The European Union in International Commercial Negotiations Essay Example for Free

The European Union in International Commercial Negotiations Essay Commercial negotiation is negotiation in the context of a business setting such that it involves the management of commercial activities that includes contract negotiation and project management with the sole intention of making maximum returns from the same. This process allows for the development and creation of new business opportunities CITATION Bea00 l 1033 ( Beasor Steele, 2000). The job description of commercial negotiators includes an overviewing role in the whole sales process and to some extend responsible for the implementation of a detailed business sales plan. The overall role is to make sure they retrieve the best deal out of any business opportunity. It is therefore important for a commercial negotiator to have a grasp of the customers’ business needs in order to offer the required products and services demanded by the consumer. Commercial negotiation entails the following vital functions. Conducting market research of the different products by the business, analysis of data from the sale activities of a business, provision of financial reports to the senior management of the business and also to the different stakeholders of the enterprise. Another function is the identification of new opportunities for the business, commercial negotiation also includes reviewing and assessing opportunities for new businesses. Commercial negotiators play a critical role in the maximization of the revenue from the business. Commercial negotiation thus requires one to have the necessary skills to excel in the field. One needs to have great interpersonal skills that will enable them to easily interact with people. This is important in order to win and sell ideas to the people one interacts without stepping outside one mandate. Procedural and communication skills are necessary for commercial negotiators because of the constant flow of information from team members. One should also be accommodative of other team member’s opinions that are different from dependable as a commercial negotiator. Commercial negotiators play a pivotal role in the success of any business. A successful commercial negotiator brings together control elements and definitions and operates them efficiently. This means that a successful commercial negotiator will apply leadership skills already applied in the departmental running. The role of a commercial negotiator is to blend responsibilities related to project execution, planni ng, monitoring and achievement of the desired goals. For someone to be a successful manager they should have demonstrated ability to lead others and organize work CITATION Gat11 l 1033 (Gates, 2011). A commercial negotiator needs to have contact with other required resources. For projects that need coordination between divisions and departments, a commercial negotiator with contacts outside a single department is required. An aspiring commercial negotiator should ensure and develop contacts within the organizations departments to help run a project successfully. They should also be able to coordinate a diverse pool of resources. This would be achieved by working with different people from different backgrounds and disciplines. As an aspiring commercial negotiator, one should be able to supervise and delegate work in areas alien to their background. All this is possible by having a close rapport and teamwork. Procedural and communication skills. This is because of the constant flow of information from team members. One should also be accommodative of other team member’s opinions that are different from dependable as a commercial negotiator. Commercial negotiation skills and techniques in the western world (European Union) and China For one to do business abroad he has to understand the various cultures and practices that are accepted in the process of commercial negotiation. Before travelling to the European Union one has to consider the required etiquette that is observed and required in the meetings, negotiations and business protocol. Europeans are known to be humorless, stubborn, and aggressive they also pay attention to details. A successful business has to understand the cross cultural aspects to present the right etiquette. The Europeans are strictly formal while doing business and according to them it’s wrong to swap jokes or have informal chats when working. Europe is a significant trade partner for many states. Learning to do business in Europe and understanding their business practices, culture and etiquette improves skills and success of international business men CITATION Meu05 l 1033 ( Meunier, 2005).The first aspect of etiquette in Europe’s business spheres is Organization. They are usually uneasy with ambiguity and disorder. They lean towards conservatism and conformism they don’t like uncertainty so one has to have first-hand information and facts at hand. When doing business in Europe, one has to emphasize on careful planning. One has to consult and get a consensus before presenting his idea and opinions. European commercial negotiations appreciate statistics, facts and details and there is no room for mistakes and omissions. To observe business etiquette one has to avert risk and negate uncertainty. The stress on conformity and fear of risk makes them apprehensive and they guarantee security through risk analysis. This is ensured by keen deliberation and scrutiny based on factual evidence and not intuition. They prefer written documentation as it is the safest and objective for analysis. In communication the Chinese mind their privacy and they usually divide their