Final Blog Chap 24

After reading this chapter, my mind was swimming on what to  write.  I decided on the problems with global commerce. As much as my life has benefitted from all of the goods that have come from over seas, this chapter enlightened me on the downside of global commerce.  It is not all a bed of roses as they say.  After  WWII, the United States became a super power.  World trade and investments were bringing in money.  Then came the credit card... good or bad?  At the time, it seemed good but now people can't make the payments. They spend money they do not have. I hate to admit it but I am one of those people who used to use credit cards all the time but have realized that it is not a good idea and it takes forever to pay them off.  Very smart of the banks I must say! It may have appeared the economy was doing well but as the book states, the gap between the rich and the poor keeps getting bigger and bigger. Some countries are willing to produce goods at lower rates so companies are willing to outsource the work.  In the U.S. the shift in global division of labor has workers losing their jobs or working for reduced wages because companies here know that they can outsource the work to cheaper labor to other countries like China or India. That has devastated our economy greatly. The U.S was once the largest creditor, now we are the largest debtor.  How can that be a positive outcome?  Our environment is being destroyed by the growing number of poor people and the overconsumption of the rich. The spread of our modern industry has caused major pollution and we are using up our natural resources.  All of our activity wreaks havoc on our world.  The global commerce has just increased problems on a global level. In my opinion we have become similar to Europe with an egotistical attitude.  We use our military and our government to threaten other countries and believe our way is the right way.  We try to impose our values on others. Does history always repeat itself?  I am still grateful for all that I have and am glad that I don't live in other countries as I don't always agree or understand their way of living, however, I may have opened my eyes a little more and seen more than a single point of view.  I guess I always have been a person who sees things as half full and tried to see the positive side of things but in history, it isn't always that easy.

Chapt 21 blog

I am in the Disneyland hotel and I just finished reading my chapters as my girls are sleeping as I have exhausted them so blog time begins! I am in the happiest place on earth until I read my history... I decided to blog about Chapt 21 because I really never realized how how the United States came into power.  I briefly recall history in high school but didn't care for it then so didn't really pay attention.  Am I to be thankful that these horrible wars happened?  It seems that is how we became a super power.  First, for me, it only seems right that I thank all those who have died in those terrible wars and events that took place that enabled the United States to be where we are today.  Yes, I understand they are all dead but they are  the events that took place and they were so horrific the stain they left will never go away.  Unfortunately, Germany was a prominate figure in both world wars.  A lot of blood shed and so many lives lost.  The Holocost being one of the horrific outcomes of the wars is remembered until this day and I am sure the Jewish people will never forget what happened to their people.  I don't think anyone will forget what happened.  War is so ugly.  The struggle for power is an evil fact of life and brings out the worst in any nation or person.  As I was reading about the depression and how horrible life was for everyone and they started talking about Hitler and how he was turning Germany around and turning the spirits of the people around, I realized, that is how he was probably able to get the people to do the horrible things he wanted them to do.  People were struggling and in desperate times, looking for hope.  He was a solution.  He gave them hope and started to train them into thinking as he did.  The people were thankful to him and did not want to go back to the depression life and the way it was so they probably felt they had no choice.  I was not alive then but I can only imagine that is what happened and why anyone would even consider hurting another human being.  Watching people being carted off to gas chambers is unthinkable. It breaks my heart to even think about it now.  Those poor Jewish people.... Mothers having to watch their children.  Horrific.  As I said, horrible events allowed the United States to become a super power. I could blog on for hours about all the events but I wanted to mention that and I wanted to mention that I am grateful for that we have the United Nations.  I would rather have a more peaceful solution and nations trying to decide things in a peaceful way rather than nations destroying each other. I know it does not work for all nations but I am thankful the U.S. is part of the U.N.  I hope it helps us avoid war.  I am thankful we are a super power because I live the life I live.  As much as Germany, Japan and Russia took a giant hit through those wars, they may have suffered but they recovered and are still economically sound today.  After all that and they still stand? That's a superpower.

