Blog 4.

I think the way that new ideas emerge from stressful times or times of instability can be explained is that we have many ways to prove that new ideas came from horrible times. When we are truly happy or peaceful, no changes will be made because there is no point of change in times of happiness. But, when times are hard or unstable, we need to think of new ideas or policies to make us happy. Whenever there is economic instability, whoever the leader is will be blamed for it. For example, Herbert Hoover was blamed for the Great Depression. The leader will become very unpopular and new policies come. Periods of instability also cause big changes with the government, military, or economy. When communism ruled over Russia, people were very unhappy there. Russia suffered from many economic woes, so the country had a revolution of thought. Another example is when Germany was blamed for most of World War I. New political parties, such as the Nazis, turned up because Germany wanted revenge against the world. Another war is a big period of instability and change. When the Americans entered the Vietnam War, many Americans were very upset. There was a huge hippie and Anti-War movement. Today, the political campaigns of John McCain and Barack Obama are also focused on making big changes in our economy. Right now, our economy is down the drain and hopefully the next President, whoever it may be, will change the policies. In conclusion, new ideas and policies are originated so we can get out of the unfortunate periods of instability. 

Blog 3.

I wouldn't say that population growth is the MOST significant development of the Classical Period, but it's definitely one of the most important. I think that the population growth was only an important and significant development during the Classical Period because networks of exchange were created, and vice versa. If the network of exchange concept wasn't created, then the surge in population growth would not have been so massive. But, if the population hadn't skyrocketed the way it did, networks of exchange wouldn't have needed to been created. Through the networks of exchange, along with religion, people in different countries could have a common thought or belief, without knowing each other. Trade also expanded once religion and population grew, because, as Mr. Stern said in class, people began to trust each other if they believed in the same religion. So, in conclusion, I think the most important developments were not just the fact that the population grew, but also that religion and networks of exchange affected the population growth. 

Blog 2.

  I think the biggest change that occurred during the Classical Period was that the cultures between the various countries were meshed together. A lot of the growth of each civilization was done independently. Internal trade was a major part of each civilization. The crops that were needed but not grown in one part of a region, might have been grown in abundance in another region. For example, trade from India stretched as far out as southeast Asia. Because of the distance between civilizations, each society had many of their own customs, but most were still somewhat culturally connected to one another.