Its hard believe that this will be my last post- this class went by very fast.
Ch. 23
The Case of South Africa: Ending Apartheid
South Africa won freedom from Great Britain in 1910 but its government was controlled by a white settler minority. The black South African freedom struggle was against an internal opponent. White population was split between British descendants (had economic superiority) and Afrikaners (Boers) of Dutch descent (had political dominance). Afrikaners had failed to win independence from the British in the Boer War (1899–1902). Both white groups felt threatened by any move toward black majority rule.
By the early 1900s, South Africa had a mature industrial economy and by the 1960s, had major foreign investments and loans.Black South Africans were extremely dependent on the white-controlled economy and the issue of race was overwhelmingly prominent.Policy of apartheid tried to keep blacks and white completely separate, while retaining black labor power enormous repressive powers enforced social segregation.
African National Congress founded in 1912,like India’s INC, it consisted of elite Africans who wanted a voice in society. For 40 years, the ANC was peaceful and moderate. In 1950s: moved to nonviolent civil disobedience. The government’s response was overwhelming repression, 69 unarmed demonstrators were shot at Sharpville in 1960.
ANC was banned and its leadership imprisoned, underground nationalist leaders turned to sabotage and assassination, and opposition came to focus on student groups.Soweto uprising (1976) was the start of spreading violence and organization of strikes. there was growing international pressure,exclusion from international sporting events, economic boycotts, and withdrawal of private investment funds.Negotiations began in the late 1980s. Key apartheid policies were abandoned and Mandela was freed and the ANC legalized. In 1994: national elections brought the ANC to power, apartheid was ended without major bloodshed.Most important threat was a number of separatist and “Africans only” groups.
Ch. 24
Feminism in the West, organized feminism revived in the West (1960s) with a new agenda against historic understanding of women as “other” or deviant. Demanded right of women to control their own bodies, agenda of equal rights in employment and education.“Women’s liberation”: broad attack on patriarchy as a system of domination. Consciousness raising: becoming aware of oppression,open discussion of issues involving sexuality. Black women emphasized solidarity with black men, not separation from them.
Feminism in the Global South,women had been welcomed in communist and revolutionary movements but were sidelined after movements’ success. Many African feminists (1970s) thought Western feminists were too individualistic and too focused on sex,resented Western feminists’ interest in cultural matters like female circumcision and polygamy.Many African governments and many African men identified feminism with colonialism.Not all women’s movements dealt explicitly with gender.Kenya: women’s group movement supported individual women and communities.Morocco: feminist movement targeted law defining women as minors; women finally obtained legal equality in 2004.
International Feminism,the “woman question” became a global issue in the twentieth century. Patriarchy lost some of its legitimacy, the UN declared 1975 as International Women’s Year and declared 1975–1985 as the Decade for Women. The UN sponsored a series of World Conferences on Women, by 2006, 183 nations had ratified the UN Convention to Eliminate Discrimination against Women. The sharp divisions within global feminism,conflict between developed and developing nations’ interests.Third world groups often disagreed. Global backlash and view that feminism had undermined family life.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
WW- Ch 21-\22
I’ve always respected our country when we had to go to war. I believe that the freedoms we have don’t some free, and it’s the price our country has had to pay. I am very thankful for the men and women who have fought for our country.
Reading about the Great Depression reminded me of times today. Yes I know we aren’t in a depression but just the way people are struggling today. Many people lost their life savings in the depression. Today, many people are working two or even three jobs just to make ends meet.
My great grandmother lived during the great depression, and I remember growing up that she was so frugal with her money, and when we would go out to restaurants she was always putting food in napkins and then into her purse. When he passed away, she actually had food in her purse. Even though times are tough it makes a person grateful for what they have.
The government had to figure out a way to help the economy; at first they thought the problem would fix itself. President Roosevelt introduced the New Deal- minimum wage was introduced, social security, and welfare for the poor. The great depression hit all over the world, and had a lasting impact.
When I hear the name Hitler, it makes me cringe. I can honestly say I hate that man. The lives he took saddens me to my core. I have been giving the opportunity to meet people who lived through the Holocaust and their stories are heartbreaking, and how they view life now. I understand that Hitler brought Germany out of depression, but I can only wonder if living during the depression was better than living during the Holocaust.
World War II- was really a world war; many of the countries were fighting against something. I was amazed that 60 million people were killed during WW2, and the USSR had 40 percent of those deaths. Many civilians were attacked during the war. In China, 200,000-300,000 civilians were attacked and many women were raped, this was called the Rape of Nanjing.
