Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Chalmers Johnson
Perhaps what I found most interesting about this book was the sense it gave me that the United States has essentially followed in the footsteps of the British. In essence, it is picking up where the British Empire left off, but with today's issues driving them, rather than old issues such as the spice trade. I spent the last three months in England taking, among others, a course entitled "The British Empire". This coupled with Johnson's continued mentioning of various bases and efforts established by the British and taken over by the Americans leads me to believe that though this is not his primary argument as such, it certainly is a consequence of it. Of course one could argue that an empire may naturally emerge out of the loss of another, but I believe that Johnson intentionally mentions, for example, the US took over the Middle East during the Gulf War after the Brits left, its occupation of the Persian Gulf alongside the Brits, and the United States taking charge of the Suez canal situation, thereby forcing Britain to relinquish their holdings in the area.
Why We Fight...
Since dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, the reasons for the United States' involvement in wars are increasingly convoluted and include (but are not limited to): the desire to protect oil reserves overseas, preemptive defense of the "homeland", humanitarian intervention, and the establishment of puppet governments internationally to attain these goals.
Production Techniques:
panning- the slow filming of the planes on the airstrip both at the beginning and end of the film give a sense of the U.S.' somber military might.
quickly flashing through images - stirs up a rapid succession of emotions and ideas in the viewer
close-ups - especially of the retired NYPD cop's eyes, evokes sadness and longing
Persuasive Techniques
emotion - aggressive language makes the viewer want to join in the retired cop's efforts to overcome the sadness of losing his son
nostalgia - black and white shots as a reflection of American ideologies, liberties, etc.
plainfolk - children being interviewed evoked a sense of innocence and ignorance
nostalgia - twin towers being mentioned, ass well as 9/11 several times.
plainfolk - NYPD retired cop showing that everyone was touched by the attackes of 9/11
Production Techniques:
panning- the slow filming of the planes on the airstrip both at the beginning and end of the film give a sense of the U.S.' somber military might.
quickly flashing through images - stirs up a rapid succession of emotions and ideas in the viewer
close-ups - especially of the retired NYPD cop's eyes, evokes sadness and longing
Persuasive Techniques
emotion - aggressive language makes the viewer want to join in the retired cop's efforts to overcome the sadness of losing his son
nostalgia - black and white shots as a reflection of American ideologies, liberties, etc.
plainfolk - children being interviewed evoked a sense of innocence and ignorance
nostalgia - twin towers being mentioned, ass well as 9/11 several times.
plainfolk - NYPD retired cop showing that everyone was touched by the attackes of 9/11
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Corporation
Perhaps my biggest issue with this movie is the way they seem to associate making a profit with necessarily damaging the earth and society. Perhaps this is stemming from my business background, but I feel, as Sam mentioned in class, that the filmmakers used the term "profit" too often. Perhaps a better way to phrase it might have been that corporations are detrimental to society and the environment because they seek money-making opportunities through irresponsible means. The most interesting business class that I have taken to date focused mainly on the issue of corporate social responsibility. The fact that such a concept exists, in my mind, is already a step forward.
34, 35...
34...
The kitchen debate was a colorful example of the tensions between the Soviet Union at that time. Interesting time for an exhibition of American commodities.
With the division of Berlin, there were travel corridors set up so that each occupying country could get to the city from their side of Germany. How were these organized?
The Berlin wall was built to keep East Germans in. I thought it was merely to separate the two factions...
The domino theory assumed that if one country became communist, other neighboring ones would follow. Sound like the type of rationalization the U.S. is using today.
Yugoslavia was kicked out of the Soviet bloc in 1948 by Stalin.
35...
Over 90 nations achieved independence between WWII and 1980. How many between 1980 and the present, i wonder?
After the British flag was removed, India flew two flags: one representing a Muslim state, the other a Hindu state.
Approximately 10 million people fled India once the terms of partition were established. Even more terrifying is that half to a million people died in the process.
France's colonies gained independence while it was busy fighting a war to save Algeria. The ironies of empire...
The kitchen debate was a colorful example of the tensions between the Soviet Union at that time. Interesting time for an exhibition of American commodities.
With the division of Berlin, there were travel corridors set up so that each occupying country could get to the city from their side of Germany. How were these organized?
The Berlin wall was built to keep East Germans in. I thought it was merely to separate the two factions...
The domino theory assumed that if one country became communist, other neighboring ones would follow. Sound like the type of rationalization the U.S. is using today.
