Chapter 20 and 21

These two chapters were very intense because we talk about serious war around the world. The modern era has been a time of great changes around the world, but here in the United States we reflect on some of these changes such as World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II, which devastated the American People. World War I brought so many deaths, and so much social and cultural changes around the globe, and the war from lasted from 1914 to 1918. During the modern era, technology began to strive and new technology began to change our world. After War World I the great Roaring Twenties begins to roll in. These were the years where economic prosper, a time of artistic and cultural dynamism. Jazz music had blossom, and people were happy. Boy! how I love this era. It almost seems that I should have been born during this time, because I have always been a fan of the Golden Twenties. The radio was extremely popular; sport thrived around this time; and not to mention great dancing. Can you blame me for not like this era?  The twenties was known to be as the Age of the Consumer which prompted substantial economic growth in our time. The automobile had an important impact on America’s economy and of course voting right was another great moment. Let go back just a bit since we are talking of voting rights. We all know the Women’s Right to Vote passed almost around the same time, I believe it was the year 1919. This was also an important time. Although this was a lengthy and difficult, time to achieve such a great moment for women in the U.S. Then the crashing of Wall Street that ended this lovely era of happiness, and the Great Depression came stumbling in. This only brought depression, no jobs, great turmoil, and poverty into people life. It funny when you look back at this time, because several times we always hear about when there is uncertainty of our present market we always reflect back on these moments and I always see the older generation like myself quivered if we would have the same type of impact during our era. However, I believe that we became a bit smarter, and although we are facing some economic crisis it have not affected us as it did then. Than if that was not enough we seem to follow a chain of wars. In 1939 War World II takes its toll and it was not until Pear Harbor attack on December 7^th that the American officially enter the war. Many of my family members were part of this war, some came back, and some did not. Many young peoples died in this war, and social changes began to affect millions of people. An increased in women in the workforce became essential because most men were at war. War World II brought to life the atomic nuclear weapons, which has always remain a threat and the new threat of communism. Here came the 1950 to 1963, which is my era was a great moment for me only because I was very young, and probably because I had no knowledge of what was going on. Later as I grew up and met my husband. My husband participated in Vietnam War and 1990 was sent off to Desert Storm/Desert Shield. He served the military for over 20 years, so understand what many of our past people went through. As we move forward in time the past few years has been about change- changes such as movement for civil rights, Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam War, Berlin Walls comes down, and so forth. So many things going on and even till our present day.     

CHAPTER 16,17.18

The Atlantic Revolution occurred in North America, Frances, Haiti, and Spanish South American. They were all inspired by the Enlightenment ideas, which basically were a time to express ideas of republicanism, liberty, social equality, free trade, religion tolerance, human rationality, and national liberation. Moment of hope to actively change the world around them, but today will still find many countries struggling in trying to make these changes. Unfortunately, today we still see some of these significance ideas that were born of the Enlightenment to be controversial.  Although blacks, women, Hispanics and gays have been gradually been accepted, they still face some challenges even though they were granted equal rights.  There is a saying in my job that the United States prides itself on that “anyone can be president,” I find this to be hopeful that perhaps one day we will have a female figure in our presidency.  There is still hope for these ideas to become a realization to our society and nation.

Then we have the American Revolution one of my favorites that took place between 1775-1787. It was a moment that is remembered by many and still today we still see reminisces via the movies, and at the DAR Museum in Washington, D.C., if you have not gone I recommend that you do.  It was an inspirational moment for me to walk through the museum and see the exhibition, and historical relics.  One of my tour people would discuss many of the occurrences that happened during this time and what I found so amazing was to hear how the 13 colonies were able to get organized and communicate with each other in order to oppose and fight the British. Walking through the museum was very educational for me. There is also a TV series which I don’t recall the name of it, but I love watching that series because it takes you back into this extraordinary moment in time during the French and the American Revolution.

CHAPTER 13-15

CHAPTER13/14/15

            So much was going on during the new modern area that I thought it was so overwhelmed by these new modern changes.  Just to learn how civilization wanted to conquer land was just making me remember why I hated history so much. 

During the modern era the world becomes smaller, and new empires are being develop in the Americas. The Spanish conquer the Aztec and Inca Empire, who is the most wealthy, urbanized, and populous region of the Western Hemispheres. Within a short period of time the Spaniards established major cities, and a religious and bureaucratic infrastructure.  Which lay a commercial agricultural and economic foundation.   For what, to forced these people into slave labor, to acquire their gold/silver, and their land.  Why aren’t the Spaniard people not working? I found it interesting to find a slogan in the book that describes this prattle, which describes their reason.  One Spanish Official commented, “The Spaniards, from the able and rich to the humble and poor, all hold themselves to be lords and will not serve [do manual labor].” (Pg. 628) This only proves my facts that the Spaniards came into the Americas with the intension to conquer, to enslave, and to steal from the indigenous people of their valuable resources.

        If this was not enough, these European who were acting barbaric at the time also brought disease to the Americas and caused a death toll that was estimated betweenat 10 to 20 million, and declined to about 1 million by 1650.  The cause of these deaths was due to smallpox, measles, and typhus, influenza, malaria, and yellow fever in which these European and the Afro-Eurasian diseases had brought with them. What makes me angrier that some of these death were also caused by starvation and no one can help them because may of these indigenous people were too ill to help each other. 

          

Please note: that this serves as a reminder that I had previously post this in a different blogger account. 