The economic growths help end WW2 among many countries.
ch. 22
Communist regimes were wide spread throughout the world. the Soviet Union was a place that women's movement took place. In WW1- "Russia established new laws for women, marriage became a civil procedure among freely consenting adults; divorce was legalized and made easier, as was abortion; illegitmacy was abolished; women no longer had to take their husband's surnames, pregnancy leave for employed women was mandated; and women were actively mobilized as workers in the country's drive to industrialization" ( Strayer, 669).
Many male communist were not in favor of the Women's liberation acts. In 1919: USSR’s Communist Party set up Zhenotdel (Women’s Department). The group help train women to run day cares, clinics, news papers, etc. They also encouraged Muslim women to take off their veils. Even though it last awhile, in 1930 Stalin abolished the group.
China was also having similar groups appear. Women werent just staying at home, they were out working. This was a big deal for women all over. Even though they werent holding political jobs, they were getting jobs and not just staying at home taking care of the family.
Reading about the Great Depression reminded me of times today. Yes I know we aren’t in a depression but just the way people are struggling today. Many people lost their life savings in the depression. Today, many people are working two or even three jobs just to make ends meet.
My great grandmother lived during the great depression, and I remember growing up that she was so frugal with her money, and when we would go out to restaurants she was always putting food in napkins and then into her purse. When he passed away, she actually had food in her purse. Even though times are tough it makes a person grateful for what they have.
The government had to figure out a way to help the economy; at first they thought the problem would fix itself. President Roosevelt introduced the New Deal- minimum wage was introduced, social security, and welfare for the poor. The great depression hit all over the world, and had a lasting impact.
When I hear the name Hitler, it makes me cringe. I can honestly say I hate that man. The lives he took saddens me to my core. I have been giving the opportunity to meet people who lived through the Holocaust and their stories are heartbreaking, and how they view life now. I understand that Hitler brought Germany out of depression, but I can only wonder if living during the depression was better than living during the Holocaust.
World War II- was really a world war; many of the countries were fighting against something. I was amazed that 60 million people were killed during WW2, and the USSR had 40 percent of those deaths. Many civilians were attacked during the war. In China, 200,000-300,000 civilians were attacked and many women were raped, this was called the Rape of Nanjing.
The economic growths help end WW2 among many countries.
ch. 22
Communist regimes were wide spread throughout the world. the Soviet Union was a place that women's movement took place. In WW1- "Russia established new laws for women, marriage became a civil procedure among freely consenting adults; divorce was legalized and made easier, as was abortion; illegitmacy was abolished; women no longer had to take their husband's surnames, pregnancy leave for employed women was mandated; and women were actively mobilized as workers in the country's drive to industrialization" ( Strayer, 669).
Many male communist were not in favor of the Women's liberation acts. In 1919: USSR’s Communist Party set up Zhenotdel (Women’s Department). The group help train women to run day cares, clinics, news papers, etc. They also encouraged Muslim women to take off their veils. Even though it last awhile, in 1930 Stalin abolished the group.
China was also having similar groups appear. Women werent just staying at home, they were out working. This was a big deal for women all over. Even though they werent holding political jobs, they were getting jobs and not just staying at home taking care of the family.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
WW- Part 5: Chapter 17
“John Locke (1632-1704) had argued the “social contract” between ruler and ruled should last only as long as it served the people well” (Strayer, page 500). I really liked this quote, because many times ever today, I don’t believe that the people are served “well”. Many times politicians tell the people what they want to hear and then do something else.
As Strayer points out in the book, the American Revolution has been taught to children since first grade, in a much more simple degree, as example America gained her independence by 1787 and created the federal constitution, that is why we celebrate July 4! Many times I hear people talk, and I have been guilty of this, questioning why the schools don’t tell the “truth” about history. I have thought about this many times during the class, because it feels like I am learning the same things over and over, but just not the lovey-dovey side. As I was looking at my son, I realized that, even though our country and other countries have done some evil things to people, we don’t want our children being raised to question why our government was so mean, and even question or doubting the United States.
During the American Revolution, countries looked to the United States, and many do today. The US was the first to have Constitution- with the Bill of Rights. US, was practicing separation church and state, which I believe is a big progress. Many countries to this day do not even allow their people to practice what religion he or she chooses.
The French Revolution was from 1789-1815, and was completely different than the American Revolution. The French Revolution was a revolt against the social classes. The Third Estate (National Assembly) stated the revolt. They were tired of being miss treated, and wanted some respect even if they were the poor, but yet the majority. The revolt was so powerful, it got rid of the King and Queen at the time, and I believe the Queen was Marie Antoinette. Slavery was ended for a short and unlike the Americas; the French were looking for a new beginning, stated over, made a new calendar.
