Weekly Assignment

Weekly Assignment

Question: Is 'Change' a Good Thing or a Bad Thing? (Relate to the origins of art, the agricultural revolution, architecture and urban planning in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley).

                Change is an overall good thing. There are many examples of good change that can be related to the origins of art, the agricultural revolution, and architecture and urban planning in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. Many great changes happened during the Paleolithic age, Mesolithic age, and the Neolithic age. During most of this time, mankind was learning new techniques to make living easier. They changed farming habits and social habits. Without these changes, humans would not have the necessities they have today.

                In art, change is a good thing. Art is important for understanding human behaviors. Some paintings, sculptures, engravings, and eventually pottery show what was happening in the social systems, some spiritual concepts, and the peoples’ way to find food. As this art changed so did the way of living. This was depicted in the art. Colors were also of importance. Some of the easier colors to use were yellow, brown, red, and black. White was a little less common. As time went on and tools changed, the colors in the paintings changed as well. This gave people today a better understanding of what was really happening at the time and what the surroundings or objects truly looked like. Some of the first art is the cave are in the Lascaux Caves. This had the basic colors. Cave art consists of the basics: human figures, animals, tools and weapons, simple local maps, and symbols. Art changed for the better; all these basics became more complex and more intense in later times.

                The agriculture changed for the better as well. The agricultural revolutions started in the Neolithic Age. Farming was the first started when a few people, by accident, dropped some seeds on the ground. The seeds later grew and the people took the idea and started growing crops. Irrigation, invented in Mesopotamia, was a drastic change for the people. It increased the food supply and watered the land. Farmers were eventually growing grain, fruits, and vegetables. The next step was domesticated animals. Then the farmers used wooden plows pulled by oxen. This was an easier and faster way of farming. The people dealt with a great deal of problems though. Temperature change was a big problem. The farmers had to cope with the changes for growing their crops. The only animals that survived were the one that could stand the severe weather. The people learned all of the new techniques through trial and error, but agriculture changed for the better with this process.

                In Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley, architecture and urban planning changed for the better. In Mesopotamia there was an Ubaid period, which was when urban societies were created. Through changes, this area became known as Iraq. With change and development of Mesopotamia, it eventually became one of the best and socially complex areas. Some of these areas became incredible cities, such as Uruk and Nippur. There were four civilizations were writing was first invented. In the Indus Valley, there was great change too. It covered almost 1.25 kilometers of land. The buildings were made of brick and stone, which was a great, new change. The area had a drainage system, wells and water storage, and developed systems of weights and trade.  The people made jewelry, game pieces, and toys. Things were definitely changing for the better. The people would learn more advance ways of art and ways to layout their city, the most important city being Harappan. Historians are able to look back at the structures and objects to learn more about the people.

                In these examples, the people, the art, and the agriculture change. All of these changes leave the people in a better situation then they were previously in. The changes the people of Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley went through create positions for people in the future to change positively as well. Change is not always the best thing, but in this situation, it was great thing. The people survived, art progressed, and agriculture improved. Because the people survived something must have changed in a positive way. Art has changed and proved that life did become better. Agriculture improved because farmers found a way to use fruits, vegetables, and livestock. Change is a great thing, especially in the art, agriculture, and the planning in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.

Sources:

http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/indus/home_set.html 

http://www.arthistoryarchive.com/arthistory/prehistoricart/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/81385/prehistoric_agriculture_a_brief_overview_pg2.html?cat=32

http://best.berkeley.edu/~mesa/comm/group_1/louis.html