Yugoslavia was kicked out of the Soviet bloc in 1948 by Stalin.
35...
Over 90 nations achieved independence between WWII and 1980. How many between 1980 and the present, i wonder?
After the British flag was removed, India flew two flags: one representing a Muslim state, the other a Hindu state.
Approximately 10 million people fled India once the terms of partition were established. Even more terrifying is that half to a million people died in the process.
France's colonies gained independence while it was busy fighting a war to save Algeria. The ironies of empire...
Chalmers Johnson...
Ch. 6
Now that the Cold War has ended, the United States has new motives for establishing military bases around the world which include: global military dominance, interception of both local and international communications, control of oil sources, employment and financial guarantee for U.S. military personnel, and securing this personnel with comfort and entertainment around the world.
"Today, one could throw a dart at a map of the world and it would likely land within a few hundred miles of a quietly established U.S. intelligence-gathering operation..." p. 155
"The fatal flaw of Echelon is that it is operated by the intelligence and military establishments of the main English-speaking countries in total secrecy and hence beyond any kind of accountability to representatives of the people it claims to be protecting." p. 167
"When the Afghan conflict is over, we will not leave Central Asia. We have long-term plans and interests in this region." p. 185
Ch. 7
Since its post-Soviet Union establishment of an "empire of bases", the United States' presence in countries around the world have served as self-perpetuating imperial initiatives and motivators of war.
"The Korean War, though ended in stalemate, nonetheless projected us onto the Asian mainland." p. 189
"Our 1999 war against Serbia, our two wars with Iraq, and our war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan allowed us to expand our empire of overseas bases into the broad southern Eurasian region..." p. 189
"The most astonishing aspect of the German downsizing, however, is the number of bases the United States decided to retain..." p. 198
Ch. 8
The United States continues to attempt to justify its occupation of Iraq with unsubstantiated claims, while more convincing reasons for its military presence in Iraq and the Middle East include the need to protect oil fields, the influence of Israeli interests, and the need to influence U.S. politics at the time of Bush's election.
"The permanent deployment of American solider, sailors, and airmen whose culture, lifestyles, wealth, and physical appearance guarantee conflicts with the peoples who live in the Middle East, is irrational in terms of any cost-benefit analysis." p. 253
The lack of evidence that there are any weapons of mass destruction left in Iraq...
The lack of strong evidence that Saddam Hussein had ties to al-Qaeda...
Now that the Cold War has ended, the United States has new motives for establishing military bases around the world which include: global military dominance, interception of both local and international communications, control of oil sources, employment and financial guarantee for U.S. military personnel, and securing this personnel with comfort and entertainment around the world.
"Today, one could throw a dart at a map of the world and it would likely land within a few hundred miles of a quietly established U.S. intelligence-gathering operation..." p. 155
"The fatal flaw of Echelon is that it is operated by the intelligence and military establishments of the main English-speaking countries in total secrecy and hence beyond any kind of accountability to representatives of the people it claims to be protecting." p. 167
"When the Afghan conflict is over, we will not leave Central Asia. We have long-term plans and interests in this region." p. 185
Ch. 7
Since its post-Soviet Union establishment of an "empire of bases", the United States' presence in countries around the world have served as self-perpetuating imperial initiatives and motivators of war.
"The Korean War, though ended in stalemate, nonetheless projected us onto the Asian mainland." p. 189
"Our 1999 war against Serbia, our two wars with Iraq, and our war against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan allowed us to expand our empire of overseas bases into the broad southern Eurasian region..." p. 189
"The most astonishing aspect of the German downsizing, however, is the number of bases the United States decided to retain..." p. 198
Ch. 8
The United States continues to attempt to justify its occupation of Iraq with unsubstantiated claims, while more convincing reasons for its military presence in Iraq and the Middle East include the need to protect oil fields, the influence of Israeli interests, and the need to influence U.S. politics at the time of Bush's election.
"The permanent deployment of American solider, sailors, and airmen whose culture, lifestyles, wealth, and physical appearance guarantee conflicts with the peoples who live in the Middle East, is irrational in terms of any cost-benefit analysis." p. 253
The lack of evidence that there are any weapons of mass destruction left in Iraq...
The lack of strong evidence that Saddam Hussein had ties to al-Qaeda...
Monday, May 26, 2008
McKibben, finally...
