Macroeconomics The Normal Price of the Goods & Services

Question: Portray a monetary situation, where the ordinary cost of the merchandise administrations use to get decline continually over a specific timeframe. Answer: Meaning of Deflation:- As indicated by the market analysts, flattening can be portrayed as a financial situation, where the ordinary cost of the merchandise administrations use to get decline continually over a specific timeframe. It is the inverse financial state of swelling. During emptying, the genuine estimation of the cash or the cash estimation of the nation goes higher, which permit the individuals to buy more items or administrations with a specific measure of cash in contrast with the past periods (Selgin, 2015). Collapse in Australia:- Explanations behind Deflation in Australia:- The financial experts and specialists have investigated different market situations cautiously to recognize the real purpose behind the flattening. According to the market analysts, the main considerations, which use to control the estimation of cash or money are, Total Demand Supply of Labor, Products Services, and Course of Money in the Market It has been seen that when the total flexibly out of nowhere get out and the total interest got lesser, the estimation of the cash use to get down (Thirlwall, 2015). The accompanying diagram is introduced to depict the circumstance:- Further, the total interest flexibly and the dissemination of cash rely upon different parts of market. The angles, which are answerable for the higher flexibly and lower request in the Australian market and legitimately identified with the emptying, are examined in detail beneath:- Powerless Demand:- Powerless interest of the items and administrations are, mostly, created because of abatement in the buying capacity of the buyers, brought about by the steady increment in the market value level. It might be likewise caused if the clients use to concentrate more on investment funds than utilization, because of different government approaches. On the since a long time ago run, such changes in the utilization design prompts the fall in total interest of the items and administrations (Egle, 2015). Over the top Supply:- It is an exceptionally normal pattern of the market that at whatever point the gracefully of any item increments radically, the maker utilizes decline its cost to build the business volume as indicated by flexibly. On the off chance that the makers maker utilize trend setting innovation incredibly for extra creation, at that point the salary of works, who are, legitimately or by implication likewise the shoppers of the items, don't change excessively. At times, it might diminish too. In such condition, due of absence of additional pay, the customers can't expend the abundance gracefully and the maker need to cut the costs so the purchasers can get it more with their unaltered salary (Ball et al., 2015). Lower vitality cost:- Aside from the material and work, the makers use to hold up under a tremendous sum for vitality. Because of lower vitality costs, the makers can devour more vitality with a similar measure of cash, which they use to bring about prior for expending lesser vitality. Along these lines, they can deliver more units, which will at last lead to extreme gracefully. Level wages:- Level wages can make two sorts of results. On the off chance that the market cost level increment and the pace of wages stay steady, the works can't keep up a similar utilization level as prior. As examined above, it causes lesser interest and extreme flexibly. It ought to be noticed that all the reasons portrayed above, are the outcomes of repressed swelling. Consequently, it tends to be expressed that the emptying, stimulated in Australia, is the only the result of overall expansion and the control methodologies applied for managing the swelling (Panic, 2015). Issues for Deflation:- The major efficient issues, which Australia needs to look because of flattening, are talked about underneath:- Decrease in Production:- As the flexibly of items and administrations increases at an irregular rate, the volume of unsold items likewise increments definitely. It prompts decline in the pace of benefit. Because of lesser benefits, the makers started to lessen the measure of creation. Increment in Unemployment Rate:- At the point when the volume of creation decreases, makers use to reduce in the work amount. It starts to build the joblessness pace of the nation. Fall in the Income Level:- In the event that the all out creation level starts to decrease, at that point the utilization level of crude material, vitality and works likewise follow the pattern and the all out pay, produced from these things starts to tumble down radically over the period. Imbalance in the Wealth Distribution:- Like the swelling, flattening likewise causes inconsistent appropriation of riches. As the estimation of cash use increment continually, the loan bosses or moneylenders use to get more favorable circumstances and the account holders use to endure misfortunes. In the time of collapse, the winning gatherings, who use to win at fixed pay rates are the gainers and whose measure of pay use shifts from period to period use endure the most (Korinek Mendoza,2013). Total national output or GDP of a nation is the complete money related measure of all out items or administrations, delivered in that nation inside a monetary year. The total flexibly and total interest of items and administrations are one of the central point, which use to control the measure of the GDP of a nation. The creation of any item or administration use to change in a similar extent with the total interest, where as it use change in a converse proportion with the total flexibly. During the collapse, because of the fall in value levels, the customers use to devour greater amount of items however the measure of cash, spend for the items, stays