Development and Diffusion of Human Society
This essay reviews the development of human society in Mesopotamia, diffusion of the chariot, and the development of the United States of America.
Development of Early Human Society in Mesopotamia
It is widely recognized that human civilization began in Mesopotamia, before any other part of the world. This was regardless of the fact that life at the place was quite unpredictable (Brown, 2006). Mesopotamia is a Greek term, which means life between two rivers. Mesopotamia is a vast land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Its land was both ideal for settlement and challenging at the same time, which contributed to the civilization of its inhabitants. The most significant physical geographical factor in Mesopotamia was the presence of many plants and animals that could be domesticated (Diamond, 1997). The land had fertile soils, thereby providing a good habitat for the plants and animals. They resulted from deposition of top-level soils from upper land and mountains, through the rivers. The fertile soils and the abundance of food allowed the farming to flourish, which caused the increase in human population. A further complement for agriculture was the presence of fertile soils. The Mesopotamians faced various challenges, which also contributed to the civilization. For instance, the climate, which was semi-arid and marked with annual unpredictable floods between, was a major challenge. Therefore, as the population figured out how to deal with frequent flooding using canals, they also learnt that they could cultivate lands that were far away from the riverbanks. Increased food supply led to population growth, and ultimately, cities began to develop.
The Process of Diffusion between Early Human Societies
Between 1750BC and 800 BC, the civilization that had developed in places such as Mesopotamia and Egypt began to diffuse (Brown, 2006). Diffusion is the movement of innovations and ideas from one place to another. It led to the expansion of higher civilization zones, and it occurred in various ways, such as through travelers and invasion. The chariot was a significant vehicle of diffusion among the early human societies. This two-wheeled vehicle, usually drawn by a horse or two, was used for transporting people (often standing) on land. The chariot was invented around 2000BC in the Eurasian Steppe, long after the invention of the wheel; an invention from Middle East arrived in the Steppe. The vehicle was initially intended to make hunting easier, but thereafter, it gained popularity as a valuable military welfare in Eurasia (Publins, 2013). Shortly after its invention, it became popular in Mesopotamia and Antolia. The Mesopotamians were the first to use chariots in war, in 2400 BC. The chariot diffused fast to other human societies all over the world, mainly because it had become an efficient military weapon (Publins, 2013). The Hittites, for instance, relied on it to establish their first Kingdom in 1700 BC. By 1300 BC, the chariot had already penetrated into China from the Northwest. Since the kingdoms and societies using this vehicle in war were found to be superior based on the size of their chariots, it became a master weapon and spread all over the world within a short time.
Development and Expansion of the United States
The Gold rush of 1849 and presence of a navigable river system were the most significant physical geographical factors that contributed to the development and expansion of the United States. In the 1800s, several natural resources were discovered in the country, for instance, the discovery of gold in California. The discovery of such precious minerals attracted so many immigrants, who later settled in the US. The first waves of massive immigration consisted of rich men. Since most of them were married, they were later joined by their families to be united again. In addition, other people travelled to the United States to provide services that would be needed by the population that was building up. In addition, natural resources, such as coal, provided the cheap energy that was crucial for industrialization. The presence of rivers, such as the Mississippi river, enhanced rapid communication between the North and the South. Apart from providing a means of transportation, rivers also offered strategic sites for the invention of infrastructures, such as water mills, which were important for industrialization, especially in the East (Hunter, 1979). A combination of dense population, natural resources, cheap energy, and river transportation channels triggered the development and expansion of the United States.