---------------

Okay, this is a *fantastic* and wonderfully bizarre thought experiment! Viewing history as a Neolithic goat will force you to reconsider everything. Here's a breakdown of how to approach it, with layers from basic survival concerns to deeper cultural observations, all filtered through the perspective of a goat. I'll break it down into stages (Early Neolithic - Bronze Age) and give you some prompts for your own thinking within that framework. I'll also offer "Goat Thoughts" – short snippets reflecting a goat's potential mindset.

**Understanding Our Goat Protagonist:**

Before we dive in, let’s establish our goat! Let's assume:

* **Species:** Domesticated Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) - this is key. Wild goats have different survival strategies and less interaction with humans.

* **Environment:** Let's say a temperate climate, somewhere in the Fertile Crescent (modern-day Middle East), around 8000 – 3000 BCE (the timeframe of the Neolithic Revolution to the Bronze Age). This puts them smack dab in the middle of major changes.

* **Personality:** Our goat isn't necessarily "sentient" in a human way, but it *is* observant, motivated by basic needs (food, shelter, safety), and has a strong sense of territory/herd loyalty. It remembers patterns. It notices things humans might overlook in their grand narratives.

* **Sensory Focus:** Goats have excellent senses – especially smell and balance. They're attuned to the terrain and subtle changes in the environment. They are also easily startled.

**I. The Neolithic Revolution (8000 - 4500 BCE): "The Great Shift"**

* **From Goat Perspective:** This is *everything*. Before, life was about wandering with the herd, finding patches of good grazing, and avoiding predators (wolves, lions… yikes!). Now... things are *strange*.

* **Settlements Appear:** Suddenly, there are these odd structures. Humans spend a lot of time near them. They smell different than usual places. The terrain is altered: bushes cleared, trees felled. It’s disconcerting! Where can I browse?

* **Farming - A Confusing Landscape:** Fields of single crops appear. Not nearly as interesting as a natural meadow with diverse plants. Where's the variety? Why are humans constantly tending these… things? They seem fragile and not very tasty.

* **Domestication – The Biggest Change:** This is the *core* experience for our goat. Humans start to control where we go, what we eat (often less interesting food!), and who we interact with. It's confusing, sometimes scary, but also… safer? There are fewer wolves around now.

* **Herd Management:** Goats might observe humans herding other animals – sheep, cattle. They see the patterns of movement, the way humans direct them. Do they *understand* this direction? Probably not, but they learn to follow for safety and access to food.

* **Goat Thoughts:** *"Why are those strange two-legged creatures rearranging all the tasty weeds? These flat fields offer nothing! And why am I being led around with a rope…?"* *"The humans seem very concerned about these small, green things... they yell at me if I eat them. They taste bitter anyway."* *"At least there are fewer wolves now. That's good."*

**II. The Rise of Villages and Early Social Structures (4500 - 3000 BCE): "The Human Nests"**

* **From Goat Perspective:** Things become more complex, but still centered around food and safety.

* **Village Life:** Villages grow larger. More humans. More structures. Goats are often kept near the village – providing milk, wool (if a female), and meat if needed. They observe human interactions - arguments, celebrations, rituals involving fire...

* **Early Trade:** Humans start exchanging goods with other villages. Our goat might notice different types of food being brought in, new materials… perhaps woven baskets or pottery. This could indicate changes in the landscape further afield.

* **Specialization (Limited Goat Awareness):** Some humans seem to do specific things - potters, weavers, farmers. The goat wouldn’t understand “specialization,” but it would notice that some humans spend all day near clay, others with plants, and so on. It's a pattern.

* **Early Religion/Rituals:** Goats are sometimes used in rituals (sacrifices, offerings). This is terrifying for our goat! But the goat might also observe patterns – certain days or times when humans behave differently, make offerings, and seem anxious.

* **Goat Thoughts:** *"So many two-legged creatures crammed together... it's quite noisy here. I miss the wide open hills."* *"They keep giving me this dried grass… not nearly as good as fresh clover! But I get extra water when they make their strange drinks.”* *"That man keeps staring at me with that pointy stick. Best to stay out of his way."*

**III. The Bronze Age (3000 – 1200 BCE): “Shiny Things and Bigger Nests”**

* **From Goat Perspective:** Changes accelerate, driven by new technologies and growing social hierarchies.

* **Metalworking:** Humans start using metal. They are very protective of these shiny things. The goat might notice a change in the smell of the air – smoke from smelting fires. This could lead to environmental changes (deforestation?).

* **Larger Settlements/Early Cities:** Villages grow into larger settlements, even walled cities. More humans, more controlled spaces. Goats are often confined within these walls or nearby pastures.

* **Warfare:** Humans start fighting each other. Our goat might hear the sounds of battles – shouting, clashing metal, and see signs of destruction (burned fields, abandoned settlements). This is terrifying!

* **Social Hierarchy:** Some humans seem to have more power than others - they wear different clothes, have better food, give orders. The goat wouldn’t understand “social hierarchy,” but it *would* notice the differences in treatment and respect.

* **Goat Thoughts:** *"Those metal things... they smell strange and make loud noises. Humans seem very agitated around them."* *"The young ones are getting snatched away more often now, to be eaten... It's a dangerous time.”* *"I saw that other herd’s goat run from a burning field… I must stay close to my human keeper.”*

**Prompts for *Your* Goat Perspective:**

Here are some questions to guide your thinking:

1. **What changes in the landscape most directly impact the goat's ability to find food and shelter?** How do these changes relate to human activities (farming, deforestation, building)?

2. **How does the goat perceive human social structures?** Does it notice differences in how humans treat each other based on their roles or possessions?

3. **What rituals or ceremonies involving humans does the goat observe, and what are its instinctive reactions to them?** (Fear, curiosity, indifference?)

4. **How does the goat’s life change as human settlements grow larger and more complex?** Is it better or worse from a goat's perspective?

5. **Imagine the goat observing a particularly significant event (the construction of a temple, a large-scale battle). What details would *it* notice that a human historian might overlook?**

To help me tailor my advice further, can you tell me:

* What specific aspects of this book are giving you trouble from a goat's point of view?

* Are there any particular historical events or concepts the book asks you to consider through your goat’s eyes?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5724607&forum_id=2)#48928194)