unaltered. Thus, the extra utilization can't produce overabundance income. It suggests that the total interest of items just increments as far as amount not as far as cash. In addition, when the net revenues of the makers start to diminish because of over the top flexibly and lower value levels, they become incapable to put resources into creations more. Ins such situation, however the amount of utilization expands, the GDP don't increments appropriately, as on the grounds that the GDP is discovered on the estimation of the items. Then again, when the creation diminishes for the lack of ventures, the all out creation additionally goes down and cause exceptional ruin in the GDP level (Fleckenstein et al.,2013). Wellbeing, instruction, protection and other money related items has a place with the administration segment. In contrast to essential division and auxiliary segment, the administration area use to influence the economy of a nation in a roundabout way. This part offers help for creating legitimate foundation for the essential and auxiliary areas. Consequently, at first, the administration segments don't get affected by any adjustments in the economy to an extreme. In any case, it ought to be additionally noticed that the items and administrations, required for the business activities in the administration segments use to be delivered by the essential and optional divisions. Consequently, if these two areas get influenced by the emptying, it would eventually influence the administration segment as well. In addition, when the money value use to tumble down broadly, different enterprises from administration divisions additionally use to win lesser benefits. However, as a portion of the administrations, similar to wellbeing, training and so forth., are fundamental for the purchasers, the overall revenues of these ventures don't decrease at an extremely high rate. The administration segments use to obtain the littlest offer in the all out GDP. Along these lines, the expansion pace of this part can't spare the GDP from the grip of emptying. It can only more slow down the falling pace of GDP. Additionally, if the flattening proceeds over the long haul, the administration segment will get influenced by it and will start to experience the ill effects of lower benefit rates. At that point it will enhance the decrease pace of GDP (Lavoie, 2014). Reference List:- Ball, R., Gerakos, J., Linnainmaa, J. T., Nikolaev, V. V. (2015). Emptying profitability.Journal of Financial Economics,117(2), 225-248. Egle, W. P. (2015).Economic Stabilization: Objective, Rules, and Mechanisms. Princeton University Press Fleckenstein, M., Longstaff, F. A., Lustig, H. (2013).Deflation risk(No. w19238). National Bureau of Economic Research Korinek, A., Mendoza, E. G. (2013).From abrupt stops to fisherian emptying: Quantitative hypothesis and strategy implications(No. w19362). National Bureau of Economic Research Lavoie, M. (2014).Post-Keynesian Economics: New Foundations. Edward Elgar Publishing Frenzy, M. (2015).National Management of International Economy. Springer. Selgin, G. (2015). Manufactured item money.Journal of Financial Stability,17, 92-99 Thirlwall, A. P. (2015). Keynes, monetary turn of events and the creating nations. InEssays on Keynesian and Kaldorian Economics(pp. 149-177). Palgrave Macmillan UK.

Arrhythmia :: essays research papers

Arrhythmia      I am doing my report on Arrhythmia. It influences the cardiovascular muscle, the heart. Arrhythmia causes three sorts of issues. It makes the heart siphon too gradually (bradycardia), it causes the heart to siphon excessively quick (tachycardis), and it makes the heart skip pulsates (palipations).      Bradycardia can be intense. A portion of the side effects are loss of awareness, cardiovascular breakdown, or passing. Slow pulses are brought about by heart square. The hearts characteristic pace-creator neglects to be directed to the ventricles, the hearts principle siphoning chambers. A few medications can be utilized. An electronic pace-producer can be embedded and it will send electronic motivation to the heart animating it to beat at an ordinary cadence. Pace-creators are possibly embedded when the heart thumps excessively moderate.      Tachycardis can likewise be intense. It can prompt impairing side effects and even demise. At the point when you have Tachycardis your heart rate is over 100 beats for every moment. Tachycardis is brought about by heart wounds from past occasions. Tachycardis as a rule happens months or years after a coronary failure. A treatment for Tachycardis can be embeddings a gadget called a defibrillator. A defibrillator will recognize and treat strangely quick heart rhythms. The defibrillator screens the heart what's more, consequently gives electric stuns before Arrhythmia causes perpetual harm. On the off chance that the individual doesn't have a defibrillator a solid electric stun will be given. The reason for Tachycardis is by something not working appropriately in the atria. They are in some cases animated by uneasiness. A lot of caffeine or liquor and certain medications can likewise be the reason. Assaults may last a couple of moments or a few days. They can be not kidding and in some cases not genuine.      Palpitations happen when your heart skips pulsates. Palpitations have various side effects. A portion of these indications are discombobulation, exhaustion or blacking out because of the cerebrum not getting enough oxygen rich blood, chest torment, brevity of breath, and demise (which happens seldom). Palpitations are brought about by hypertension, mistral valve prolapse, Hyperthyroidism, Anemia, coronary supply route malady, or stress, Anxiety, alarm assaults, energizers, for example, caffine, nicotine, and liquor, overwhelming excursus, high utilization of nutmeg. There certain medicines which you can do. You could attempt to hold your breath quickly, take a moderate beverage of cold water, wash your face in cold water, hack a few times, and hold your nose and blow (it will pop

