Journal 5

Kyle Anderson

Journal 5 

     This Week we read chapter 14, 15, and 16 from our text book. I am going to start with chapter 14 which began talking about how the European empires expanded into the Americas and why the other major empires of the world did not. The author also explained how this move sort of kick started the early modern era which lasted approximately 1450 to 1750. In fact Strayer best puts this by saying the colonization of america “was revolutionary encounter with implications that extended far beyond the Americas themselves” (Strayer 2009 p. 404). In fact, one such implication was the start of slave trade as well as trade of other items form Africa and Europe to the colonies. As a result, The Europeans were taking control of the americas and the sea routes in the Atlantic. However as the Europeans were developing America, Russian Empire was also subsequently beginning to take shape. A small Russian State was breaking free from Mongol rule and eventually causing the creation of the worlds largest state. As the Russian began to solidify there Empire so to did china. The Qing or Manchu Dynasty was undertaking the imperial expansion of China, enlarging its size as an empire and thus incorporating more non-Chinese natives into the empire. Also during this time an empire began to take shape in Middle East, North Africa, and Southeastern Europe. The empire,  “The Ottoman State was transformed from a small frontier principality to a prosperous, powerful, cosmopolitan empire, heir to both the Byzantine Empire and to Leadership within the Islamic world” (Strayer 2009 p. 425). 

     Chapter 15 talked about global commerce and how many empires and civilizations were expanding trade and creating the foundations for the early world economy and globalization. The Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English and Asians were some of the major countries that helped the spread of this global commerce during the early modern era. Gold, sliver, spice, agriculture and fur were some of the major products that fueled the need for a global commerce. In fact, “enormous quantities of Furs and deerskins found their way to Europe, where they considerably enhanced the standard of living in those cold climates” (Strayer 2009 p. 445). Not only were these items a part of the commerce but the trading of slaves became a major commodity  of this time, contributing to the globalization of trade and commerce. However, despite the good that came from the expansion of a global commerce, trading of slaves actually dropped a large percentage of the world’s population. 

     Chapter 16 talked about how religion specifically christianity became more globalized as a result of the colonization of the americas and the expansion of global commerce. Religion, also gave Europeans a propose to expanding and spreading outward. During this expansion of religion the Protestants started breaking away from there catholic counter parts. As a result the catholics started reaffirm their doctrines and practices to solidify their beliefs and differences form the Protestants. Even though, Religion was expanding specifically christianity, so to was the ideas of modern science. Many Scholars and philosophers Had been already discovering the ideas behind modern science but was made more popular through the novel techniques of printing and book-making. This scientific idea began to challenge the church and it ideas. It was a revolutionary way of thinking. Strayer put it best by eloquently saying that “the new approach to knowledge-rooted in human reason, skeptical of authority, expressed in natural laws-was now applied to human affairs, not just the physical universe” (Strayer 2009 p. 482).   

Reference

Strayer W. Robert. (2009). Ways of the world: A brief global history. Boston, MA: Bedford/St.

Interview questions

      I plan on interviewing my grandfather about the Cold War. Much of his career involved government work directly related to the Cold war so I am curious to see his perspective on the topic. 

Questions

1. What does the Cold War mean to you. 
2. Can you briefly summarize what you know about the cold war?
3. About how old were you during the cold war?
4. When did it become clear that a Cold War was in progress?
5. How did you become involved with the cold war?
6. How were you involved with the cold war?
7. Were you ever apart of any air raid drills? 
8. Was there anyone in your neighborhood that was building a bomb of fallout shelter?
9. Can you summarize what it felt like to be apart of the cold war?
10. How did it changer your life back then?  
11. How did the cold war affect you family?
12. How has the cold war affect you today?

