Chapters 1 through 3 gives a brief history of the beginning of mankind and early civilization.
Chapter 1 introduces the Paleolithic Age and emergence of homo sapiens in Africa and the gradual migration to other parts of the world based on a gathering and hunting means of survival. The only deliberate migration was to the Pacific by canoes. Migrants to the Pacific brought with them plants and animals and unlike the migrants to the other parts of the world, had an already systemzied hierarchy and rules for society. The other societies were small, had no class systems, and were very simple. Strayer states the first human societies were overall tanquil and socially equal, however, there is evidence of physical competition between males and wife beating. I thought he could have elaborated into why this may have been and what problems such a simple socitey had that resulted in this type of aggressive behavior. It was interesting to read about the two Paleolithic societies of the san of south Africa and Chumash of southern california. However, I would have liked to have known what their reactions and views of the "modern" world are, if they even had any.
Chapter 2 discusses the emergence and effects of agriculture to societies. I thought too much was spent comparing the agricultural beginnings in the different regions of the world. I was more interested to read about the effects it had on the regions and the types of societies that came to be. I found the early settlement of northern China and chiefdoms of the Pacific islands most interesting. Northern China's earliest society seems to have been very organzied and structured and thought it intriguing that they used kilns and pottery wheels . I picture a very serene socitey. The chiefdoms of the Pacific, to me, seem to have been more militant and abrasive, putting emphasis on power and entitlement.
Chapter 3 explains the beginning of civilizations. In my earlier years of education, I remember there has always been much emphasis on the study of civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, the emergence of city-states. I liked how Strayer gave reference to the first civilizations to other parts of the world such as Peru, Pakistan and China and Mexico. I thought he could have gone into a little more detail on the Chinese dynasties and its cultural continuity.