Amazon Case Study - 1100 Words

Amazon Case Study (Case Study Sample) Content: Studentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s nameInstitution affiliationInstructorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬s nameCourse detailsDue dateTABLE OF CONTENTS * Introduction: meaning and elements of E-CommerceBrief history of Amazon * Body: warehousingTechnological applicationsIssues brought by electronic expansionCompetition strategy, advantages and loopholes * Conclusion * ReferencesIntroductionElectronic commerce is a kind of trade which involves sales of products or provision of services using computer networks like the internet. It involves application of different technologies such as mobile commerce, transferring funds electronically, and marketing through the internet, use of emails for transactions and even storage of data in databases. It involves employment of different activities like using emails to contact clients, use of online websites for shopping and also involves exchanging different data using electronic devices. In this case, amazon is a company that has done all its activities by use elec tronic trade programs and applications. Amazon is a United States company whose headquarters are located in Seattle, a place in Washington DC. The company was founded by Bezos in 1994. He originally formed the company as cadabra.com but later changed it to amazon.com for publicity reasons since it started with letter à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Aà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ which always appear at the top. It would then get engaged in the sales of books using internetProducts, services, competitors and operationsThe company started its operations through online sales of books. It later advanced to sales of different products such as DVDs, CDs, Blu-rays, different software like applications, toys, video games and even jewellery. This has really advanced since everybody in the world can now get access to these goods through different was like using the internet, browsing from different websites in different countries or through advertisements in social media or emails. The company has its ope rations in different countries making it have separate distinct websites for each country such as Canada, Brazil, China, Spain and Italy among others. It has diversified its operations and services as can now contact customers through their emails and use computers to store data. This report will therefore look at the different ways in which the amazon has integrated and implemented different forms of electronic management, marketing, sales and customer care through support and encouragement. The company has various firms which try their best to compete with them for markets. These include companies like the Walmart, Barnes and Noble and even the apple Inc. they have faced a very fierce competition from amazon.com in terms of getting buyers due to their competitive disadvantage.Application of different technologiesThe company has been able to employ different technologies in its ranks to perform different activities. These have been so beneficial that it has found ease in controllin g and managing different departments. The company has developed different websites for specific countries. These websites have attracted uncountable visitors and hence some of them have always been able to find products that fit them for purchase. This has led to increased profits. Among the countries that have their distinct websites in different regions include the following.continent country Name of domain Europe GermanyNetherlandsUnited kingdomSpain Amazon.deAmazon.nlAmazon.co.ukAmazon.es North America United StatesCanadaMexico amazon.comamazon.caamazon.com.mx Asia ChinajapanIndia Amazon.cnAmazon.co.jpAmazon.in Oceania Australia Amazon.com.au South America Brazil Amazon.com.br It is believed that these websites entice more than 610 million people according to a study carried in 2008. It has been able to maintain these websites during Christmas period when there is much jam on the servers by building a strong server capacity which has passed that of their competitors by far.The c ompany has employed various electronic methods of warehousing. These have helped a great deal in in maintaining safety and security of goods. It has different warehouses which are big in size so the employees find it really hard in inspection and unpacking of goods and services. The employees are also required to correctly use different computers to set the locations of different goods. This will help when the good is ready for transportation. Furthermore, these computers are able to identify different routes that each good should take when being transported. Another technology in warehousing is warehouse automation which works on a very high level. These helps maintaining the safety of the goods by use of electronic devices. Amazon prime is another important ICT method used. It provides transportation facilities. It also has amazon instant video which ensures direct watching of different movies at instant time and may also include watching of certain TV programs without paying a single penny. There are consumer electronics like E-Book reader which has helped people to read books online. This book reader is called the Amazon kindle. It is also able to download different components using whisper net through the use of certain wireless networks. There was a development of the Amazon mechanical Turk. This is a programming application which ensures that different programs are run in order to assign tasks to the processors that human beings have.The company has been able to carry out different online management programs through use of technology. For example, the development of the Amazon relationship Management. It also developed the