From the the period ranging between 1712 and the present, the United States, and many other developed nations, have been engaged in a individually-minded consumerism which can no longer be reliant on our most efficient-and now rapidly diminishing- resource: oil.
Without more scientific evidence to disprove him, I find McKibbens' main points- that of a concern about peak oil and sustainability- spot on. If there is anything with which I do not agree, it is his list of possible solutions. Though I do believe in the immediate need for a return to smaller-scale living revolved around communities and "localism", let's say, I don't think he proposes a good way in which to get everyone on the same page. Firstly, the biggest problem the U.S. has had historically, as far as I can tell, is their tendency to replace the need for brains with the benefit of muscles. But put it this way: if anyone works out long and hard enough, they can get strong. A brain takes much more time and dedication to develop... Education, I believe, should be at the forefront of this nation's efforts, and it has always taken the back seat. All the most recent education-improvement efforts seem to have either been misappropriated, or un-appropriated. With intellectualism comes the ability to have a more varied discourse, greater minds offering ever-greater ideas, as well as an ability to learn from past experiences. Culture seems like a natural progression from education, and what other way to preserve it than with strong community ties? So basically, as I mentioned in a previous blog, I believe that what is more urgently important is not finding another type of energy source capable of sustaining our bloated planet- a "band-aid" of sorts. Instead, teach the people how not to cut themselves in the first place-educate them on a new and better type of living, but do so intelligently and in a way that makes it valuable to them. As much as we like to think we care about others, our basic instincts are survival-based, and we must keep this in mind when teaching others that there is in fact a greater force out there than ourselves. I'm not worried about peak oil, I'm worried about peak ignorance....
Without more scientific evidence to disprove him, I find McKibbens' main points- that of a concern about peak oil and sustainability- spot on. If there is anything with which I do not agree, it is his list of possible solutions. Though I do believe in the immediate need for a return to smaller-scale living revolved around communities and "localism", let's say, I don't think he proposes a good way in which to get everyone on the same page. Firstly, the biggest problem the U.S. has had historically, as far as I can tell, is their tendency to replace the need for brains with the benefit of muscles. But put it this way: if anyone works out long and hard enough, they can get strong. A brain takes much more time and dedication to develop... Education, I believe, should be at the forefront of this nation's efforts, and it has always taken the back seat. All the most recent education-improvement efforts seem to have either been misappropriated, or un-appropriated. With intellectualism comes the ability to have a more varied discourse, greater minds offering ever-greater ideas, as well as an ability to learn from past experiences. Culture seems like a natural progression from education, and what other way to preserve it than with strong community ties? So basically, as I mentioned in a previous blog, I believe that what is more urgently important is not finding another type of energy source capable of sustaining our bloated planet- a "band-aid" of sorts. Instead, teach the people how not to cut themselves in the first place-educate them on a new and better type of living, but do so intelligently and in a way that makes it valuable to them. As much as we like to think we care about others, our basic instincts are survival-based, and we must keep this in mind when teaching others that there is in fact a greater force out there than ourselves. I'm not worried about peak oil, I'm worried about peak ignorance....
31,32,33...
31...
Germany and Japan suffered terrible losses in the wake of the Great Depression. Also, Austria suffered due to its reliance on American loans.
An estimated 10 million people dies during the Russian Civil War. Interestingly, though not surprisingly, this was mostly due to disease and starvation.
Stalin recognized the fact that Russians were 50 to 100 years behind the rest of the world's advanced countries in terms of industrialization. Ironically, I've heard from those that had traveled there that this time gap has not narrowed very much.
Mussolini was a former socialist. Turning then to fascism, he repressed the socialists.
The term "war communism" in which Russia sought to quickly transform its nation's economic situation. The Bolsheviks led this effort.
32...
The India National Congress was an association dedicated to gaining Indian independence from British rule. It started by attempting to do this by cooperating with the British, but after WWI, sought its autonomy against the British.
Under Gandhi's leadership, the Congress led two movements to establish self-governance. This was accompanied by Gandhi's requests to Indians to boycott British goods.
China was ruled by warlords after the 1911 revolution. The country was not left in stability, but instead was divided into unstable provinces.
The May Fourth Movement in China came in response to the United States' support of Japanese interference in China. This was mostly led by students and academic/intellectuals.
An African upper-class called the "new-elite"developed. This class was mostly made up of high-ranking citizens who had gotten the majority of their education in Europe.