private and public life. While communicating one has to be formal and stick to official duty. They don’t talk about their private lives as they are protective of personal issues. They prefer their communication to be short direct and straight to the point. They consider emotions unnecessary in conversations at the work place.They don’t talk out of context as they only stick to the issue at hand. The Chinese also prefer brief greetings and that’s why they only do short handshakes When several people are being introduced they take turns to greet each other and they avoid reaching out over someone’s hand. They find it rude to greet someone with one hand in the pocket and when women enter a room the men stand as a show of politeness. The men sit after all the women have taken their seats. The Chinese etiquette requires that people are addressed using Mr., Ms or Mrs. followed by the s urname. The only people who are allowed to use the first names are family members and very close friends. The Chinese culture also insists on the use of professional titles such as doctors, academics and others. One has to establish professional titles before any meeting. They use the surnames to maintain formality and respect CITATION Lam00 l 1033 ( Lam, 2000). Punctuality is another important aspect of etiquette in Europe. Punctuality is a serious issue as they value their time. The business people are usually under a lot of pressure and they plan for their time very well to meet their daily objectives. Being late shows disrespect for people and their time, it is also a show that the person is not interested or not serious about the business deal or meeting. The punctuality is seen as a sign of commitment to the business. Europeans also don’t mix humor with business affairs. If jokes are made they should be in context and tasteful. They usually have a very strict protocol in their meetings leaving little room for humor. They believe that when jokes are made during business then the meeting seizes to be formal. In doing business with Europeans one has to plan ahead the meetings should be booked two to three weeks in advance. They have a culture where they hold their meetings between eleven to one and three to five p.m. They avoid mee tings on Friday afternoons, during their regional festivities and the holiday months of July, December and August.Their meetings in most cases are usually formal, functional and they stick to the set agenda. The set start time and finish time are obeyed by all means so everything is done within the time limit. They prioritize business as they discourage relationship building and small talks CITATION Lam00 l 1033 ( Lam, 2000). They analyze commercial negotiation proposals thoroughly while considering every detail. They ensure the information and facts are provided in written and scientifically presented. They make logical conclusion basing on the empirical details. Decisions are not made based on the subject’s charm or marketing skills but they consider concrete facts and the accuracy found in the details. The Europeans are slow when it comes to making decisions hence the proceedings should not be rushed. They take their time as they try to furnish the decisions with additional information. Once a decision is reached they rarely change their mind regarding the same. They give respect priority and they give each other personal space in the work environment. They are not allowed to touch during meetings and business dealings. They don’t mix official meeting with social issues. They prefer official dressing when doing commercial negotiations .They rarely dress in casual clothes when working. Europeans trade show participants do not wear badges. Introductions are saved until the visitor shows interest. If the introduction is made too early they consider it superficial and intrusive. Europeans also don’t give their business cards quite easily. They value their privacy and in case they hand you one it should be treated as confidential and private. It should not be passed to another person without the owner’s permission. In calling the Europeans they take it offensively when they are not referred to by their title and name. Europeans shake hands to say hello and goodbye. The hand shake should be done using a firm grip. This is a show of respect and also it depicts the appreciation of the colleague. Women are the ones to be greeted first and not while seated. The men have to stand before they greet women this clearly shows the high level of respect they maintain in the working area. They also have a culture of maintaining eye contact. This is a show of confidence and legitimacy. In Germany company stability and long term commitment are top priorities. Europeans are usually curious about the company ownership, history and the product lines. References will be requested to prove honesty and reliability. Because of all this the process may be slow and trying to speed them up is considered rude and suspicious. Importance of Knowledge on Target Culture in Commercial Negotiation The influence of cultural diversity has major impacts on work relationships in most organizations commercial negotiation. The cross cultural occurrence affects communication between employees, causing confusion and thereafter results in misunderstanding in the workplace. It is therefore important for both managers and their employees to understand the target cultures’ communication process and recognize the sources of cross cultural conflicts. Depending on how they are managed, cross cultural conflicts may have either positive or negative outcomes. It is also important for managers to develop better skills that help in handling the complications