information management. Both of them have been able to take care of their strategies through proper management.it has also been able to use a technology which is based on Linux to run its programs. The company produced architecture technology which has been able to perform different daily operations in the business structure. They also have a database which record all the customer details like their credit card numbers. This is through the use of a Netscape secure commerce server which has a very safe protocol and cannot disclose the card details of a single person.Issues and criticisms faceThough the company has been able to expand its business globally by use of the electronic trade, this has not come free as it has been faced by different kinds of challenges and other issues which may be positive or negative. Firstly, it has been able to lure different customers from sites of its other competitors like the brick and mortar. This is more pf appositive issue since through this, it has been able to gain more customers and therefore more profits. A major threatening issue is the poor conditions in its warehouses. There are some efforts which are placed in terms of technology in these warehouse they have turned to be the factors which go against unifying employees. When an employee is left to work alone using t heir computers they will not be able to get more time interacting with their fellows. Some of the best employees in this company have walked away to form other similar companies like Trusera, Wikinest and Vittana. Another issue brought against it is the price discrimination. This is whereby it charges different prices for same goods in different companies. This is a factor which does not encourage competition as it affects competitors much.Competitive advantages and strategiesThe company has been able to enjoy more success over the years due to various reasons. Firstly, it has benefited much from win at discoverage. This is whereby an individual cannot walk away without getting any good which best suits him/her. For example, if one wants a mat and doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬t get, then the person may get boom or anything related. This has since led to more profits for the firm. A competitive power is employment of fight power with speed which means taking the products to the customers very fas t. This encourage the customers who then wish to buy more of these products. It has formed partnership with other different companies such as the United States postal services which works on mail delivery and sending. This has made them take the mails to their owners as soon as possible creating a good image for them. It has also partnered with very popular comics like superman, batman and even the sandman. This has made a company like the Barnes and Noble to stop partnership with these icons and has since removed their images in their bookstore. This is another advantage as the competition has been reduced. Through price discrimination, this company has been able to put at bay some competitors by charging low prices in such markets like in Africa. The company has since surpassed other competitive companies through different elements like total revenues, number of employees, market capitalization while it has also been beaten in various sectors such as net income and earnings per sh are as shown below.Comparison element amazon Apple Inc. Barnes and Noble Employees...

William Shakespeare s King Lear - 1852 Words

During the course of the semester, the class was assigned a large sum of works to read. These works varied between different time periods and writer style. Each book, had multiple themes to them, some had a little in common. The books, â€Å"King Lear† by William Shakespeare, â€Å"Oedipus The King† and â€Å"Antigone† both by Sophocles, have many themes throughout the books. While some themes are more prominent than others, it’s not difficult to find the other themes that linger within the texts. In â€Å"King Lear† the king, wants to divide his kingdom up between his three daughters; Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia Before dividing the land, he asks his daughters to profess their love to him. Although it would be wise to split it evenly between the three,†¦show more content†¦This theme shows up when in act four scene one, Gloucester muses, â€Å"As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods†. This is a theme of justice because it is rea lized that humankind shouldn’t assume that the â€Å"natural† world works alongside with social or moral convenient notions of justice. Edgar, another character in the play, states that â€Å"the gods are just†, this lets us believe that individuals should and do get what they deserve. Although, by the end of the play, readers are left with an uncertainty. By the ending of the book, all the wicked die, taking the good to die with them, portrayed by the act of King Lear holding his youngest daughter’s, Cordelia, dead body. Although there is goodness throughout the play, there is also death, and this makes it difficult to tell which triumph ends. A second prominent theme is reconciliation. During the last act, darkness and unhappiness pervade in the play, leaving act five to be a tragic ending. Even though the darkness takes over in this act, it centers around the relationship between Lear and Cordelia. The self-sacrificing love that Cordelia has for Lear, without despising him for banishing her, she stays true to him from afar. She returns back to the kingdom with an army from a foreign country to help save Lear from his tormentors. By Lear recognizing the errors in his ways, by learning a cruel lesson, he eventually reunites with Cordelia and experiences her forgiving love. By Lear recognizing the error

Beauty And The Beast By Michael Taussig - 950 Words