Journal # 4

Kyle anderson

World History SM 208

Patti Andrews

Journal # 4

      In this weeks reading we start with chapter 11 which focused on the world of islam and Mohamed, which I know nothing about. To me, it seams as though in a post 9/11 world the people of the Islamic realm have a negative connotation surrounding them. So, this chapter was interesting because it kind of shed new light on a religion and a group of people that changed our would, socially, culturally, and politicly. As a matter of fact, the author put this religion in perspective best by saying “by the beginning of the twenty-first century, ...1.2 billion people, or 22 percent of the world population, identifies [them self] as Muslims (Strayer 2009 p.302). This is impressive and it just shows that despite the negative connotations surrounding this religion, it still heavily impacts the global stage of modern society. This quote made me even more curious about this religion because it made me wonder how it developed and how did it become so influential today. So, as expected the book transitioned into talking about its history and origins. Its not surprising that the birth of this religion has its roots in the ideas and teachings of one person, Mohamed. This seems to be a theme amongst some of the major ideologies and religions that have change our world. I am not ashamed to admit that I have grown up with, and continue to practice as a christen. Therefore, as the book began to describe the ideologies and traditions of these people it caused me to compare it with my own religion. This was especially true for me when the book started describing the five pillars of faith that are required when being a Muslim. I have no  problems with the first pillars because it makes sense to me believe in one god and as the book puts it profess your faith to that god. The second pillar did not sense to me because I wondered why you would have to pray five times a day. Where did the five come from? Also why do you have pray towards Mecca? Sure, I know from the reading that it was the birth place but it still does not explain it clearly enough for me. The book describes the third pillar as requiring believers to generously give to the community. It seems simple and a similar thread with other religions. The fourth pillar called for a month of fasting from the first light of dawn to sundown during Ramadan. The last pillar was once again tied back to birth place requiring all the believers of this religion to make a pilgrimage to Mecca once a year. This is also some what strange to me because I guess I just want to know why. What I thought was most notable about the five pillars was that some consider the religion to actually have six pillars. The Sixth pillar being what they called a “Jihad” in simplest terms advocated for a armed struggle against forces of unbelief and evil. To me this is seems like a bad thing that a religion would advocate for something like this.

      The next pice of reading from Our text was chapter 12 which was primarily about the Mongols and their empire. It was an other interesting topic because it seemed to have developed in a different way than other empires. This empire which was described as having mostly nomadic people ruled and dominated Eurasia in the 1200-1500 centuries. Through the masterful use of horseback the Mongol empire grew to have powerful armies which consequently seamed to have unified a divided china. 

      The Last pice of reading from our text of this week was chapter 13 which covered  the broader story from the fifteenth to the sixteenth century. The book conveyed that a significant amount of changes during this time in history left its fingerprints for centuries to come. The Ming Dynasty In china had sent people out to explore areas in the western pacific ocean.  Europe was in the Renaissance and classical ideas were begging to resurface causing many of the worlds greatest artists, and musicians to emerge. In fact Strayer eventually  seems  to transition from the post classical to the start of the Modern area. 

Journal 3

Kyle Anderson

World History SM 208

Patti Andrews

Journal #3

     This week I found chapter eight to be the most interesting chapter form our assigned readings from the text book, Ways of the World: A Brief Global History By Robert W. Strayer. Chapter eight discussed commerce and culture and in my opinion sort of told the history of how the foundation of global economics was created. Strayer specifically examined the growth of long distance trade, culture and disease in the Afro-Eurasian  world of the third-wave civilizations from 500-1500. 

     Strayer stimulated my interest in this chapter by sort of tying the ideas of modern economics and globalization to the expansion of commerce during this time in history. The author best summarizes this idea by saying “ the Silk, Sea, and Sand, roads the Afro-Eurasian world and the looser networkers of the of the American web linked distance peoples both economically and culturally, prompted the emergence of new states, and sustained elite privileges in many ancient civilizations. In those ways, they resembled the globalized world of the modern times” (strayer 2009 p.238). Who would have thought that the idea of globalization was established it in an ancient time. In other worlds, I have all way thought that the concept of globalization was uniquely modern and created in the 21st century. Strayer in a way changed my view of how modern economic Globalization was created and that it has its roots in ancient patterns of trade and commerce.

Reference

Strayer W. Robert. (2009). Ways of the world: A brief global history. Boston, MA: Bedford/St.

Martin’s