THE WORLD OF PASTORAL SOCIETIES AND WOMEN

            After reading religion for a while I finally found something interesting. The Pastoral Societies, which was very interesting to read regarding Pastoral Society and women.

I found it interesting that pastoral people were less productive and I could say a little layback. While other societies around them were more advance in living a luxury life; Pastoral people were in many way very different. They lived in huts rather than in villages, town, and cities such as the agrarian civilization. Pastoral economy was very poor and agricultural was less productive due to the dry weather.  Although pastoral people economy was poor they found other alternative and began to raise livestock.  Livestock enabled the construction of pastoral society that helped them herd a better economy. Women mainly performed most of the work. Who had to do all the labor?  The women of course; after reading more about pastoral women, not only were they responsible in the productive labor of livestock, they were responsible in providing the nourishment by producing cheese, blood, wool, hides, and meat in order to provide to the growing population. Yes, men had their part too, but women had a huge responsibility.

 Although they had domestic responsibility for food and taking care of their children Pastoral women had higher status, and less restriction.  My kind of world!  Women also were able to own or control their livestock. Remarriage of widows carried no negative connotation as it did in China.  But get this! Mongol women frequently served as political advisers and served in the military.  Wow! You can either love this place for the freedom or hate it for the heat. Hmmm!  Freedom!

Although women were responsible in the domestic aspect they also made clothing, shoes, leggings by using animal skins. Pretty much everything was made of leather.  Women drove carts and repair them how bad can this be? Yeah! Women liberty! Where did it go? 

Then I read the story of “Khutulun, A Mongol Wrestler Princes” (pg. 530) Interesting! To learn how a royal princess named Khutulun who excelled in riding, archery, and wrestling and generally outperform her own brother. She sure earned her respect, but what gets more interesting to learn was that she was a very young women who joined her father on the battlefield and was awarded a medallion of office, which is normally reserved for men.  Right on!  As she became of age to marry, trouble began and she would not marry just any man. She would only marry someone who would defeat her in wrestling, does this not remind you of one of Walt Disney movie, and I believe it was called Mulan? The only differences in this movie the daughter take the place of the father as a warrior.  Although many suitors tried to defeat Khutulun, and all of them failed, eventually she marries her father’s follower. This was her decision, which demonstrates that women were free to make choices. 

            

Chapter 7,8, and 10

COMMERCE AND CULTURE, 500-1500

Reading chapter seven provided me with many insights from on how commercial exchange and religion helped change human societies for the better or the worst. From across the inner and outer Eurasia to the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, the Sahara, and the Western Hemisphere the trade became the economic trade of the century. I almost felt I was there. 

I really enjoyed Strayer introduction to chapter seven when he elaborates how commercial exchange has changed over the years.  Even today as new technology is being developed so is our products and transportation mode. Although we know from previous chapter the trade industry may not have been so developed as it was during the third millennium BCE In the early centuries of the Common Era the silk industry was on the rise. While the landmass of Eurasian was becoming one of the greatest industry of trade silk was being exchange amongst the various continent across Eurasia.  Several routes were created so that silk would be transported to the various inner and out skirts of Eurasia, Mongol Empire, west of Persian, Indian, Africa, and beyond China.

To my surprise little did I knew where silk actually came from. It was interesting to learn that silk was actually extracted from mulberry trees where silk worms would fed and leave their cocoons  As Silk Road industry prospered there were many people from different cultural background who took advantage of this great trade industry.  

Most labor was done by women, which they were depended on in order to tax the peasant, and proper from their labor. Due to high demand silk textile was heavily depended on.  Through the chapter in certain parts of the Eurasian industry, Southeast Asia, Indian ocean, Eastern Africa, and the middle east women were use as slaves, but to my astonished I learn that very few women were considered powerful in certain parts of the region such as Angkor Wat were they served as gladiators, warriors, initiated divorce, able to own property with their spouse, and they were more concerned with commerce. Although today we see women rising in our century it was amazing to know that women were consider warrior in other parts of the world as they were consider in the Amazon.

 Religion was another role in the outlet of cultural. Buddhism while on the road became quite a preferred religion. While monks were on the road it brought new religion to the trans Eurasian, Central Asia took Buddhism as part of their religion. Muslim was another preferred religion across East Africa, India; Catholicism was not as preferred amongst these regions.

The Plague

Disease was a huge factor, which was caused by the trade industry. The plague such as smallpox, measles, bubonic plague caused many deaths.  Byzantium and the Mongols were affected the most which caused a high rise of death and weaken them from military reveries or revenues. It took many years before human became acclimated to such disease and be able to fight off what was once consider a deadly disease.  Now we have to worry about new one that keep arising in our century such as cancer, malaria, and HIV.

Sea Road

Just as the Silk Road industry prospered so did the sea road it too had the same effect of transporting good, with the only differences of high capacity due to the ships. The sea world provided a new technology by traveling to distance places across the Eastern Hemisphere.  Transportation was cheaper due to the bulk of products they were able to transport as compare to the Silk Road who were only able to transport smaller amount of good.  For instance the Indian Ocean represented the world’s largest trade stretching from China to the far east of Africa.  Even today our trade is highly dependent over the sea roads.  What took perhaps a week to travel by horse, donkey, and camels it now only took a few days to transport goods.  Let’s not forget the train industry, Airplanes; postal service has brought about a new ways of transportation within each region.

Well, this brings some of the interesting topic from chapter 7. I will be addressing chapter 8 and 10 soon. Have a great day!