33...
The rape of Nanjing was not news to me, but I was never taught of its scope- 7000 women raped, 400,000 died (some from being used for bayonet practice), etc.
France and Britain not only didn't fight to protect Czechoslovakia, they allowed Hitler to annex it for fear of getting themselves into war with Germany. It's no wonder he got away with as much as he did, with everyone turning their backs.
Only 11 of the world's countries were not directly involved in WWII. I find it surprising how Spain and Ireland managed to stay out of it.
It only took two months for France to sign an armistice with Germany. Sounds like all Hitler had to do was sneeze in their direction and bamb! surrender
What was Vichy France ? (map p. 624)
Germany and Japan suffered terrible losses in the wake of the Great Depression. Also, Austria suffered due to its reliance on American loans.
An estimated 10 million people dies during the Russian Civil War. Interestingly, though not surprisingly, this was mostly due to disease and starvation.
Stalin recognized the fact that Russians were 50 to 100 years behind the rest of the world's advanced countries in terms of industrialization. Ironically, I've heard from those that had traveled there that this time gap has not narrowed very much.
Mussolini was a former socialist. Turning then to fascism, he repressed the socialists.
The term "war communism" in which Russia sought to quickly transform its nation's economic situation. The Bolsheviks led this effort.
32...
The India National Congress was an association dedicated to gaining Indian independence from British rule. It started by attempting to do this by cooperating with the British, but after WWI, sought its autonomy against the British.
Under Gandhi's leadership, the Congress led two movements to establish self-governance. This was accompanied by Gandhi's requests to Indians to boycott British goods.
China was ruled by warlords after the 1911 revolution. The country was not left in stability, but instead was divided into unstable provinces.
The May Fourth Movement in China came in response to the United States' support of Japanese interference in China. This was mostly led by students and academic/intellectuals.
An African upper-class called the "new-elite"developed. This class was mostly made up of high-ranking citizens who had gotten the majority of their education in Europe.
33...
The rape of Nanjing was not news to me, but I was never taught of its scope- 7000 women raped, 400,000 died (some from being used for bayonet practice), etc.
France and Britain not only didn't fight to protect Czechoslovakia, they allowed Hitler to annex it for fear of getting themselves into war with Germany. It's no wonder he got away with as much as he did, with everyone turning their backs.
Only 11 of the world's countries were not directly involved in WWII. I find it surprising how Spain and Ireland managed to stay out of it.
It only took two months for France to sign an armistice with Germany. Sounds like all Hitler had to do was sneeze in their direction and bamb! surrender
What was Vichy France ? (map p. 624)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Rude Shaking
Experts believe that the world has reached a period of peak oil production, the result of which requires immediate changes in the ways in which we consume energy, and the types and prices we rely on for our standard of living.
After watching the film, what struck me most was not necessarily the need to find other types of resources in order for us tot continue living our ridiculously plush lives, but rather that if this can't be done, perhaps the alternative would be to-dare I say it- change the way we live. That's not to say we won't eventually run out of fossil fuels. It does, however, give a certain kind of hope for the future when you can think that perhaps, in the end, people will be able to smarten up and change themselves, rather than seek simple solutions to very complex socio-economic problems, all revolving around black goopy stuff.
After watching the film, what struck me most was not necessarily the need to find other types of resources in order for us tot continue living our ridiculously plush lives, but rather that if this can't be done, perhaps the alternative would be to-dare I say it- change the way we live. That's not to say we won't eventually run out of fossil fuels. It does, however, give a certain kind of hope for the future when you can think that perhaps, in the end, people will be able to smarten up and change themselves, rather than seek simple solutions to very complex socio-economic problems, all revolving around black goopy stuff.
28, 29, 30
28...
I wasn't aware that the Battle of Wounded Knee started due to an accidental gunshot. Can perhaps be seen as yet another example (9/11) of the American tendency to be, say, trigger happy?Interesting the comment about how anti-American sentiments were a distraction from the conflicts between the anglos and francos in Canada. Interesting because, well, i believe that is still the case...
I hadn't realized that the (seemingly) main reason that Canada did not experience Civil War was that the British were hell-bent on appeasing them in order to prevent another revolution. Perhaps, someday, this is the stance the U.S. federal government will have to take when they realize the level of discontent in their citizens can no longer be ignored.
Embarrassed of my ignorance: I had absolutely no idea that Newfoundland wasn't incorporated into the Canadian dominion until 1949... That was the year before my father was born!!!