Beauty and violence; words not typically associated with one another. In the stereotypical society, beauty is perceived with a positive connotation, while violence is viewed negatively. In other words, the terms are opposites, or incompatible. This was an idea that seemed to be understood. However, the book Beauty and the Beast contradicts what we know to be true. Michael Taussig, or the author, argues there is a relationship between the believed to be separate entities of beauty and violence. A simple flower can be used to exhibit the theory. The majority of individuals would prefer fresh flowers to plastic, or artificial, flowers. Why is this? Taussig believes this is for the reason that we like the inevitable decay and death, which creates beauty (Junge 10/27). He further claims this relationship is prevalent in Colombian society, and introduces topics such as depense, cosmetic surgery, and the Devil as main points. Depense may be defined as â€Å"too-much-ness†(Junge 10/27). This notion can be witnessed in many countries, or areas; however, Taussig believes it is most widespread in Colombia. Beauty depends on this theory, as does violence. Colombian women often go to extremes to be beautiful in pursuance of men. Their hair extensions, as well as their breasts, are a symbol of depense. Where the hair used to be short and braided, it is now long and mostly false; this is too much, or wasteful. These extensions are costly, however the society continues to

Increasing the Occupancy Rate

Question: What can building owners do to increase occupancy rates? Answer: The economic downturn in the current commercial real estate has led the building owners to cut down rents and offer incentives to attract tenants. It has become difficult to keep the vacancy rates low considering the decline in the economic situation. Most of buildings that are leased out on a long term basis do not pose a threat during the economic recession. The problem crept up when these leases expired and the vacancy rate started increasing. To keep this vacancy rate, the landlords are forced to tempt the tenants to occupy the vacancy. But this tempting and luring of the real estate managers have led to increased operation cost which in turn reduces the companys revenue and profit. So in this respect what is most important is to develop an effective marketing strategy to pull up the real estate from the economic distress. In this regard what is important is that the tenants must be lured to occupy the vacant spaces. The real estate company must offer financial incentive scheme to enable the tenants to find the suitable accommodation that matches their needs. By this scheme, the tenants are encouraged and assisted to occupy space with all benefits including incentives and financial support when moving home by this scheme. (Cornwall.gov.uk, 2015) The increase in the occupancy can be increased by organizing social media marketing. This type of marketing targets a larger audience and thereby increases the awareness of the real estate company. The social media marketing can be done through several social media websites like the facebook, twitter and LinkedIn etc. For example, Facebook has a popular real estate app that gives the customer the ability to network with numerous real estate agents on facebook. Twitter can be used to boost the fan base by increasing the follower and thus engage the followers to analyze the respective real estate company. For example, successful twitter marketing had been done by Rick Buncick who is a realtor. (Patterson and Patterson, 2014) The main aspect of the economic slowdown regarding the real estate market is the unavailability of credit. So here the banks must relax their requirement of home loans thereby increasing the occupancy rate and attracting more home buyers. For example recently there was a reduction in mortgage insurance premiums for FHA loans which gave the residents more buying power and this helped to boost the housing market. Another important aspect is the role of connectivity in the real estate that needs to be catered in order to increase occupancy rate. People have become sophisticated and their demand for houses depends on the high speed communications within the complex. Technology plays an important role when it comes to commercial housing market. Today spec digital buildings are constructed to attract more tenants. (Lewis, 2015) Other activities that the building owner can do to increase occupancy rate is by offering television subscription to the residents and by compensating those residents who refer new tenants. By these ways occupancy rates can be augmented. The year ahead is predicted to bring about an optimistic condition regarding the housing market by improving house prices, home sales, rates of interests and the recent relaxation of lending standards. Moodys Analytics reveal that there can be an expected increase in the new and existing house sales by 20 per cent in 2015. (market, 2015) References Cornwall.gov.uk, (2015).Tenant Incentive Scheme - Cornwall Council. [online] Available at: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/housing/council-housing/your-tenancy/tenant-incentive-scheme/ [Accessed 4 Mar. 2015]. Lewis, S. (2015).Connectivity: The Key to Luring Tenants in the Real Estate Market of Tomorrow. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.sior.com/docs/default-source/digital-advertising/Connectivity_The%20Key%20to%20Luring%20Tenants%20in%20the%20Real%20Estate%20Market%20of%20Tomorrow%20by%20Stephen%20E%20Lewis.pdf?sfvrsn=0 [Accessed 4 Mar. 2015]. market, 5. (2015).5 economists forecast the 2015 housing market | Inman. [online] Inman.com. Available at: https://www.inman.com/2015/01/22/5-economists-forecast-the-2015-housing-market/ [Accessed 4 Mar. 2015]. Patterson, M. and Patterson, M. (2014).Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Social Media | Sprout Social. [online] Sprout Social. Available at: https://sproutsocial.com/insights/real-estate-marketing-ideas-social-media/ [Accessed 4 Mar. 2015].