The Industrial era

In reading these chapters, I found myself looking at all the different countries and the amazing innovations they created but noticing that the credit went continually to Europe, especiallly Brittain.  Yes Britain had the textile industry and the steam engines and coal, but other place such as India had long ago started the textile production of cotton.  India was the first place to turn sugarcane into crystallized sugar, the source of agricultural innovations and mathematical advancements.  The Islamic world was making huge strides in the ship building industry and the use of the tides and falling water to generate power, water mills, clocks, chemicals, paper making etc.  China too was a key player because they had already had water ways and Silk and ships.  Everywhere seemed to be advancing technologically but why  are the Europeans the ones to get the credit?  Well, I look back to the first pages in  The Big Picture before Chapter 17 begins.  Would history be the same if China did not withdraw their Chinese naval fleet? How would Europe have been able to dominate the Indian Ocean?   Also, what if the Native Americans were able to withstand all of the horrific diseases the Europeans brought with them that killed them off?  If they survived and had immunity against the diseases, would the Europeans have been able to take over the land? These questions were constantly in my mind as I read about the industrial revolution.  It almost seems as though the Europeans just lucked out and as fate would have it they were given the most credit.  I am not saying they weren't just as advanced as the other societies, I am just not sure they deserve the most credit.The one thing I do admire Britain for is the fact they were one of  the first to go against slavery.  They forbade sale of slaves in 1834.  Europe itself in the 18th century was turning its back on slavery which is ironic as it was once one of the largest areas for slave trade.  It just seems the European empire always continues to rule.  I think they had smart people to rule and that is how they were able to conquer and stay on top. I think one of my favorite quotes came from the German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz when he said something like " not to worry so much about getting things European to the Chinese but rather getting remarkable Chinese inventions to us".  Smart way to think in my opinion.  If you knew someone did something better, why not borrow the idea and use it? The Europeans were interested in commerce more than other countries and they were able to use that to their benefit.  They were able to build a global commerce.

Blog on chapt 14 and 15

It is amazing to me that through all these chapters, we constantly see empire after empire take over one another.  What is even more amazing is the impact religions can have when it is brought with an empire.  We look at Islam when it is brought by the Ottoman Empire.  The Ottoman empire defeated Constantinople which took an enormous toll on Christianity.  Although the Ottomans allowed had tolerance for other religions.  Many of the Christians actually welcomed the change to Islam because the taxes were less than that of the Christians and oppression was less.  The Christians were allowed to move up in Ottoman society.  One way they could move up was through a process called devshirme.  This is when the family was required to hand over a quota of young boys who were required to learn Turkish and converted to Islam.  They were then trained for civil administration or military service in elite units.  Although families would suffer emotionally, they would move up socially.  I can only imagine the rule under the Roman Empire was so awful that the people welcomed a new ruling empire and embraced a new religion.  Many people converted.  I believe this is a very significant event as Islam is the second most popular religion in the world.  It has spread as each empire as taken over.  Empires take over land.  What makes the religion follow?  I wonder if it was the tolerance of other religions the Empires allow that makes people want to join.  Or does the phrase "if you can't beat them, join them" come to mind.  Throughout time, people seem to be manipulated by the empires that rule.  They have no choice but to join or suffer the consequence. 
In reading Chapt 15, it was sad to read about the slave trade and how it started.  I would not have thought it would have all started with sugar.  The Europeans needed people for labor and after the Ottoman Turks took over Constantinople, they no longer had access to Slavic slaves so they went to Africa.  The Europeans demand for slaves was a major problem in slave labor.  Over 80 percent ended up in Brazil or the Carribean and the trip was so horrific that the mortality rate was 15 percent.  As much as I have complained about the treatment of women, this is far worse.  I could not imagine what would give anyone the right to own anyone.  It was a sad chapter to read, although it is history and it is the truth.

Class Notes/ Questions 1 and 2 (extra)

Study Guide Quest #2-
Our group project was what information did Strayer provide to show The Worlds of Islam belonged in Classiscal period not post Classical.
Some reasons are as follows:
-They had a large centralized army that could take over expansive civilizations like Persia and the Greeks
-They had religion as a major cultural intervention as they conquered lands (similar to Persia and China)
-Their religion was  all encompasing, it was a way of life, government, strong central command, spiritual (like China), They had Muhammed the prophet who brought together religion and state
-Pillars of Islam brought structure to the people which brought a strong empirical prescence
-They had large Arabic armies that took over vast lands all the way into Spain, conquered the Byzantine and Persian Sassanid Empires
-The merchant leaders wanted to have more profitable trades and wealthier agricultural areas

All of these traits are the same as the earlier traits of the empires of Persians, Greeks and Romans.