I'm struck by the repetitive use of the term "creole elites". Did I miss something, or does the book not actually define what they mean by elites? Governing body...?
29...
The discussion of how valuable the steamship was to the imperial quest. The ability to move upriver and deeper into lands was clearly a big shift from previous conquest methods.
I find it striking that at the same that a method of more efficient communication between Man was invented, so too was a method to kill Man more quickly. more=better?
The map on p. 543 explains exactly why during my 3 months in England recently, I was surprised to see the lack of involvement in Tibetan affairs, given their past affiliation. Certainly if India were involved in a similar struggle, England would not stand idly by?
Impressive that a region like Europe managed to lose about 50 million citizens in pursuit of wealth overseas and still maintain a strong sense of culture and community. Perhaps the U.S. could learn a thing or two
No matter how many times I read it, I am still do disgusted by Gobineau's Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races. Considering the time that has gone by since and amount of research that has gone into genetics, etc., it's surprising that there is still a great debate about various measurements of "human potential". Taking "Crude Awakening", for example: what is our "potential"? Is it only based on fossil fuels, in which case we're done for??
I find it striking that at the same that a method of more efficient communication between Man was invented, so too was a method to kill Man more quickly. more=better?
The map on p. 543 explains exactly why during my 3 months in England recently, I was surprised to see the lack of involvement in Tibetan affairs, given their past affiliation. Certainly if India were involved in a similar struggle, England would not stand idly by?
Impressive that a region like Europe managed to lose about 50 million citizens in pursuit of wealth overseas and still maintain a strong sense of culture and community. Perhaps the U.S. could learn a thing or two
No matter how many times I read it, I am still do disgusted by Gobineau's Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races. Considering the time that has gone by since and amount of research that has gone into genetics, etc., it's surprising that there is still a great debate about various measurements of "human potential". Taking "Crude Awakening", for example: what is our "potential"? Is it only based on fossil fuels, in which case we're done for??
Wendell Berry
First two are essays, second two are poems. Enjoy!
http://www.commondreams.org/views01/1207-01.htm
http://oriononline.org/pages/oo/sidebars/America/Berry.html
(notice "grow"...?)
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/B/BerryWendell/ASpiritualJo.htm
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/B/BerryWendell/Sabbaths1999.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views01/1207-01.htm
http://oriononline.org/pages/oo/sidebars/America/Berry.html
(notice "grow"...?)
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/B/BerryWendell/ASpiritualJo.htm
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/B/BerryWendell/Sabbaths1999.htm
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Isolation....
For the last 500 years, man has been ridding himself of barriers to his freedom, to the point where he has managed to rid himself of the need for his fellow man and therefore ushered in hyper-individualism, loneliness, and estrangement from Community.
p 96 "This liberation (from the "burden" of reliance on one another, perhaps?) is exhilarating, and it is daunting; it is exciting, and it is lonely."
This self-reliance needs to change because it has been proven that "...'feelings about people contribute more to subjective well-being than feelings about money, whether spent or saved.'" p 109
CLINCHER ----> "Fast, cheap, and easy is what we have at the moment; they are the cardinal virtues upon which our economy rests (and if they also happen to be the the very adjectives you don't want attached to your child, well, that should give you a little pause.)" p 120
p 96 "This liberation (from the "burden" of reliance on one another, perhaps?) is exhilarating, and it is daunting; it is exciting, and it is lonely."
This self-reliance needs to change because it has been proven that "...'feelings about people contribute more to subjective well-being than feelings about money, whether spent or saved.'" p 109
CLINCHER ----> "Fast, cheap, and easy is what we have at the moment; they are the cardinal virtues upon which our economy rests (and if they also happen to be the the very adjectives you don't want attached to your child, well, that should give you a little pause.)" p 120
26, 27
26...
Impressive arguing that went on in regards to the Estates General. I either didn't know or didn't remember that the National Assembly was the lowest of the upper class saying "the hell with this!"
Impressive political maneuver by the Russian tsar. To set blaze to your own city in order to secure the safety of your country is exactly the type of decision a political leader should be able to make...