caused by different cultures. Managers should be able to convert the problems of cultural diversity into strengths of the organization CITATION Bea00 l 1033 ( Beasor Steele, 2000). This is so to avoid getting in disputes in different cross-cultural platforms. As a commercial negotiator it is important to identify and address any underlying disputes or conflicts before anything goes wrong at the workplace. I have made it clear to my employees of the expected behaviors at the work place and most importantly during their interactions with foreign customers. As a negotiator one is the greatest ally but greatest obstacle to effective management of my employees. One has to closest to the junior managers who need to adapt to the new behaviors and cultures associated with management programs. Getting supervisors and managers on board and taking the lead in supporting cultural diversity is an important aspect of my commercial negotiation skills. This will ensure that employees are given an opportunity and platform to interact and raise any issues or concerns that they might have. Most importantly, employees should be given a chance to develop their own competencies and skills for enhancing cultural sensitivity among other employees in the company. As a commercial negotiator working in a multicultural company, it has been necessary for me to develop my skills in cross-cultural conflict management which affects productivity in the long run. Cross-cultural disputes have often lead to voluntary employment termination. These conflicts resulted in the loss of working time and loss of morale CITATION Bea00 l 1033 ( Beasor Steele, 2000). References   Beasor, T., Steele, P. (2000). Business Negotiation: A Practical Workbook. London: Gower Publishing, Ltd. Lam, M. L.-L. (2000). Working with Chinese Expatriates in Business Negotiations: Portraits, Issues, and Applications. Greenwood Publishing Group. Meunier, S. (2005). Trading Voices: The European Union in International Commercial Negotiations. Princeton : Princeton University Press. Adoranti, F. (2006). The Managers Guide to Understanding Commercial Contract Negotiation. New York: Global Professional Publishers. Burke, W. (n.d.). An examination of the commercial principles of the late negotiation between Great Britain and France in MDCCLXI: In which the system of that negotiation with regard to our colonies and commerce is considered (Google eBook). Printed for R. and J. Dodsley. Fox, W. F. (2009). International Commercial Agreements: A Primer on Drafting, Negotiating, and Resolving Disputes. Kluwer Law International. Gates, S. (2011). The Negotiation Book: Your Definitive Guide To Successful Negotiating. New York: John Wiley Sons. Marsh, P. D. (2001). Contract Negotiation Handbook. London: Gower Publishing, Ltd. Pye, L. W. (1990). Chinese Commercial Negotiating Style. Hong Kong: Oelgeschlager, Gunn Hain, Publishers. Ward, D. (2012). Contract Negotiation Handbook: Getting the Most Out of Commercial Deals. New York: John Wiley Sons. Source document

Personal Narrative- High School and Church Youth Group Essay -- Person

Personal Narrative- High School and Church Youth Group The most distinguishing and memorable moment of my life was entering high school for the first time. I feel that the event of starting high school was the starting point of what kind of person I was going to become. Not only did I start going to a new kind of school, but I started attending the high school youth group at my church. I also had the privilege to start working on my first car. Without this experience, I feel that I would not be where I am right now. This memorable moment started with my transition to the high school youth group at church. Moving up to the high school group at my church was exciting yet frightening. Fortunately, I was welcomed with great joy and fellowship. I got involved in the activities very quickly. I made many friends, which gave me an incentive to actually go to church. I went on two mission trips before starting school. This helped me to see God work through me and through my youth group. Within our youth group, we had a youth choir called Deliverance. Because of my involvement in that ...

Hotel and Lodging Career Research Essay

Executive Summary With high curiosity and interest in many fields, I have changed my career goal from archaeology to science then to architecture and finally to entrepreneurship in hospitality and traveling. In preparation for launching my own business, I determined to learn more about the hotel and lodging industry through a financial and accounting position. A hotel is an establishment that provides temporary accommodation and various services depending on the rate per night a customer can afford. Nowadays, as customers’ needs and affordability vary, hotel and lodging facilities could be classified into multiple levels of definitions based on economic structure, price, chain scale, location, room configuration or market served. A large hotel with full service often comprises many departments with specialized employees. A General Manager leads the main operating departments which consist of Room, Security, Food and Beverage and Minor Services. The administrative departments of a hotel are Accounting, Engineering and Marketing and Sales. As of 2007, in the US, there are approximately 49 thousand hotels and lodging properties that have over 15 rooms, providing about 4.5 million guest rooms and generating 139.4 billion dollars in revenue. The U.S hotel and lodging industry employs about 1.4 million workers and serves both business and leisure travelers. International travelers make up 22% of lodging room occupants. In the current economic downturn that started