World History to 1500 Essay Example

World History to 1500 Essay According to Bentley-Ziegler (2007), archeological discoveries of the bones and tools of the human ancestors dated five (5) million years ago gave light on the evolution of human species. The first group of specie is the hominid: includes Australopithecus, Australopithecines and Homo erectus. Then, it was followed by the Homo sapiens. (p. 14-15) The first was the Australopithecus, which means southern ape but they were not ape but a hominid belonging to the family of Hominidae – human and humanlike species. Archaeologist described them as short, hairy, and had limited intelligence. They were approximately three (3) feet tall, about 25 to 55 kilograms, and of about 500 cubic centimeters brain size. Famous of this group was Lucy, a woman who died 3.5 million years ago and was excavated 40% of her body last 1974. (Bentley-Ziegler, 2007, p. 15) The second was the Australopithecines, described as sophisticated species, walked upright on two legs, with strong hands used to handle tools and perform tasks, and had learned limitedly to express their self verbally. They traveled a lot in search of stones that they could style and use for food preparation: choppers and scrapers. About one (1) million years ago, this group disappeared and was replaced by new hominid specie – the Homo erectus. (p.15) We will write a custom essay sample on World History to 1500 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on World History to 1500 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on World History to 1500 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Homo erectus, upright walking man, had a more developed brain which measured of about 1,000 cc average capacity. This group lasted from about two (2) million to 200,000 years ago. Aside from the Australopithecines tools, Homo erectus also used cleavers and hand axes which were also useful against predators. The invention of fire could also be regarded to this group which enabled them to eat cooked foods and defend their selves. Dangerous animals’ bones found within their sites showed their team work, cooperation and skills in hunting these animals, made possible by their intelligence and language skills. (pp. 16-17) Then, the Homo sapiens, consciously thinking human, replaced the previous group of specie. This group possessed the largest brain size compared to the previous groups and was nearly the size of the modern human brains. This could be the reason of their remarkable intelligence that helped them to adapt in the changing environment. They made clothes out of animal skin and build shelters to protect them from the cold climate. By one hundred thousand years ago, they disseminated throughout Africa, Europe and Asia where they also met the other Homo erectus. By about, fifteen thousand years ago, they were already scattered in all regions of the world. Archeologist excavated new tolls used by the Homo sapiens: knives, spears, bows and arrow. Like the Homo erectus, Homo sapiens protected themselves with animal skins and fire against the cold climate. They also learned languages to express their selves to others. Because of language, tools and superior intelligence, they were united to exploi t the natural resources in order to survive. As a result, large mammals became extinct: mammoths, woolly rhinoceros, giant kangaroos, mastodons, and horses. (p. 18) Paleolithic era, old stone age, is the longest human experience on earth ranging from the beginning of the first hominid until Homo sapiens started to rely on agriculture – about four million years ago up to twelve thousand years ago. During this age, people lived through hunting and gathering, an economy that prevents individual accumulation of wealth. Individuals those days only own their weapons and tools that will be used in stalking a particular large animal. When it comes to social distinctions, some people stand out because of their age, strength, courage, intelligence, fertility, or some other trait. Not only were they equal in the community but also between sexes. Men grouped themselves in search of a large animal to hunt while women and children gathered plants, roots, nuts, fruits and other possible foods. It was also recommended to maintain little number of children in the family so that as a community they would have enough food and so that they could move from on e place to another easily. The Natulian society in the eastern Mediterranean, now Israel and Lebanon; Jomon society in central Japan; and Chinook society in Pacific northwest region of North America, including the modern states of Oregon, Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia; are the prominent Paleolithic settlements and societies. (Pp.20-22) Next is the Neolithic era, lasted for about twelve thousand to six thousand years ago, and called new Stone Age, since archaeologist excavated polished stones in the agricultural Neolithic sites. One of the significant discoveries in this era is agriculture, wherein people learned to cultivate plants and not just gather them and also learned to domesticate animals. First of the prominent Neolithic sites that showed early agricultural activities during 9000 BCE is southwest Asia, nowadays Iraq, Syria and Turkey. They planted wheat and barley, while domesticating animals: sheep, goats, pigs and cattle. Then about 9000 to 7000, Africans in southeastern portion of Sahara desert, nowadays Sudan, also domesticated