(side note: my great great... grandfather was a gunmaker for Napoleon's army, where the name Radoux comes from, and later was asked by Amer. troops to fix their guns which would lock up after firing one shot- caused lots of unnecessary casualties)
I like the way the authors state that one of the most influential concepts in modern political thought is the idea of "nation". Interesting in the context of McKibben's book which argues that perhaps the most revolutionary concept at this point is "community"
I had no idea what is now modern-day Haiti was one of the wealthiest Euro colonies. And that it accounted for 1/3 of France's foreign trade!!
For all the talk about Italian city-states, I've learned very little about its unification. I didn't know much about its leaders during that time either.
27...
Like all the ones before it, the opening anecdote is very interesting. I know very little about mining practices,a side from what I learned (for better or worse) from Cold Mountain.
More of a reflection... It was striking to me reading the paragraph regarding industrialization and how the authors mention the need to invest in expensive factory equipment. It reminds me of the way in which the new type of expensive equipment we need to invest in isn't big factory machines, but things like solar panels. They are, like the new machines of the industrial revolution, expensive at first but quickly pay for themselves. Yet it seems to me that investors were more enthusiastic about buying the latter than the former...
Along the same lines, unfortunate that we are not more often taught about Eli Whitney's invention of interchangeable parts.
I had no idea you could contract cancer of the scrotum from inhaling hydrocarbon deposits. ouch!
Impressive arguing that went on in regards to the Estates General. I either didn't know or didn't remember that the National Assembly was the lowest of the upper class saying "the hell with this!"
Impressive political maneuver by the Russian tsar. To set blaze to your own city in order to secure the safety of your country is exactly the type of decision a political leader should be able to make...
(side note: my great great... grandfather was a gunmaker for Napoleon's army, where the name Radoux comes from, and later was asked by Amer. troops to fix their guns which would lock up after firing one shot- caused lots of unnecessary casualties)
I like the way the authors state that one of the most influential concepts in modern political thought is the idea of "nation". Interesting in the context of McKibben's book which argues that perhaps the most revolutionary concept at this point is "community"
I had no idea what is now modern-day Haiti was one of the wealthiest Euro colonies. And that it accounted for 1/3 of France's foreign trade!!
For all the talk about Italian city-states, I've learned very little about its unification. I didn't know much about its leaders during that time either.
27...
Like all the ones before it, the opening anecdote is very interesting. I know very little about mining practices,a side from what I learned (for better or worse) from Cold Mountain.
More of a reflection... It was striking to me reading the paragraph regarding industrialization and how the authors mention the need to invest in expensive factory equipment. It reminds me of the way in which the new type of expensive equipment we need to invest in isn't big factory machines, but things like solar panels. They are, like the new machines of the industrial revolution, expensive at first but quickly pay for themselves. Yet it seems to me that investors were more enthusiastic about buying the latter than the former...
Along the same lines, unfortunate that we are not more often taught about Eli Whitney's invention of interchangeable parts.
I had no idea you could contract cancer of the scrotum from inhaling hydrocarbon deposits. ouch!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
20, 21, 22
20....
I knew that Cairo was an important city in this era, but i wasn't aware that it served as the trading hub for Muslims exchanging Chinese goods with Europeans... Amazing how disease can have such far-reaching effects.
The compass is a Chinese invention!! Interesting, I think I've been attributing too many sailing innovations to the Portuguese and Spanish...
I had no idea the circumference of the earth was 25,000 nautical miles. And Columbus under-estimated the distance to Japan by 4 times the actual distance!
Interesting that after all his success, Magellan gets killed in a dispute in the Philippines. Impressive also that the crew kept sailing.
The French had a trading post in India. How come we never hear of French sailing and trade?
21...
Martin Luther didn't nail his 95 theses to a church door. There's that fourth current!
I don't know where I thought he was, but I wasn't aware that Calvin sought refuge in Geneva. Apparently Switzerland has been neutral for a long time...
When discussing the Catholic Reformation, the Council of Trent is often discussed. I did not know of the existence of the Society of Jesus, though its development into the Jesuit faith is familiar to me.
Looking at the map on page 382 (our book), I was surprised to see the expanse of the Polish territory in the 16th century.
Once again referring to a map, I'd forgotten how far Italy stretched north during the reign of its city-states.
22...
Dona Marina's story is a very interesting one I had never heard. Hernan Cortes' success would have indeed been much different were it not for her.
I always thought the word maize was from South American origin. The Taino society certainly left us with familiar words that are now a big part of our society and recreation!
I had forgotten about the Treaty de Tordesillas. But if Spain and Portugal were splitting non-Christian lands between themselves, who was taking the Christian ones?