in late 2007, decreases in both traveling and financing has pulled earnings of hotels in the US down by 11.6% in occupancy rate, 8.6% in average daily rate, and 19.1% in revenue per available room, leaving the industry in a struggle to attract customers and provide jobs for their employees. A typical entry-level administrative position in a hotel requires a four-year bachelor’s degree in a business related major. Other desirable traits for candidates are leadership skills, communications skills, confidence, and more. There are few administrative positions in the current hotel and lodging industry that college graduates can obtain, but they are exciting jobs that promise quick advancement, relocation opportunities, and even room rate discounts for associates. Financial and accounting positions in the hotel industry include Assistant Controller, Senior Assistant Controller, and Director of Finance and Accounting. Assistant Controllers and Senior Assistant Controllers work at the daily operating level and assist the Director of Finance and Accounting in making decisions. Directors of Finances and Accounting work at strategic decision making and are members of the executive committee of the hotel, overseeing the health of the hotel in general. With leadership skills, communication skills and by going beyond the expected and being willing to relocate, a new college graduate could advance quickly in the hotel industry. The knowledge I will gain from working in hotel and lodging industry will prepare me to launch my own lodging business.â€Æ' From myriad interest to a focus on hospitality With a high level of curiosity and thousands of questions in mind, I have been an explorer since I was small. By the time I was 10, I decided to discover the secrets of the world by becoming an archaeologist, who travels to different places and digs things up all day. Before I thought further about digging around, however, I became captivated by Thomas Alva Edison – the genius inventor with thousands of inventions. My hope for becoming an inventor was so high that I started to study really hard in order to understand more about natural science. For two years, I kept my enthusiasm, but the attraction for houses and buildings soon dawned on me. At the time, I was really good at industrial technology courses, especially industrial drawing and blueprint design. Being a visual learner, I had no difficulty interpreting blueprints. I even scribbled some of my own ideas and purchased numerous issues of architectural magazines. When I got into high school, I told myself that I would take an exam to get into an architecture school. However, in Vietnam, at the time, there was a movement of studying abroad. Even though I got into the science division of high school, English has always been my forte, and I had feelings of uncertainty about becoming an architect. Then, in my last year of high school, I applied for a high school exchange program in the United States and took the first step on my study abroad route. As I matured abroad, I stepped away from my childhood interests and thought carefully about the reality of each job I was interested in. Still being enthusiastic about discovering the world, I shifted my method from being an archaeologist to being a traveler. Still enamored of great buildings and designs, I desired to work at nice hotels and resorts or build my own. With my parents owning a business, I was strongly influenced by the independence and creativity of entrepreneurship, which inspired me to become an entrepreneur specializing in hotels and traveling. More importantly, as I studied abroad I developed a sympathy for others travelers and discovered a passion to fulfill others’ need while away from home. Hospitality is also a career that is people-oriented, offering tremendous opportunities to improve communication skills and meet people. As I am pursuing a double major in Accounting and Finance, I look forward to obtaining a financial position in a hotel, in order to learn about the cost and profits of operating a hotel and the process of financing hotels specifically. As I increase my knowledge, my final direction is to launch a hospitality business of my own, providing customers with unique impressions, positive experiences and exceptional services. Hotel and Lodging Industry at a Glance As people travel for various purposes, hotels are convenient facilities that offer temporary accommodation and services during the stay at appropriate prices. Thus, a harbor view room with large bathroom, TV, in-room Internet, air conditioning, 1,000 thread-count bedding, coffee machine, morning paper, and more in a hotel that has a three-star restaurant, conference room, and swimming pools and is located in the middle of all the action could cost hundreds of dollars a night. Meanwhile, a bunk bed in a hostel, with a shared bathroom at the end of the hall and common kitchen costs about twenty dollars a night. With a diversity of customers, hotels and lodging facilities nowadays are thoroughly differentiated based on the services provided. In the book A Host of Opportunities: An Introduction to Hospitality Management a hotel can be classified into multiple definitions based on its structure, price, chain scale, location, room configuration or market served (Hoof 75-83). Hotel Organizational Structure In order to effectively handle myriad customers’ needs, a large hotel could contain many departments including Rooms department, Food and Beverage department, and other administrative departments. Smaller hotels or family-owned facilities may not have the same range of staff or definite departmental arrangement; instead, lodging managers and employees may