Napoleon Bonaparte took leadership from 1799-1814. He created civil quality, religious freedom, and many other rules/laws. In 1815 Britain and Russia brought down Napoleon, which ended the French Revolution. Many countries learned off of each other during the Revolutions’ and some lasted for a while and some didn’t. I believe there needs to be a since of respect for what happened back then, even if it was done as to what we think is an evil way, but yet that was the way back then.
The Revolutions were a big Era for the women too. While people were fighting for rights, women didn’t want it to be just between the social classes but also between men and women. Women wanted to be educated too. By the 1900’s women had bad a big change that has affected women today, they were able to attend universities, own property, some areas liberated divorce laws, so it just wasn’t up the male. Women help jobs, teaching and nursing. Im not a big feminist, I don’t believe that women should have the same roles as men, but I am grateful for the hard work that the women did before us to make us where the US is today. I look at other countries and how they treat their women with disrespect and it is truly sad.
As Strayer points out in the book, the American Revolution has been taught to children since first grade, in a much more simple degree, as example America gained her independence by 1787 and created the federal constitution, that is why we celebrate July 4! Many times I hear people talk, and I have been guilty of this, questioning why the schools don’t tell the “truth” about history. I have thought about this many times during the class, because it feels like I am learning the same things over and over, but just not the lovey-dovey side. As I was looking at my son, I realized that, even though our country and other countries have done some evil things to people, we don’t want our children being raised to question why our government was so mean, and even question or doubting the United States.
During the American Revolution, countries looked to the United States, and many do today. The US was the first to have Constitution- with the Bill of Rights. US, was practicing separation church and state, which I believe is a big progress. Many countries to this day do not even allow their people to practice what religion he or she chooses.
The French Revolution was from 1789-1815, and was completely different than the American Revolution. The French Revolution was a revolt against the social classes. The Third Estate (National Assembly) stated the revolt. They were tired of being miss treated, and wanted some respect even if they were the poor, but yet the majority. The revolt was so powerful, it got rid of the King and Queen at the time, and I believe the Queen was Marie Antoinette. Slavery was ended for a short and unlike the Americas; the French were looking for a new beginning, stated over, made a new calendar.
Napoleon Bonaparte took leadership from 1799-1814. He created civil quality, religious freedom, and many other rules/laws. In 1815 Britain and Russia brought down Napoleon, which ended the French Revolution. Many countries learned off of each other during the Revolutions’ and some lasted for a while and some didn’t. I believe there needs to be a since of respect for what happened back then, even if it was done as to what we think is an evil way, but yet that was the way back then.
The Revolutions were a big Era for the women too. While people were fighting for rights, women didn’t want it to be just between the social classes but also between men and women. Women wanted to be educated too. By the 1900’s women had bad a big change that has affected women today, they were able to attend universities, own property, some areas liberated divorce laws, so it just wasn’t up the male. Women help jobs, teaching and nursing. Im not a big feminist, I don’t believe that women should have the same roles as men, but I am grateful for the hard work that the women did before us to make us where the US is today. I look at other countries and how they treat their women with disrespect and it is truly sad.
Monday, June 20, 2011
WW- Chapters 14,15,16
Since blogs are supposed to be about how you are feeling and what you think…. I will say that my energy level for this blog is very low. (I hope I don’t get marked down for this.) I wish Strayer was a little more exciting, don’t get me wrong, the information is good stuff, its just how he words it. Anyways back to my summaries.
Ch.14
Our country relies on mass production, not only for the U.S. but for trade as well. Back in the 1450-1750 countries needed mass production too, and their way to produce it was through slaves. Everyone knows that slaves had a hard life, and by no means am I saying that I agree with slaves, but back then it was what needed to be done. I’m sure that if we didn’t have factories to produce items then we would still have slaves today.
America was doing just fine before Mr. Columbus showed up, after Europeans came, they brought over diseases that killed most Native Americans. Europeans did many things for Americans. For example created societies, established trade, and crops. For this reason is why slaves became more popular. Sugar played a major role in trade and slavery.
Ch. 15.
I feel like we are always talking about the Europeans, and this chapter is about the voyages that the Europeans embarked on. “ It was the silver trade that gave birth to the genuinely global network of exchange”(Strayer, page 442). Who doesn’t love money? In today society, people can’t get enough, and that also went for back then too. Money brings power. Here comes China, once again.. with their societies, silver was a must for them. Since people already had to pay taxes, now the people had to pay taxes in silver. China had most of the silver due to its large economy, but if foreigners could get a lot of that pretty metal, they could take part in the silk to that made China so wealthy. The largest silver mine was not in China but in Bolivia. People will do anything for money, even travel around the world to get some.