I didn't realize that Australia and other Pacific Islands were more or less untouched until the 17th century. I was under the impression that they were conquered, or at least heavily visited, soon after Africa and Asia.
Guam seems to be popping up quite regularly in the text. I'm surprised by its significant role in early exploration...
I knew that Cairo was an important city in this era, but i wasn't aware that it served as the trading hub for Muslims exchanging Chinese goods with Europeans... Amazing how disease can have such far-reaching effects.
The compass is a Chinese invention!! Interesting, I think I've been attributing too many sailing innovations to the Portuguese and Spanish...
I had no idea the circumference of the earth was 25,000 nautical miles. And Columbus under-estimated the distance to Japan by 4 times the actual distance!
Interesting that after all his success, Magellan gets killed in a dispute in the Philippines. Impressive also that the crew kept sailing.
The French had a trading post in India. How come we never hear of French sailing and trade?
21...
Martin Luther didn't nail his 95 theses to a church door. There's that fourth current!
I don't know where I thought he was, but I wasn't aware that Calvin sought refuge in Geneva. Apparently Switzerland has been neutral for a long time...
When discussing the Catholic Reformation, the Council of Trent is often discussed. I did not know of the existence of the Society of Jesus, though its development into the Jesuit faith is familiar to me.
Looking at the map on page 382 (our book), I was surprised to see the expanse of the Polish territory in the 16th century.
Once again referring to a map, I'd forgotten how far Italy stretched north during the reign of its city-states.
22...
Dona Marina's story is a very interesting one I had never heard. Hernan Cortes' success would have indeed been much different were it not for her.
I always thought the word maize was from South American origin. The Taino society certainly left us with familiar words that are now a big part of our society and recreation!
I had forgotten about the Treaty de Tordesillas. But if Spain and Portugal were splitting non-Christian lands between themselves, who was taking the Christian ones?
I didn't realize that Australia and other Pacific Islands were more or less untouched until the 17th century. I was under the impression that they were conquered, or at least heavily visited, soon after Africa and Asia.
Guam seems to be popping up quite regularly in the text. I'm surprised by its significant role in early exploration...
just how deep...
So we need a deeper economy.... As I stumbled across my visualisation in class today (the one where I threw my hands around describing current growth as horizontally directed while future growth, according to McKibben, needs to be vertically driven), I couldn't help but visualise a cross. Not-so-logical but nonetheless tempting conclusion: are we crucifying ourselves? In the words of similarly poor crucified blokes, we cannot continue to "always look on the bright side of life" without eventually realizing that there we are, about to die of starvation on top of a hill of goods and services we've so enthusiastically fabricated and consumed over the years. I particularly enjoyed the reference to Thomas Friedman's flattened earth idea, in which we are flattened people flattened by flat ideals and aspirations. Kinda like a sharing the experience of a movie on a flat-screen t.v., vs. a good ol' 3D conversation with friends over a cup of tea?
Hmmm
Hmmm
Monday, May 19, 2008
23, 24...
Bentley 23
I was unaware of the Portuguese sphere of influence in Africa. The book describes the Portuguese having a much greater presence than the Dutch, while I mistakenly believed the opposite.
I did not expect there to be a university in Timbuktu as early as the sixteenth century. Given its popularity, it says a lot about the Africans' willingness to fuse their indigenous traditions with the new (necessarily powerful) beliefs of Europe and Arabia not only for power and stature in terms of the colonists, but also in seeking greater education.
The notion of wealth and power in African law being measured in terms of human productivity casts an interesting light on the importance of slavery in Africa. It also calls to mind how economy (in this case in the purest sense of marginal productivity), as introduced today in class, shapes communities.
Though logical, the effects of the slave trade on gender balance and its subsequent effect on polygamous behaviour is an interesting topic to consider. Again as discussed today in class, this is a perfect example of the ways in which gender issues can not only shape a community, but have a lasting effect on its future as well.
Its interesting to learn that slave labour was considered an economically nonviable option, and as such empowered the abolition of slavery. I would not be surprised if this had a greater impact on abolition than ethics, morals, or (non-economically driven) justice.
Bentley 24
Perhaps not globally significant, I think it's intriguing how Hongwu greatly trusted in eunuchs because of their inability to reproduce, and therefore proliferate tyrants. This again highlights the similar theme in Elizabeth where gender truly plays a deciding role in the politics of the state or nation, whether it is by a stubborn re-virginized female or infertile, castrated male.