multitask. Below is a diagram of a large hotel’s departmental organization and its employees, from A Host of Opportunities: An Introduction to Hospitality Management. Scope of U.S Lodging Industry According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s â€Å"2008 Lodging Industry Profile,† by 2007 there were 48,062 lodging properties of 15 rooms and up in the United States. Those properties made up a total of 4,476,191 guestrooms and generated $139.4 billion in sales. The revenue per available room (RevPAR) was $65.52, and the average occupancy rate was 63.1%. Room rates rose constantly, while the most updated average room rate stood at $103.87 in 2007. The before tax profits was $28 billion, according to Smith Travel Research (STR), an organization specializing in benchmark and research for the lodging industry (qtd. in â€Å"2008 Lodging Industry Profile†). Hotel properties across the country employed about 1.4 million workers. Meanwhile, lodging customers were comprised of 44% business travelers and 56% leisure travelers. The United States ranked first in international customer receipts with spending from international travelers at $122 billion, and continued to receive more international travelers than previous years at a 10% growth rate. This enormous flow of international travelers made up 22% of all lodging room nights in 2007 (â€Å"2008 Lodging Industry Profile†). Thus, by 2007 the U.S hotel and lodging industry was still prospering, until it got caught later in the current of the economic downturn. Hotel and Lodging Industry in Current Economic Downturn The current economic slowdown discouraged consumer spending on vacation travel and business spending on business travel, which affected the hotel industry directly. According to Smith Travel Research â€Å"the U.S hotel industry posted declined in the three key performance measurements during the week of 26 April – 2 May,† as in STR’s recent weekly U.S performance report (qtd. in â€Å"STR posts US results for week ending 2 May 2009†). The three key measurements are industry occupancy rate (OC), which declined by 11.6% over a year performance, average daily rate (ADR), which declined by 8.6% and revenue per available room (RevPAR), which declined by 19.1% (â€Å"STR posts US results for week ending 2 May 2009†). As the earnings decline, hotels cut costs in a variety of ways including employments, make it harder even for college graduates to find good positions. Preparing for a Career in Hotel Management In order to obtain an administrative position in a hotel, a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred, especially for finance and accounting positions. In the Marriot International Incorporate’s description of financial and accounting positions provided by Beth Zabawa, Director of Finance and Accounting at Renaissance St. Louis Grand & Suites Hotel, a candidate for the Assistant Controller position – the entry level financial position – should have â€Å"4-year bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting or related major; no work experience required† (Zabawa). However, in place of work experience, exceptional interpersonal skills and positive attitude such as leadership skills, communication skills and confidence are desirable (Zabawa). Financial and Accounting Positions in the Hotel and Lodging Industry Hotel and lodging careers do not suggest working only as a front desk clerk or housekeeping. Many management positions in hotels such as general manager, controller, and sales offer quick advancement, relocation opportunities, and many other novelty benefits such as hotel-associate-only discounts on room rate. These positions are good starting points for college graduates. For finance major graduates, positions in the hotel industry may be limited but could be uniquely rewarding. At small establishments, the lodging manager often oversees both operating activities and administrative activities, including bookkeeping and financing. Only large hotels need and are able to afford several accounting and finance positions. Some of the financial and accounting positions are Assistant Controller, Senior Assistant Controller, and Director of Finance and Accounting. Description of the jobs In the Marriot International Incorporated’s description of financial and accounting positions provided by Zabawa, the entry-level position for a college undergraduate is Assistant Controller, who works at the daily operating level. An assistant controller’s â€Å"primary responsibilities include financial analysis and financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, audit and control, asset and liability reconciliation, working capital and control† (Zabawa). Zabawa said that Assistant Controller mostly works in the office, reports to the Director of Finance and Accounting and attends meetings with other departments. She also provided other information about salary and benefits, training, opportunities for advancement for financial positions and some advice for college graduates starting in the industry. Incoming employees begin with an extensive Management Program that lasts about 6 to 8 weeks, equipping the person with the knowledge and processes involved with working at Marriott Inc. Following the extensive training are online training and a 1-week class that evaluates the new employees and train them to work in groups. The starting salary for an Assistant Controller is at around $40,000 a year. Beside salary, associates at Marriott Inc. receive benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, dental insurance and a 401k plan. Depending on the properties, employees may benefit from working in a hotel by receiving free lunch or discount rates