Ch. 16
Religion is always a touchy topic…people have so many different views on things. Christianity is one of those religions that many “think” they know about and judge it by the people. I know, I know, why would a person want to be associated with a group that forced something on another person. A person wants to be apart of something where they are “comfortable” no pressures from the world. On page, 464 Strayer says this statement about Salvation and what the Protestants believe, “ To God alone ; God’s grace is freely and directly granted to believers."
Ch.14
Our country relies on mass production, not only for the U.S. but for trade as well. Back in the 1450-1750 countries needed mass production too, and their way to produce it was through slaves. Everyone knows that slaves had a hard life, and by no means am I saying that I agree with slaves, but back then it was what needed to be done. I’m sure that if we didn’t have factories to produce items then we would still have slaves today.
America was doing just fine before Mr. Columbus showed up, after Europeans came, they brought over diseases that killed most Native Americans. Europeans did many things for Americans. For example created societies, established trade, and crops. For this reason is why slaves became more popular. Sugar played a major role in trade and slavery.
Ch. 15.
I feel like we are always talking about the Europeans, and this chapter is about the voyages that the Europeans embarked on. “ It was the silver trade that gave birth to the genuinely global network of exchange”(Strayer, page 442). Who doesn’t love money? In today society, people can’t get enough, and that also went for back then too. Money brings power. Here comes China, once again.. with their societies, silver was a must for them. Since people already had to pay taxes, now the people had to pay taxes in silver. China had most of the silver due to its large economy, but if foreigners could get a lot of that pretty metal, they could take part in the silk to that made China so wealthy. The largest silver mine was not in China but in Bolivia. People will do anything for money, even travel around the world to get some.
Ch. 16
Religion is always a touchy topic…people have so many different views on things. Christianity is one of those religions that many “think” they know about and judge it by the people. I know, I know, why would a person want to be associated with a group that forced something on another person. A person wants to be apart of something where they are “comfortable” no pressures from the world. On page, 464 Strayer says this statement about Salvation and what the Protestants believe, “ To God alone ; God’s grace is freely and directly granted to believers."
Monday, June 13, 2011
WW- Chapters 11,12,13.
WW- 11,12,13
Ch11
I could write my RA#1 on: Christianity vs. Islam, but that would be a heated paper and much longer than three pages, plus my answer would be biased for Christianity. So I wasn’t very interested in this chapter, to be honest. I understand that there needs to be knowledge of Islam, but because of my religious practice and what I believe, I don’t believe in Islam. So my attention span wasn’t very high. Sorry. I can fully say, that I do not want my husband to have four wives. How sad. I feel like it makes adultery okay, even though Islam doesn’t view it that way. “ Woman were expected to enjoy sexual satisfaction and could sue for divorce if they had not had sexual relations for more than four months” (Strayer, page 315). I found this statement very interesting. I was raised that sex, cant be the cement for a relationship. A relationship has its ups and downs- emotionally and sexually, to have a marriage work their needs to be substance, common ground, goals, interests, etc. BUT in Islam if a woman doesn’t feel satisfied sexually she can leave- I can imagine she might feel sexually frustrated because her husband is not just “sleeping” with her but three other ladies. “ Men were, however, permitted to have sexual relations with consenting females slaves, but any children born of those unions were free, as was the mother once her owner dies. Furthermore, men were strongly encouraged to marry orphans, widows, and slaves” (Strayer, page 315). If a man married a slave, could she still divorce him, if she wasn’t happy sexually? Or was she still his slave? Okay, Okay, enough about that, I think I could go on forever about this issue. Reading the rest of the chapter was just repetitive. Yes we know that Mohammad was the messenger for the Quran. Just like Moses was for God when he sent the Ten Commandments. Both religions were said to not have any god before their own, Allah or Jesus. When rules are set they aren’t to be taken lightly. If they are broken there isn’t just spiritual turmoil, but also worldly punishments because a person cannot kill someone nothing happen.
Ch12
Pastoral nomads/ societies were less productive than agriculture societies. They needed more land because they were dependent on horses, sheep, goats, and other animals. Their society/ group was smaller they accepted other people who weren’t related because they were all mostly related by the same male bloodline. Women didn’t have restrictions as they did in other groups, or not as many, they even went to war was it was necessary. Pastoral societies were mostly in Eurasia and sub- Saharan Africa because there was so much land to raise the cattle. The Masai of East Africa (Kenya) had some agriculture before the eighteen and nineteen century and were dependent on hunters and farmers. “ Mongol Empire was the strongest empire of its time with a population of 700,000” (Strayer, Page 342). I was greatly disturbed when during war, if a citizen was “unskilled in war he/she would serve as human shields for attacks on the next city or were used as human fill in the moats surrounding those cities (Strayer,Page 347). If I was in their “society” I would be training everyday to make sure I wasn’t going to be used as “protection.” From my understanding, they would go from city to city, conquer it and take its money and goods. That is how they became so wealthy and were able to wear fine clothing. Mongol was able to conquer China, both north and south, and even unified them. The war for the north was much more violent than it was for the south.