The way in which the Qing leaders forced men to trim their hair and beards in a Manchurian style as a display of submission is interesting. The transformation of the body for political and religious purposes was and still is a very prominent practice a public display of a constructed "self",
The notion of "scholar bureaucrats" is interesting because, while not trying to perpetuate stereotypes, in my personal experience with 4 different Chinese students, I have found them to be the most diligent and dedicated of any other fellow student with whom I have spent time similar amounts of time. Though I'm not assuming this tradition of dedication dates back to the Qing dynasty, it is interesting to read about similar disciplines in the past.
I never knew the social implications of foot-binding. I can't help but conclude that the weight which women with bound feet were unable to bear was invariably turned into a "weight" which their husbands had to take on.
I was not aware that an outbreak of plague coincided with the loss of Christianity in China. What effects did the plague have on religion that essentially managed to revoke a major religious power in the 14th century?
Bentley 25
I wasn't aware of the origins of the Ottoman Empire, only that it existed. Once again, religious zeal shows its power in an effort to dominate.
I wouldn't have expected that agriculture would have been the backbone of Islamic society. The areas climate gave me the impression that spices were more abundant.
From the impression the book gives, it seems as though Islamic societies were quite tolerant of religious diversity. Interesting, given that is one of the areas with the greatest religious war histories...
I wasn't familiar with the steppe traditions. The idea of family-based governing goes beyond mere divine-right to a much more community-based idea of competitive leadership.
I was unaware of the Portuguese sphere of influence in Africa. The book describes the Portuguese having a much greater presence than the Dutch, while I mistakenly believed the opposite.
I did not expect there to be a university in Timbuktu as early as the sixteenth century. Given its popularity, it says a lot about the Africans' willingness to fuse their indigenous traditions with the new (necessarily powerful) beliefs of Europe and Arabia not only for power and stature in terms of the colonists, but also in seeking greater education.
The notion of wealth and power in African law being measured in terms of human productivity casts an interesting light on the importance of slavery in Africa. It also calls to mind how economy (in this case in the purest sense of marginal productivity), as introduced today in class, shapes communities.
Though logical, the effects of the slave trade on gender balance and its subsequent effect on polygamous behaviour is an interesting topic to consider. Again as discussed today in class, this is a perfect example of the ways in which gender issues can not only shape a community, but have a lasting effect on its future as well.
Its interesting to learn that slave labour was considered an economically nonviable option, and as such empowered the abolition of slavery. I would not be surprised if this had a greater impact on abolition than ethics, morals, or (non-economically driven) justice.
Bentley 24
Perhaps not globally significant, I think it's intriguing how Hongwu greatly trusted in eunuchs because of their inability to reproduce, and therefore proliferate tyrants. This again highlights the similar theme in Elizabeth where gender truly plays a deciding role in the politics of the state or nation, whether it is by a stubborn re-virginized female or infertile, castrated male.
The way in which the Qing leaders forced men to trim their hair and beards in a Manchurian style as a display of submission is interesting. The transformation of the body for political and religious purposes was and still is a very prominent practice a public display of a constructed "self",
The notion of "scholar bureaucrats" is interesting because, while not trying to perpetuate stereotypes, in my personal experience with 4 different Chinese students, I have found them to be the most diligent and dedicated of any other fellow student with whom I have spent time similar amounts of time. Though I'm not assuming this tradition of dedication dates back to the Qing dynasty, it is interesting to read about similar disciplines in the past.
I never knew the social implications of foot-binding. I can't help but conclude that the weight which women with bound feet were unable to bear was invariably turned into a "weight" which their husbands had to take on.
I was not aware that an outbreak of plague coincided with the loss of Christianity in China. What effects did the plague have on religion that essentially managed to revoke a major religious power in the 14th century?
Bentley 25
I wasn't aware of the origins of the Ottoman Empire, only that it existed. Once again, religious zeal shows its power in an effort to dominate.
I wouldn't have expected that agriculture would have been the backbone of Islamic society. The areas climate gave me the impression that spices were more abundant.
From the impression the book gives, it seems as though Islamic societies were quite tolerant of religious diversity. Interesting, given that is one of the areas with the greatest religious war histories...
I wasn't familiar with the steppe traditions. The idea of family-based governing goes beyond mere divine-right to a much more community-based idea of competitive leadership.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
