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.