CH. 13
We can say that societies grew because they learned from groups. I believe it is human nature to want to progress and now stay the same. If things don’t change life is boring. In the 15th century people where living in more civilized communities. People were traveling; Christopher Columbus, found American by accident. I also find it ironic that it isn’t until children are older that they really learn who he is, and he wasn’t that great of a guy. Why sugarcoat things? Religion was being more powerful, communities need spiritual guidance; Aztec looked towards Shamans for wisdom. Societies all over the world have come a long way, even though it has been a long road, everyone is learning that to have a community every person needs to have a special role. I just wish we could make more items in the States and not every item we buy says “Made in China.” HAHA
Ch11
I could write my RA#1 on: Christianity vs. Islam, but that would be a heated paper and much longer than three pages, plus my answer would be biased for Christianity. So I wasn’t very interested in this chapter, to be honest. I understand that there needs to be knowledge of Islam, but because of my religious practice and what I believe, I don’t believe in Islam. So my attention span wasn’t very high. Sorry. I can fully say, that I do not want my husband to have four wives. How sad. I feel like it makes adultery okay, even though Islam doesn’t view it that way. “ Woman were expected to enjoy sexual satisfaction and could sue for divorce if they had not had sexual relations for more than four months” (Strayer, page 315). I found this statement very interesting. I was raised that sex, cant be the cement for a relationship. A relationship has its ups and downs- emotionally and sexually, to have a marriage work their needs to be substance, common ground, goals, interests, etc. BUT in Islam if a woman doesn’t feel satisfied sexually she can leave- I can imagine she might feel sexually frustrated because her husband is not just “sleeping” with her but three other ladies. “ Men were, however, permitted to have sexual relations with consenting females slaves, but any children born of those unions were free, as was the mother once her owner dies. Furthermore, men were strongly encouraged to marry orphans, widows, and slaves” (Strayer, page 315). If a man married a slave, could she still divorce him, if she wasn’t happy sexually? Or was she still his slave? Okay, Okay, enough about that, I think I could go on forever about this issue. Reading the rest of the chapter was just repetitive. Yes we know that Mohammad was the messenger for the Quran. Just like Moses was for God when he sent the Ten Commandments. Both religions were said to not have any god before their own, Allah or Jesus. When rules are set they aren’t to be taken lightly. If they are broken there isn’t just spiritual turmoil, but also worldly punishments because a person cannot kill someone nothing happen.
Ch12
Pastoral nomads/ societies were less productive than agriculture societies. They needed more land because they were dependent on horses, sheep, goats, and other animals. Their society/ group was smaller they accepted other people who weren’t related because they were all mostly related by the same male bloodline. Women didn’t have restrictions as they did in other groups, or not as many, they even went to war was it was necessary. Pastoral societies were mostly in Eurasia and sub- Saharan Africa because there was so much land to raise the cattle. The Masai of East Africa (Kenya) had some agriculture before the eighteen and nineteen century and were dependent on hunters and farmers. “ Mongol Empire was the strongest empire of its time with a population of 700,000” (Strayer, Page 342). I was greatly disturbed when during war, if a citizen was “unskilled in war he/she would serve as human shields for attacks on the next city or were used as human fill in the moats surrounding those cities (Strayer,Page 347). If I was in their “society” I would be training everyday to make sure I wasn’t going to be used as “protection.” From my understanding, they would go from city to city, conquer it and take its money and goods. That is how they became so wealthy and were able to wear fine clothing. Mongol was able to conquer China, both north and south, and even unified them. The war for the north was much more violent than it was for the south.
