their style spread to neighboring peoples. And China’s Zhou kingdom fragmented into a series of warring states.” (109) Apparently during this times there were many things causing the changes, fading away and abandonment of earlier civilization, people were developing in the way of living, developing a culture, different languages, way of writing and ways of expression the art, scripture and stories. “New smaller civilization emerged, Ethiopia, West Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.” (109)

The 2^nd Wave of Civilization of Roman Empire, Han Dynasty China and Mayan would also perish but not without leaving us many of their traditions, stories, culture and customs. The Roman Empire arose from an unknown small city-state to become the most powerful empire with an emperor as the ruler Augustus (133). Known to have conquered “almost the entire word” (136), made up of many ethnicities and ends in 476 c.e. China known as “all under heaven” (136), made up of primary Chinese peoples and ends in 220 c.e. Later we see the Renewed China in an attempt to restore old traditions from the Han Dynasty and created their own empire with Qin Shihuangdi “first emperor” as leader. (134) During this renewed China was also the time of Confucianism Era that created “China’s imperial State and political power that lasted into the twentieth century.” (136)

The 3^rd wave 500 to 150 c.e was a renewed China, Western Europe, Russia, Japan, West Africa and now we see civilizations who emulate one another in styles. Islamic for example had elements from Egypt and Mesopotamia. (110) Population growth of these civilizations may have in some cases been a curse to their demise and not a benefit to their sustainability. This wave brought about the “”Wisdom Traditions”, Confucianism, Daoism in China, Hinduism & Buddhism in India, Greek Rationalism in Mediterranean; and Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam in the Middle East—have provided the moral and spiritual framework with which most of the world’s peoples have sought to order their lives and define their relationship to the mysteries of life and death.” (112) Religion and spirituality becomes a movement spreading throughout the different civilizations who construct structure, monuments, sculptures and pictures in honor of the gods.  Burials sites and funeral traditions become a significant part of these civilizations, as they would bury valuable trinkets and jewelry with their loved ones (Moche 280). The co-existence of these civilizations not only brought population growth it also brought diseases as each had their own exposure the different climate, insects and animals.

               The Greek civilization was a unique civilization where they gave men “citizenship” concept took place but limited by wealth and well born men” then eventually gave way for the Farmer men the right; something that got noticed by others peoples. They also were able to defeat a much bigger Persian Empire once in a “Battle of Marathon” 440 b.c.e. which was one significant time that divided Europe into two. Persia represented – Asia the East and Greece represented – Europe – the West. The Greek civilization also brought forth the “Golden Age” (125) of culture, sculptures, philosophers and the Greek language became powerful at the time intermingling with other civilizations. It is fascinating to read about all of these civilizations and their determination to survive or at most to leave behind evidence of their existence.