World History Summer 2020

Here is my response to Oliver's post on the photo of the young Asian men dressed like their European neighbors. Hello Oliver. I totally agree with your take on this image from the textbook. I actually think the image  you responded to on my post, is a perfect example of the influence (forced or unforced) of Britain and other parts of Europe during these times. You are hitting the nail on the head when you talk about how dressing a certain way would make people less inferior to other societies. I also wonder how much of these fashion trends were forced, because knowing what we know about how some of these European countries operated, it is something we have to really question. One thing I notice today is more people are interested in learning about their true heritage and where they really come from. It makes me happy to know people are going out on their own to find this information and learn about their roots. Great job on your post!

1. The Great Dying was a global phenomenon which took place starting when Native Americans came in contact with Europeans, who brought European and African diseases to these Native Americans. For example, before the Spanish conquest Mexico had about 15 million citizens in the population, which was drastically narrowed down to about 1 million by 1650. In what is now modern day New York, the Dutch and British had wiped out all but one tenth of the Native Americans in that region (Strayer p. 557-560). The question of whether this could be a genocide is a hard one for me to answer. I would go with yes it was a form of genocide, because the Europeans had known about diseases from Africa and Asia before migrating to the Americas. Now was there vaccines or precautions even available back then? As crazy as it seems, I do think the genocide brought by the Europeans may have not been malicious with intent, but I do think they should have been smarter than to assume Native Americans would immune ...

Why did the Scientific Revolution occur in Europe rather than in China or the Islamic world? The scientific revolution occurred in Europe rather than China or the Islamic world because European civilization was developed and reinvigorated to a way which allowed the scientific revolution to thrive. European societies already had legal systems in place by the 13th century, which introduced the whole ideas of corporation, education and a quickly developing world of intellect. European societies were promoting the growth of technology and education. This allowed rapid growth especially when compared to the Islam governments which actually oppressed science. Religion seemed to play the bigger role in the Islamic World and that could be where differing focus points allowed Europe to be the place of the scientific revolution. In China, the government did not permit higher learning, which I think is a very obvious way to prevent growth of technology. It is very interesting to see how Chin...

How should we distribute the moral responsibility for the Atlantic slave trade? Is this an appropriate task for historians? I'd like to start this post by saying that there is still clearly effects of the Atlantic slave trade to this very day. Similarly to today, trafficking of slaves of all ages was extremely profitable to the elites. As we know today from people like Jeffrey Epstein and his many famous associates, elite child and human trafficking is the most lucrative business in the world. This is modern day slavery, which surprisingly gets very little attention, when it really should. At the end of this post I will leave links for multiple news stories regarding the disturbing modern day trafficking issues which go extremely unnoticed.  In my opinion, the elite Europeans who clearly profited from slavery are the ones who should hold the extremely poor moral responsibility for the Atlantic slave trade, along with those they leverage in African to turn on their own people. They ...

The experience of empire for conquered peoples was broadly similar whoever their rulers were. Does the material in this chapter support or challenge this idea? The first evidence of support that conquered peoples had similar experiences to their conqueror's,  is when Strayer (pg.61-62) discusses how Europeans and their enslaved Africans brought their agriculture and diets to the America's as well disease. The Spanish brought Small Pox over which decimated large amounts of natives. So while positives such as agriculture and the growth of animal populations did come with Europeans migrating to the America's, as well as growing those industries among others in the America's, negative things like slavery and disease foreign to natives also came with the experience. So technically I would say this material does support that those who were conquered or invaded had similar experiences to their invaders.  Later in the chapter when Strayer discusses Russia conquering Siberia, an...

Here’s the statement : “The first half of the 2 nd millennium AD marked a period of rebirth in China that was just as significant as the Renaissance in Europe.” You may argue FOR or AGAINST. (For this debate, assume the first half of the 2 nd millennium AD refers to approximately 1000-1500 AD.) My point: I would argue FOR this point. My most important fact to back this up in support of the statement, is China's innovation. The Silk Road's changed the worlds economy forever. The different resources among the different climates and regions of the Silk Road created the need for humanity to rely on each other. This goes such a long way in the history of humanity, I would indeed argue, this time period in China was as significant as the Renaissance in Europe.

" The Mongols got a bad rap. In fact, they should be respected as a significant civilization that made long-term contributions to the development of the Eurasian world." FOR THIS STATEMENT: 1. Mongols brought extensive agriculture to outer Eurasia than ever before 2. Mongols developing and advancing outer Eurasia helped bring more direct contact between Europe, China and the Islamic world 3. No religious imperialism, which as we learned from chapter 10, could have really prevented outside issues from other communities 4. Allowed merchants a 10% increase for goods as well as free use of their routs and relay stations 5. Civilian Mongols were taken care of equally after conquering places AGAINST THIS STATEMENT: 1. Disciplined military came from a threat for anyone who abandoned the military 2. A lot of conquering and bloodshed in war 3. Forced the people in which they conquered to use their skills to work for the Mongols 4. Chinggis Kahn would only spare lives of skilled worker...

Christendom to me, is the belief or following of the Christian religion. I was always kind of surprised when people considered North America and Latin America as the primary centers for Christianity or Christendom. In an Intro To Islam class I took with professor Lipowitz, we learned very early on about the very beginnings of religion and how their origins of all the major religions took place in what is considered the modern day Middle East. No pun intended, but since learning this I have really considered that area of the world the Mecca and birthplace of all religions.  It was very interesting to learn in the reading that in the 1500's Christianity grew largely in Europe, but seemed to be quickly replaced by Islam in the African and Asian communities around the world. This is a really interesting point because I feel like the three main religions (Judaism, Islam and Christianity) seem to kind of battle over the history of who was the first religion. I do not feel one way or the ...

The most disappointing and slightly infuriating part of this weeks reading was by far about the Tribute System that existed within China and its bordering neighbors. To learn that the Chinese viewed those who bordered around them as barbarians who wanted to steal China's wealth was a little ridiculous in my opinion. That was until I read about its northern neighbor strong arming China into basically monetary protection. To learn that this was happening in different parts of China with different bordering neighbors was rather shocking and infuriating. Those who were extorting China quickly learned that they would get much more out of China by extortion than they would via conquering the country. These are just terrible morals to live by and its quite annoying to know that this took place at a time where peace and prosperity could have reigned over all. I must admit, these acts kind of reflect on current day China in my opinion. I do think China was done wrong at this time, but I als...