CH. 13
We can say that societies grew because they learned from groups. I believe it is human nature to want to progress and now stay the same. If things don’t change life is boring. In the 15th century people where living in more civilized communities. People were traveling; Christopher Columbus, found American by accident. I also find it ironic that it isn’t until children are older that they really learn who he is, and he wasn’t that great of a guy. Why sugarcoat things? Religion was being more powerful, communities need spiritual guidance; Aztec looked towards Shamans for wisdom. Societies all over the world have come a long way, even though it has been a long road, everyone is learning that to have a community every person needs to have a special role. I just wish we could make more items in the States and not every item we buy says “Made in China.” HAHA
Monday, June 6, 2011
WW- chapters 8,9,10
WW- Chapters 8,9, 10
Chapter 8
Trade had been around forever; when I was reading this chapter it reminded me of young kids trading marbles at recess. I believe it’s a natural instinct to trade. When a person sees someone else with a better “resources” that person wants it. Trading is an on-going cycle. “ Trade also affected the day-to-day working lives of many people, encouraging them to specialize in producing particular products for sale in the distant markets rather than for the use in their own communities. Trade, in short, diminished the economic self-sufficiency of local societies” (Strayer, page 218). As times changed communities couldn’t just rely on itself, they had to go out and follow the trend of the world, if they didn’t, they wouldn’t survive. Goods were traded by Silk Roads, Sea Roads, and Sand Roads, trading goods came with a price; many dieses were transferred through trade, because people didn’t know much of the other culture they were trading with, they just wanted the goods. Obviously trading by sea was the best because it could hold more goods than a camel.
I always enjoy reading about information that I learned in another class, for example, reading about the Maya and Aztec, I learned about them in my Art History class during the Fall, and they are a very interesting group of people.
Chapter 9
China was a powerful country back then, and still is today. They had rules “The Tribute System” and people who lived in China regardless if the were Chinese needed to follow the rules. The Nomadic people north of the Great Wall didn’t adapt to the Chinese culture. For the people who lived South of the Great wall, trade was easy for them; they had “pros” for adapting to the Chinese way(s).
While reading the section “ Women in the Song Dynasty” I started to think about China treats their women today. I do believe that we in the U.S. have made our women too liberal. I say this because I DO NOT believe that women should have the same roles as men, I feel this way because how I was raised, at home and religiously. I agree that women need to be respected that that it’s a little extreme to have their “feet binding” so they have to stay home.
It was also in 300-800CE where Buddhism became rapid practice in China. At first China didn’t know how to feel about Buddhism because it clashed with some of the beliefs that China had, but after the fall of Han dynasty, it became the China religion.
Chapter 10
Being a Christian I have different views than the book has on certain subjects. Christian crusades were considered “Holy Wars” and were to help keep Jerusalem the Holy place. I learned in other classes that there were around 9 crusades. As in the previous chapters we learned how China became a Buddhist country and how we learned how Christianity spread among the people and how many people fought to save Jerusalem.
Chapter 8
Trade had been around forever; when I was reading this chapter it reminded me of young kids trading marbles at recess. I believe it’s a natural instinct to trade. When a person sees someone else with a better “resources” that person wants it. Trading is an on-going cycle. “ Trade also affected the day-to-day working lives of many people, encouraging them to specialize in producing particular products for sale in the distant markets rather than for the use in their own communities. Trade, in short, diminished the economic self-sufficiency of local societies” (Strayer, page 218). As times changed communities couldn’t just rely on itself, they had to go out and follow the trend of the world, if they didn’t, they wouldn’t survive. Goods were traded by Silk Roads, Sea Roads, and Sand Roads, trading goods came with a price; many dieses were transferred through trade, because people didn’t know much of the other culture they were trading with, they just wanted the goods. Obviously trading by sea was the best because it could hold more goods than a camel.
I always enjoy reading about information that I learned in another class, for example, reading about the Maya and Aztec, I learned about them in my Art History class during the Fall, and they are a very interesting group of people.
Chapter 9
China was a powerful country back then, and still is today. They had rules “The Tribute System” and people who lived in China regardless if the were Chinese needed to follow the rules. The Nomadic people north of the Great Wall didn’t adapt to the Chinese culture. For the people who lived South of the Great wall, trade was easy for them; they had “pros” for adapting to the Chinese way(s).
While reading the section “ Women in the Song Dynasty” I started to think about China treats their women today. I do believe that we in the U.S. have made our women too liberal. I say this because I DO NOT believe that women should have the same roles as men, I feel this way because how I was raised, at home and religiously. I agree that women need to be respected that that it’s a little extreme to have their “feet binding” so they have to stay home.
It was also in 300-800CE where Buddhism became rapid practice in China. At first China didn’t know how to feel about Buddhism because it clashed with some of the beliefs that China had, but after the fall of Han dynasty, it became the China religion.
Chapter 10
Being a Christian I have different views than the book has on certain subjects. Christian crusades were considered “Holy Wars” and were to help keep Jerusalem the Holy place. I learned in other classes that there were around 9 crusades. As in the previous chapters we learned how China became a Buddhist country and how we learned how Christianity spread among the people and how many people fought to save Jerusalem.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
WW- Chapter 6 ( group project/readings)
Chapter 6: Eurasian Social Hierarchies (500 B.C.E- 500 C.E.)