when staying at the chain’s properties. After 12 to 18 months, there is an opportunity for the Assistant Controller to transfer to other properties of Marriott Inc. or to be promoted to Senior Assistant Controller (Zabawa). Senior Assistant Controller’s responsibilities include overlooking the tasks of the Assistant Controller and assisting the Director of Finance and Accounting in reporting and making decisions. After 12 to 18 months to two years, a Senior Assistant Controller at Marriott Inc. could either transfer to other properties or become Director of Finance and Accounting at smaller properties (Zabawa). The Director of Finance and Accounting enjoys many different aspects of financial careers. As part of the Executive Committee of the properties, the main responsibilities of a Director of Finance and Accounting are strategic decision making. Stepping away from the daily paper work of the Assistant Controller or Senior Assistant Controller work, a Director of Finance and Accounting â€Å"attends meetings to discuss the hotel’s operational strategies, controls spending and develops budget, studies competitors and communicates with the estate’s owner,† described Zabawa. She revealed her opinions for the Director of Finance and Accounting position as exciting, informational and engaging. The work is different each day, the reports the Director of Finance and Accounting received provide thorough knowledge of the hotel and lodging industry and Marriott Inc. has a very loyal working culture with each associate working as if the hotel is their own business (Zabawa). Zabawa advised new college graduates pursuing hotel careers to be innovative, confident, assertive, and proactive, and find ways to add value to the business. Interpersonal skills such as communication skills, both speaking and writing skills, and leadership skills are invaluable for college graduates to advance in the hotel and lodging industry (Zabawa). The flow chart below demonstrates the time and skills an entry level position in the Finance and Accounting office needs in order to advance to the next level. Conclusion The hotel and lodging industry is the intersection between the travel and hospitality industries that offers many different directions to explore. While working in a financial position in a hotel, I will be able to learn more about the financial aspect of hotel operation, gain experience in customer service and find a niche for myself to debut in the hotel industry. Combination with private service is a possible solution to my entrepreneurship direction. In comparison with US and European hotel industry, Asian markets are less professional and developed. As I start in Vietnam, I want to broaden the Vietnamese tourism industry with ethnic hotels or lodging facilities that would bring a truly authentic experience to travelers to Vietnam. With later international expansion, I hope to establish a model of authentic traveling and cultural interaction in the world tourism industry. Work Cited â€Å"2008 Lodging Industry Profile.† American Hotel and Lodging Association. 30 Apr. 2009. â€Å"Dedicated Staff.† The Knightsbridge London. 30 Apr. 2009. Five Star Concierge Service LLC. 30 Apr. 2009. Hoof, Hubert, Gary Vallen, Marilyn Mc. Donald, and Paul Wiener. A Host of Opportunities: An Introduction to Hospitality Management. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. Print. â€Å"Housekeeping Service.† The Knightsbridge London. 30 Apr. 2009. â€Å"STR posts US results for week ending 2 May 2009.† Hospitalitynet.org. Hospitality Net, 8 May. 2009. 10 May 2009. Zabawa, Beth. Personal Interview. 8 Apr. 2009.

The Economic And Social Structure Of Africa - 1661 Words

In the past, research of Africa was not prioritized because it was believed that Africa had not influenced society and that it was not worth studying. Recently, however, more and more people are realizing the value of studying Africa. Studying different aspects of Africa help us understand Africans, ourselves, and the world as a whole. One field of study that should recognize what there is to learn from Africa is economics. Studying Africa gives us a better understanding of how economics influences social organization. Economic activity changed throughout the history of Africa, and this has had a major impact on how society was organized. By studying how the economic and social structures of Africa have changed over time, we can better understand how our own economic structure influences our society. Many Americans may have misconceptions about the economy of Africa, and studying the history of Africa will help to correct these misconceptions. Also, studying how America has treated Africa in the past will hopefully help us to care more about people who are different from us and help us make better decisions in the future. The first economic activities in Africa were hunting and gathering. Men hunted small and large animals using spears and the bow and arrow. They used the animals for food as well as for tools (Shillington 2012: 15-16). Historians believe that gathering was a very important aspect of the prehistoric African economy. Most likely, women gatheredShow MoreRelatedCCOT And CC Essay1549 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿UNIT 1 /2 – 8000 bce – 600 bce, 600 bce – 600 ce Africa Compare and contrast life in foraging societies with life in agricultural societies after the Agricultural Revolution Identify two key changes in early African history that resulted in a new period in the history of the region The Middle East Analyze the political changes in the Middle East from the Agricultural Revolution to 600 c.e. 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