The Assyrian Civilization (POLISHED)

               The Assyrians are a group of people that lived in Assyria/Mesopotamia.  They are an ordinary culture with interesting ideas.  Something I found interesting was how their weapons were built.  Some of the seven characteristics of a civilization are similar from then to now, but some are  very different as well.  One similarity is that we have similar agricultural styles.  One difference is their belief of gods and demons.  They brought unique styles of all the seven characteristics, which are food supply, government, writing system, religion, art, technology, and social structure.
              Assyrian's did have a government.  The type of government was like a democracy.  Democracy is basically a government by the people.  The government officials considered themselves as Gods and had a lot of power.  They gave the power to their family members when they grew too old to hold office.  Because they were considered godlike, the ancient governments soon became theocracies.  The government made most the decisions and laws about the whole body of people.
               Farming was basically the Assyrian's food supply.  Farming got them a lot of foods.  They had grain, vegetables and a lot more.  At one point, something happened that made farming a lot easier for them.  The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flooded and the crops got watered from all the rain.  The flooding also made it easier for plowing because of the moist soil.  The Assyrian's had a stable food supply especially because of the luck they had with the flood!
               The Assyrian's had great art and believed that art expressed feelings and beliefs.  They used art to communicate images.  The images passed spirits, love, war, fear and death.  Some famous artists in Assyria were Arshille Gorky, Vasily Kandinsky, Diego Rivera and others.  They produced art that certified the new culture and to promote its influence to other nations.  The artists also said that the art communicated and validated the greatest most powerful civilization on earth.  The Assyrians used art in a very interesting and unusual way.
               Religion was very important to the Assyrians.  One thing that they believed in was demons.  The demons would protect the buildings and towns from evil influences. However, the two main religions in Assyria are Christianity and Babylonian.  Christians believed that they go to heaven after death.  Babylons strangely believed that after death, their soul would go to the underworld.  Assyrians believe in a lot of different things than us!
               The Assyrians had a lot of technology but most of it was weapons.  One thing that stood out was them being the first ones to use iron in their weapons.  They used the iron in swords, spears, armor and shields.  It had a great effect. Technology was extremely important in the Assyrian community.  Not only because of the weapons but also for transporting.  They made chariots for the battle field and they easily constructed small boats or bridges to get across rivers.  The Assyrian's were known for having the most advanced technology of their time.
               The Assyrian's had three main social classes.  The highest class of the three included the richest people.  These people were kings, government officials, priests and wealthy merchants and landowners.  The bottom two classes are the less wealthy people.  The middle includes farmers, fishermen, artisans and scribes.  The very bottom class belonged to the slaves, prisoners and poor people.  The social classes organized them well I think!
               The Assyrian's used their writing system more then anything for communication and also more than one language.  Their main writing system was cuneiform.  The Assyrians used cuneiform to communicate in any sort of way.  The two different languages are the Assyrian language and the modern Assyrian.  The modern is a little more complicated.  Also, the original Assyrian language is dated back earlier than the modern Assyrian.  Now-a-days, we have computers and cell phones but writing was just about all they had back then.
               Assyrians have a very interesting culture.  From all the research I've done, I've learned a lot of things about these people.  They've got all of the seven characteristics under control.  From what I have learned, the people have many similarities and differences to what we have currently. A few similar things are that we have democracy, just like they did, and also we both use farming. Differences are how they commuicated, because they only used writing but we use many other sources also. The way they order their social structure is also different because they had kings and slaves, we don't.  The Assyrian's do in fact live in a civilization!

Baseball for Life!!!!!

            When I was two and first put a glove on my hand, I knew I was hooked. Baseball was officially my life!! I actually started playing on a team when I was four.  I broke my leg when I was four but even with a cast on, I still managed to play ball in the front yard!!  In 2007, a friend of ours recommended that I try out for Chesterfield gold select league. So then I tried out..... and SUCCEEDED!! I felf so accepted. I loved playing on my other team so my parents decided that I could start playing on two teams and still am currently. Lots of practicing and lots of games but I never get tired of anything about baseball. Not only do you need to be athletic to play baseball, it is also a mental sport.  You must think ahead, be aware of everything on that playing field!  At the age of 11, I entered into a competition called Major League Baseball's Pitch, Hit & Run (PHR). It was a complete honor and I wasn't as nervous as I thought i would be. I took first place in local, sectionals & placed second in state - all the way to Busch Stadium!! I was totally stoked to be there at home plate standing with my bat in my hands right where the pros stand!! Because of the PHR competition, Mark Elder (a journalist) interviewed me for an article in the North County Journal. I was completely surprised!! The sport of baseball has taken me a far way from home..... as far away as Myrtle Beach S.C. My family and I went there along with my Stl. Knights team (gold select team) for a tournament called Cal Ripken's "The Big Kahuna". What an experience that was to play teams from all over the United States. My dream for my future is to become a major league baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals (Im hoping and praying that it's not the cubs!!). I need to stay focused, stay with God, keep working hard at my skill & never give up!! I truly will..... play BASEBALL FOR LIFE!!!!!