Study Guide Quest 1-
The Mongols were indeed a civilizaion for these reasons:
Mongol women held positions in political power
They had transcontinental trade
Religious tolerance ( built places of worship for others)
Cosmopolitan city
Exchanged embassadors
Collection of taxes
Promoted international commerce
Used Chinese Administrative ideas (borrowed)
Translated official decreed into official languages
First to use biological warfare
Made mobile tents /cities
Military force was moblie
Left someone of high rank to rule the city they conquered
Created postal system
Brought Eurasia together
Advanced military skills

June 11 weekly reading

This week I was excited to learn about Islam.  It is such a major part of our world.  I am told it is a very misunderstood religion.  As I read about the prophet Muhammed and the Quran and the Pillars of Islam, it seemed to be a peaceful religion.  I did not see anything bad about it.  The Pillars seemed to be good rules to follow.  As for jihad, the sixth rule, I had a different idea of what it meant.  I had always thought that jihad meant "war".  I thought when they talked about jihad they were excited about war.  But if you read about what Muhammed said, he said that jihad is the personal effort of each Muslim against greed and selfishness and the striving toward a God conscious life.  The Quaran only approves of force against infidels or establishing Muslim rule.  I guess they can argue that is why they shout jihad.  Maybe they believe they are trying to establish Muslim rule and the Quran says its ok.  I am not sure, it depends on how you decipher it.  It would depend on who is reading it and what your beliefs are.What I found ironc is that jihad is supposed to remind Muslims about not being greedy or selfish but the Arabs could not resist and used jihad as an excuse to conquer other empires.  They said it was a sign from God. They made it in their favor by turning it into their perspective.  I do not think that is what Muhammed wanted.  After he died, the merchant leaders wanted to gain trade routes and wealthy agricultural regions.  The Arab empire was no different than any other empire.  They too became greedy.  The Arab armies were able to take over the Byzantine and the Sassanid empires.  After those victories, they went westward across North Africa, to Spain, France and to Central Asia.  To the Arabs, they believed God gave them their success only fueling their belief in the Quran and jihad.It just seems a far cry from what the original prophet Muhammed believed.  In reading further, the more power they gain, the more rules and the more authority over women.  In the begining of the chapter, the Quaran seems to talk as if the men and women are a community and almost equal, at least on a spiritual level.  At least when Muhammed speaks.  As the Arabs gain power, the more they seem to make rules to hide women.  It all depended on what area you were from.  I just always wonder who makes those rules. They said in the begining that the Quran was the word of God.  How is it that humans always make rules around Gods rule to their liking?  As history proves, power changes things. What once started as a simple belief in a beautiful religion by a prophet turns into an overpowering empire.  Greed seems to always take over.
When I read about the Mongols, I wasn't surprised to learn that they conquered so many civilizations. I remember they said Chinngis Khan was a ruthless warrior.  He fought beside his men and was brutal.  He took out civilizations before they could become too big and cause a threat. What I did not know was that they were the first to start biological warfare by hurling infected corpses (with the plague) into the city of Caffa.  The death rate was between 1/3-2/3 of the population in a few years.  People died within days of being exposed.  Although it may have seemed like a brilliant plan to wipe out your enemy, it also wiped out many of the Mongols.  As with all empires, they only last so long.

In this weeks reading I found it interesting that no matter the type of trade route, not only merchandise seemed to be passed on, but religions too.  It seemed that every time they spoke of crossing to a different land, one religion of some sort had been brought along also.  Buddhism seemed to appeal to many of the merchants that followed the Silk Roads from India to Central Asia and China.  The Buddhist faith used to frown on the material world but then started fluorishing from all that they had picked up from other cultures.  The Silk Roads brought more to the religion. They started having sculptures and murals.  The begging bowls became a symbol more than a daily activity. The Sea roads brought about trade in larger amounts because the boats could carry more than a camel.  The ships could carry products for a mass market.  However, along with products, it brought about the rise in Islam.  Islam then spread across Afro-Eurasia.  The Confucian culture was suspicious of merchants,but The prophet Muhammad was a trader himself so merchants were comfortable with Islam. The trade routes bring about so much, unfortunately, disease too. I could not believe how many diseases were passed on.

The next thing I found interesting or moreover disturbing is the "foot binding" tradition that was in the Song Dynasty.  In Confucianism it is based on relationships.  The woman is subordinate to her husband.  I would like to know what horrible man decided that small feet make a woman better. How is breaking a woman's foot and binding them and causing them excruciating pain a form of beauty?  In my opinion....some whacko! Maybe we should have broke his feet and binded them and see how he liked it.  What a horrible way to have to compete with other women.  Can you imagine? Trying to compete with a concubine by being the smallest most petite woman? It saddens me.  They say the Song Dynasty offered women more opportunities.  Oh, yay, they could become an entertainer, a concubine, a courtesan or a prostitute. How sad for the wives who have to try and hold on to their husbands.  For those poor families, they turn their daughter into a concubine so they can gain wealth.  You see their point of view. Then you look at the wife and see how horrible it must have been for her.  Although thankfully, later they encourage women to be educated so they may more effectively raise their sons and increase their family's fortune.  They aren't showing favoritism towards males are they?