Weekly Question on Change - Week 2

Weekly 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.)

            Life takes place in a world where everything is continually changing and growing, but people have to take a step back and ask if society is moving toward a better or worse place then they currently are. In the beginning, we were inspired to grow to survive to be better. Change meant progress. Art meant a new way to express ourselves to others. The agricultural revolution meant a whole new way of life. Even architecture and urban planning in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley showed progress. These were all things where change occurred and good things became of it. Change is and can be good when done at certain points in time and in certain places in which change is needed.

            One of the earliest signs of change was in the origins of art. This change shows the beginning of thought outside of just survival. People had begun to, in the closest way they could, record or express who they were and what they were doing. This change was from nothing to something. Also, it showed a new way of thinking. This would become important to society. It is also possible that art also showed sign of religion or at least statues to represent possible things like fertility. Clearly, art was a good and beautiful change that took place at the right time and place to create a good result.

            Another great change is the agricultural revolution that happened thousands of years ago. It completely changed the way that people lived. People no longer were nomadic. As they farmed villages or towns were created. When these villages became successful threats of invasions began and people started to specialize in military things too. From this, people began to specialize in even more things like healing, building, farming, and more. Religion even took off as the priesthood was created. It is scary to thing to think that farming started this all. This agricultural revolution also came the right time to make a positive impact.

            The last thing I feel is an important example of change is the urban planning in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. The Indus Valley was a huge civilization that from research it is believed that it was at one point thriving and then suddenly it seems it was gone. Was this change good or bad? What does it mean? Why did it occur? The fact is that people just do not know.  What we do know is that, this civilization was quite advanced. They even had working plumbing. The Mesopotamian and Indus valley civilizations are known for the dense populations, urbanization process, and cultural innovation. Although they disappeared they positively changed our world. They were even important in the growth of commerce and broader cultural innovation. These civilizations themselves where seemingly built on movement and exchange. As you can tell these too civilizations were extremely advanced and provided important positive change for themselves.

            Change is a very important and necessary thing in everyone lives. Yet, the time in your life or the time in history that this change occurs is key. Even in art, agricultural, and civilizations in general, change is an important aspect to them. Change makes us see the world from a different view and grow in new ways. Change is, in a way, part of the foundation you live on. This is because when there is a break in it, you have to replace that part foundation with something new. Therefore, you have change. When change occurs in this positive way, it will have remarkable effects on the world.