Society and the State in Classical China
*An Elite of Officials
The most “elite of all classes” and only the wealthy could send their son to educate them in the bureaucracy. Teaching was required to pass tests, and was open to everyone, but not everyone could afford for their son to educated in this area. “124 BCE Wu Di started an academy where men would get educated” (Strayer, Page 156).It was considered the “first civil service in the world” ( Strayer, Page 156). The men that gained a position in the bureaucracy, dressed to the part, they wore fancy clothes, headdresses all to the ranking for their position, and rode around in carriages.
*The Landlord Class
Chinese families who owned land and could tax on it, mostly farmers. Some would sell their land to gain respect by the government. Others would have to take a loan from the government and wouldn’t have as much land.
* Peasants
Most of the Chinese were peasants and had a larger family. Many families could sell items to get money and food others could not even survive. This meant that some just begged for food and money just to get through the day. Some people were peasants due to nature disasters: flooding which ruined farming land. “ Yellow Turban Rebellion was knows as the peasant uproar because the Yellow River flooded and caused a massive amount of peasants. Also, the peasants had to wear yellow ribbon around their heads so people would know what social class they were in” ( Strayer, Page 159). Even though they didn’t have much money, they did have respect for working hard when things needed to be done.
* Merchants
Had to respect from anyone, especially the bureaucracy, and anyone who was a Merchant could not hold a position in the “state office”. “Merchants were greedy, and materialistic, not hard working, sold others work as their own” ( Strayer, page 160). Some were wealthy, but were banned from wearing anything respectable, example silk clothing, something that held beauty.
Class and Caste in India
“India had a social class and it was classed the caste system, and it came from Portuguese word casta with means “ race” or “ purity of blood” ( strayer, page 160.)
*Caste de Varna
Was a group of light-skinned (Aryans) and darker hued ( native) people. They grew into a social community, and race did not play a major role in the social classes that divided the people. They were divided into four Varans(classes). See chart on page 162. Brahamin were head, priests and teachers. Ksatriya were the feet, warriors, rulers. Vaisya thighs, farmers, merchants, artisans, .Sudra Feet, labor. The groups were formed from the body of god Purusha.
* Caste as Jati
Based on Jati jobs, created caste- baste society. They has special rules for each other, they could only eat and marry someone who was also a Jati. They believed in karma, dharma, and rebirth. Rebirth was the most spiritual. It was hard to grow because they restricted the territory that the people could have (villages).
Slavery in the Classical Era: The Case of the Roman Empire
* Slavery and Civilization
Slaves have no rights, and slaves were very popular by 1750 BCE (Hammurabi’s law). Classical Greece: slave emancipation, and children whose parents were slaves were not slaves but were considered free in the Aztec Empire. Slavery wasn’t as popular in China, mostly the peasants were slaves, or if someone needed money that family might sell their child to slavery. In India the society depended on slavery.
* The Making of a Slave Society: The Case of Rome
One- third of the society in Athens was slavery. They believe that some people were just born slaves. The common people owned atleast one or two slaves and the wealthy owned hundreds of slave. Some people were born into slavery, but others abandoned children, people told slaves over seas for trade. Slaves could not marry and had no legal rights. They did every job that the master asked. If a slave killed his master, all the slaves would be killed. Slaves could not get out of line.
Quiz questions:
List and describe the four major social classes in China.
What was the slavery Rebellion?
How did Athens treat their women compared to Sparta?
Society and the State in Classical China
*An Elite of Officials
The most “elite of all classes” and only the wealthy could send their son to educate them in the bureaucracy. Teaching was required to pass tests, and was open to everyone, but not everyone could afford for their son to educated in this area. “124 BCE Wu Di started an academy where men would get educated” (Strayer, Page 156).It was considered the “first civil service in the world” ( Strayer, Page 156). The men that gained a position in the bureaucracy, dressed to the part, they wore fancy clothes, headdresses all to the ranking for their position, and rode around in carriages.
*The Landlord Class
Chinese families who owned land and could tax on it, mostly farmers. Some would sell their land to gain respect by the government. Others would have to take a loan from the government and wouldn’t have as much land.
* Peasants
Most of the Chinese were peasants and had a larger family. Many families could sell items to get money and food others could not even survive. This meant that some just begged for food and money just to get through the day. Some people were peasants due to nature disasters: flooding which ruined farming land. “ Yellow Turban Rebellion was knows as the peasant uproar because the Yellow River flooded and caused a massive amount of peasants. Also, the peasants had to wear yellow ribbon around their heads so people would know what social class they were in” ( Strayer, Page 159). Even though they didn’t have much money, they did have respect for working hard when things needed to be done.