cattle, sheep and goats while planting sorghum. Then around 8000 to 6000 BCE, sub-Saharan West Africa, in nowadays Nigeria, also cultivated yam, okra, and black-eyed peas. Then in 6500 BCE East Asian residents in Yangzi River started planting rice and in 5500 BCE nearby community in Yellow River Valley also started cultivating millet and soybeans. These East Asian communities also domesticated pigs, chickens and later on added water buffalos. Southeast Asians in 3000 BCE also cultivated taro, yams, coconut, breadfruit, bananas and citrus fruits: oranges, lime, lemons and tangerine. Residents in Mesoamerica, now Central Mexico, also planted maize (corn), beans, pepper, squash and tomatoes at around 4000 BCE. Lastly, resident in central Andean region in South America, now modern Peru, also cultivated potatoes and later included maize and beans to their diets. Certain possibilities were also seen by archaeologists that early residents in the Amazon River Valley also planted manioc, potatoes and peanuts.   (pp. 26-27) Specialization in labor during Neolithic times was also observed and the three early craft industries were proof: pottery, metallurgy and textile production. Neolithic societies improved the early inventions of the previous group of people. For example, at about 10,000 BCE the Jomon society in Japan produced the first pottery in the world and also the first of the craft industries. Later on, Neolithic craftsmen learned the techniques on improving pottery and as a result this became their mode of expression and utensils for cooking and storage. Another craft industry that boomed during this era is the metallurgy, wherein copper was the first metal that they experimented on. By hammering metal, the villagers were able to make jewelries and simple tools. By about 5000 BCE, craftsmen had learned that high temperature will help them mold the copper easily. They also discovered technologies such as smelting and casting copper and as result they had made decorative and jewelry items; and to ols like knives, axes, hoes and weapons.   In the long run, they also specialized in other forms of metals: gold, bronze, iron, and other metals. The third craft industry in Neolithic era was textile production. The invention of textile might be regarded to the efforts of women who spun thread and wove fabrics while taking care of their children. These crafts were later on trade for other significant items. (pp.31 – 32) After the discovery of agriculture, people stop being nomads and inhabit permanent residences resulted in population increase. The development of labor specialization generated jobs to the society and enabled them to acquire wealth and private property. (p. 32) Of all these Neolithic societies, the most prominent is Jericho, a place with freshwater oasis located in present day Israel. Jericho had a large population of around two thousand residents. The walls that surrounded Jericho showed that they protected their village from invaders that were interested to their wealth. (p. 30) When it comes to urban societies, the earliest is Mesopotamia, located in southwest Asia, which flourished during early fourth millennium BCE. The word Mesopotamia comes from the Greek word which means the land between the rivers – referring to the Tigris and Euphrates River that brought fertility to the land. Mesopotamia also had organized states and political authorities that maintained the peace and order in the whole settlement. It encouraged specialization in labor which also resulted in high quality goods that fueled the trade. (pp. 39-40) Sumerians are the most numbered in Mesopotamia. Sumerians constructed artificial irrigation that gave them abundant harvest. This also led to the increase of their population. By, around 3000 BCE, their population was already one hundred thousand. The increasing wealth of Sumer also attracted other groups of people that intermarry with them: Akkadian, Aramaic, Hebrew and Phoenician. The Sumerians also built the first cities in the world. These cities became the hub for political, military, economic and cultural activities. Some of the Sumerian cities were Eridu, Ur, Uruk, Legash, Nippur, Kish and the others. Later on these cities were called city-states wherein they extended their influence and authority to the outside of their territories. Because of becoming economically stable, Sumer became prone to invasions and so they established military forces and built walls – amazing walls were mentioned in the epic of Gilgamesh. Sumerians also invented cuneiform, the earliest form o f writing, which was a combination of pictographs and symbols. The epic of Gilgamesh is one of Mesopotamian legends and myths but is also historically based. According to historical accounts, Gilgamesh became the fifth king of the City of Ur for about 126 years. He was also known as the legendary Mesopotamian hero. According to the legend, he was the son of a goddess and a king; he was two thirds divine and one third human. He was favored by the gods with a perfect body and superhuman strengths. It also accounted that Gilgamesh ordered construction of Ur’s huge walls and temples for the city’s deities. Gilgamesh lived with heroic deeds but his friend Endiku, who was always with him in almost all the adventures, had offended the gods and this affected Gilgamesh, who also cheated in having eternal life but the gods did not allow it teaching him that all human beings are fated to die. The overall theme of the epic is friendship, loyalty, ambition and fear of death. (pp. 39 and 49) One successful invader of Sumer was the Akkadians through the leadership of Sargon (2370 – 2315 BCE). Sargon was described as a talented administrator and a brilliant warrior. He was even equated to more than five (5) Akkadians. He established an army and arrange coup against the king of the city-states of Sumer, with great intention to accumulate Mesopotamia’s wealth. He later on took control on the trade routes and supply of natural resources: silver, tin and cedar wood. He was able to transform his land Akkad into wealthiest and most powerful city in the world. However at around 2150 BCE his empire was put to end but his leadership and style remained an example to the next invaders.   (pp. 43-44) One of the successful invaders after Sargon of Akkad was Hammurabi of Babylonia. Babylonian Empire occupied and invaded Mesopotamia until 1600 BCE. He focused his leadership to bureaucracy and taxation. He had efficient and predictable form of government – distributing the accumulated funds from taxes evenly to the people.   He was well known for his law code – Hammurabi’s Code that evolved from the complete and general Mesopotamian law code. This code relied on Lex tallionis, the law of retaliation, wherein a criminal was judged similar to the violation – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Though, the law code also recognized social standing. For example, if a noble person broke a bone of a fellow noble person; his bone will also be broke. But if a noble person broke a commoner’s bone he will just pay fine. Some of the unforgiving violations were punished with death sentence: murder, theft, fraud, and false accusations, sheltering of runaway slaves, failure to obey royal orders, adultery and incest. Moreover, Hammurabi even added that he was god-chosen to uphold the wellbeing of the people. (p. 45) Because of the stabilized economy of the Babylonian Empire, this once again attracted invaders. The Hittites, established empire from Anatolia, collapsed the Babylonian Empire. But southwest Asia remained in chaos because different empire competed to have Mesopotamia. (p. 46) At around nineteenth century BCE, the Assyrian empire succeeded on establishing their empire in the Tigris River Valley. Assyrians were known as strong individuals and powerful army. They also had prosperous cities at Assur and Nineveh. Assyrians are also known for their horse-drawn chariots that they borrowed from the Hittites. These chariots allowed their feet on a platform and enabled them to move while attacking their enemies with iron weapons. They had a large number of troops that even reached up to fifty thousand persons. Their form of government was patterned to the administrative techniques from the Babylonians. (pp.46 – 47) Then in 600 BCE, the Chaldean empire, popularly known as the new Babylonian Empire, overthrew the Assyrian empire. King Nebuchadnezzar led the new empire bountifully. They had very thick walls – even four horse chariots can turn around – and had occupied 850 hectares of land. One of his popular works is the hanging gardens of Babylon, dedicated to one of his wives, which showed the city’s extravagance wherein Nebuchadnezzar planted in the terraces above the city walls. (p. 47) On the other hand, Mesopotamia also had early influences like to the Hebrews. Hebrews, ancient speakers of Hebrew language and settlers of Palestine were pastoral nomads who also settled in Mesopotamia during its prosperous years. According to the Old Testament of the Bible, Hebrew Scriptures, Abraham was from the Sumerian City of Ur. The Bible also told about the story of a great flood that destroyed the early human society. This had similarities with the flood stories in the Sumerian society; one was even mentioned in the epic of Gilgamesh. These Hebrews were organized into 12 tribes and were known as the Israelites. Early Hebrews worshipped the Mesopotamian gods but Moses taught them of a one God known as Yahweh. Colorful preserved stories of the Hebrews could be read in the Old Testament of the Bible. (pp. 54-55) Another group of people are the Phoenicians, located between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountain of Lebanon. There are major cities of Phoenicia that were considered to be influential in other societies: Tyre, Sidon, Beirut and Byblos. Phoenicians were known for their best ships of their time and for their invention of alphabet twenty two (22) consonants which was later on modified by the Greeks by adding five (5) vowels. Phoenicians also excelled in commerce and trade. (pp. 57 – 58) Other group of people that became influential to the Mesopotamians and other societies were the speakers of Indo-European languages: Sanskrit, Old Persian, Greek, Latin, Hindi, and Farsi. Scholars and linguists noticed that these languages had almost similar vocabularies and grammatical structure. The only explanation the scholars gave was that ancestors of these speakers came from a similar region. It was identified that they came from modern-day Ukraine and Southern Russia, a region near Black Sea and Caspian Sea. During 3000 BCE, Indo-European started to scatter to different places with their horses and other animals. (pp. 60 – 62) Source: Bentley-Ziegler. Traditions Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past, 4th Edition, Volume 1.Hightstown, NJ USA: McGraw-Hill Primis Custom Publishing, 2007. pp. 13 63