* Merchants
Had to respect from anyone, especially the bureaucracy, and anyone who was a Merchant could not hold a position in the “state office”. “Merchants were greedy, and materialistic, not hard working, sold others work as their own” ( Strayer, page 160). Some were wealthy, but were banned from wearing anything respectable, example silk clothing, something that held beauty.
Class and Caste in India
“India had a social class and it was classed the caste system, and it came from Portuguese word casta with means “ race” or “ purity of blood” ( strayer, page 160.)
*Caste de Varna
Was a group of light-skinned (Aryans) and darker hued ( native) people. They grew into a social community, and race did not play a major role in the social classes that divided the people. They were divided into four Varans(classes). See chart on page 162. Brahamin were head, priests and teachers. Ksatriya were the feet, warriors, rulers. Vaisya thighs, farmers, merchants, artisans, .Sudra Feet, labor. The groups were formed from the body of god Purusha.
* Caste as Jati
Based on Jati jobs, created caste- baste society. They has special rules for each other, they could only eat and marry someone who was also a Jati. They believed in karma, dharma, and rebirth. Rebirth was the most spiritual. It was hard to grow because they restricted the territory that the people could have (villages).
Slavery in the Classical Era: The Case of the Roman Empire
* Slavery and Civilization
Slaves have no rights, and slaves were very popular by 1750 BCE (Hammurabi’s law). Classical Greece: slave emancipation, and children whose parents were slaves were not slaves but were considered free in the Aztec Empire. Slavery wasn’t as popular in China, mostly the peasants were slaves, or if someone needed money that family might sell their child to slavery. In India the society depended on slavery.
* The Making of a Slave Society: The Case of Rome
One- third of the society in Athens was slavery. They believe that some people were just born slaves. The common people owned atleast one or two slaves and the wealthy owned hundreds of slave. Some people were born into slavery, but others abandoned children, people told slaves over seas for trade. Slaves could not marry and had no legal rights. They did every job that the master asked. If a slave killed his master, all the slaves would be killed. Slaves could not get out of line.
Quiz questions:
List and describe the four major social classes in China.
What was the slavery Rebellion?
How did Athens treat their women compared to Sparta?
Monday, May 23, 2011
WW- Chapters 1-3
I have always had a hard time with History classes, especially when talking about how we first came about. This is because I was raised and still believe that the Bible is the only History book that we need to look at when talking about how humans first appeared on Earth. I don’t believe that we were made from a “chimpanzee” and from Africa. Our bodies are too complex to just “happen”. I believe that we were created in the image of God, and were from Israel, not Africa.
While reading Ways of the World: A Brief Global History, Strayer points out that “Paleolithic societies were small, consisting of bands of twenty-five or fifty people, in which all relationships were intensely personal and thought of normally in terms of kinship”(Strayer, Page 20). As I was reading that I instantly thought about family. They were a family and everyone had a special part, no one could be left out. Respect is key, which goes for both men and woman, they were considered almost equal, not like it is today. A “family” is easier to move from one destination to another, than it is to move a town or small village. If I was reading Ways of the World without any spiritual input or thought, I would be amazed that even people back then were concerned about the spiritual well being of themselves and others. I took an Art History class last Fall, and many of the information I learned then, is listed in the first chapter. Shamans were spiritual leaders that were looked upon to help guide the group to the “spiritual realm”, and having spiritual ceremonies were important to the people.
Growing up in Northwest Ohio and just moving out to California last June, I have been raised around corn fields and would consider myself a country girl, I will admit, I do miss it now that I live in the city. Agriculture has come a long way since it has started, and not just in America but all over the world. While reading Ways of the World, I always find myself comparing things to the United States, when really its just a small portion of the “world”. Now with agriculture people had to settle down more, which is logical, a group can’t be on the move when they are waiting for corn to grow. I even believe today that we need to grow most of our food, and not eat so much processed food. I believe that technology had helped the world in certain ways, but one thing that is has not helped is the way the people eat.
Now that small villages were being formed, there was now “civilization”. Unlike earlier in the book, there is now separation of class and gender. “Upper classes everywhere enjoyed great wealth in the land or salaries, were able to avoid physical labor, had the finest of everything, and occupied the top positions in political, military and religious beliefs” (Strayer, Page 64). This kind of sounds like how society is now, I guess not much had changed. Writing played a major role in civilization. At first it was only for the wealthy and the spiritual because back then it was “prestige to those who possessed it” (Strayer, Page 72). Writing produced many advantages, learning to read and write, being able to document law, religious and for land. Which also meant, that banks could appear and people would have to "pay taxes and start a calendar"(Strayer,Page 72); produce a time line just like Strayer says. Writing was a development that changed the world forever, and for the better.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
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