Final

Kyle Anderson

Final

        For the most part I enjoyed this history class. It was interesting to take a world view rather than western view. I think that the two reading analysis assignments helped me communicate historical knowledge and enhance my writing skills by causing me evaluate and create conclusions based on the evidence of primary research. I further enjoyed, the ability to be creative second reading analysis assignment. It was nice not to have to just create another paper. I also liked how there was a lot of class participation involved in the lectures because it made class time seem faster. However I did not enjoy the in class quizzes. I felt like I knew most of the answers but I was having trouble communicating them quickly because of time constraints. However, it did help that we had a study guide, and I enjoyed being able to use my computer because I am bad at spelling. It was interesting to learn about the Paleolithic and Neolithic time periods because I had not learned much about them in other classes. The Gilgamesh play, really taught me how sophisticated people form these times that are often thought of as barbaric and uncivilized were. Lastly one of my favorite activities that we did was the discussion on the major religion/ideologies through the lens of profits/philosophers that consisted of Confucius, Hindu, Buddha, Socrates, Jesus and Mohamed. Overall it was a good class that I would suggest people take to expand there perspective. 

Journal 7

Kyle  Anderson

Journal 7

         This week we read chapters 21, 22, 23 and 24 of our text book. It’s amazing that I actually got though this massive book, I don’t know how I did it. Well anyways, I shall start with chapter 21 which talked about the collapse and Recovery of Europe which set the stage for the modern world.  This chapter covered a lot of information but starts with the first world war and how it was set off by the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a man who was a Serbian nationalist. This assassination caused many countries who had alliance to enter the conflict such as Austria which was apart of the Triple Alliance and was now against Serbia. Strayer described this war as a “total war” causing many  countries to involve the entire population in some way.  Strayer also said that it was extremely gruesome and he talks about how it “resulted in enormous casualties while gaining or losing only a few yards of muddy, blood-soaked ground” (page 630). It also very interesting to find out that if it was not for this war the USA may not have become the Super power that we see them as today. Stayer says on page 632 of chapter 21 that “the fist World War brought the United States to center stage as a global power”. The end of World War I, marked by the creation and signing of The Treaty of Versailles, caused many changes to take place around the world and at home. Some of these changes were good, However some were bad. For example shortly after World War I the Great Depression developed and as a result the stock market crashed. While things were tough at home, Adolfo Hitler and the Nazi Party week to capitalize on the economic collapse in Europe and taking revenge for what happened with the Treaty of Versailles. This cause the rise to power for the Nazi Party and in 1939 Germany invaded Poland creating the start of WWII. This war, which I am sure most of know a a lot about, lasted until 1945 when the US dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. This was another mass war that had big casualties just like WW I. Chapter 22 which discussed the Rise and Fall of world Communism and talked about  the end of Word War II fostered the divide between Communist nations and non-communist. Chapter 23 and 24 discussed the independence and development in the Global South in 1914, as, well as accelerating global Interaction  since 1945. In the final chapter, Globalization and the Worlds environment were also a major theme that the author talked about. The author talked about three key factors that have intensified the impact of humans on the earth. Fist, the population of the world quadrupled in the twentieth century, second, large mount of fossil fuels use by people and last, large economic growth.

Journal 6

Kyle Anderson

Journal 6

        This week I read chapters 17, 18 and 19 from our text book. Chapter 17 begins by talking about the Atlantic revolutions which is a phrase that know nothing about. However, as I read the chapter I could clear see why the author would call it that, it made sense. the The author first discusses how the french revolution is the start of this   series of revolutions. The french revolt began expanding into other countries as france invaded and conquers places like, egypt, poland, and russia causing them to become a big empire. The author talks about how the upheaval in france during the end of the 17th century gave birth to a different revolution in the United States. The author then talks a little about some of the important history of the united states that caused it to become a new and separate country free from colonial rule. Surprising to me was how the author talked about Haiti and how they took had a revolution that contributed to the the Atlantic revolutions. I had not heard about Haitian history much and it was interesting to learn that there revolt against France was one of the worst military defeats that France had ever had. On page 509 of our text the author states that there was “a massive slave revolt beginning in 1791, triggered by rumors that the french king had already declared an end to slavery, [the Haitian people] burned 1,000 plantations and killed hundreds of whites as well as mixed-race people”.  The last revolution that the author talked about was the Spanish American that was from 1810-1825. This revolution was a violent uprising that effected most of the settlers in the spanish colonies mainly in what is now Latin America. These Atlantic revolutions left came to have a global significance. One of those remarkable transformations that was rooted in the American revolution was the abolition of slavery. Abolition gained popularity form the revolution as well as the rise of a social and religious enlightenment. 

       Chapter 18 was an interesting chapter about the industrial Revolution. The author starts off by say that the industrial revolution began in Europe which different form what  I remember. I remember only learning about the industrial revolution that happened in the United States. It was good that I got a different perspective of this time. This revolution which still affects us today catapulted much of Europe specifically Great Britain into powerful empire that dominated the world. The Industrial Revolution Helped put Europe on the map because of the open communication with other countries. This open communication helped the ideas and technology of the Scientific Revolution, which happened at a similar time, spread thought Europe making it a key factor in the development of the society of that era. However, because of these innovations the development of social class started to evolve. Some off the prominent developments that the author talked about were the ideas of Marxism, socialists and communism.   

      Chapter 20 which was called the internal troubles, external threats talked about how the new European superpowers started to create empires through imperialism over Asian and African  countries. Territories were created to exploit the resource of other countries to fuel the various revolutions occurring during this time. However this colonization from rising superpowers such as Germany, Italy, Belgium, The US and Japan were some of the most brutal expansion of these countries history. This chapter discussed how the european countries including the US, partitioned the entire continent of Africa in 25 years. As a result of this colonization racism started to become a guiding ideology an political structure that would influence their society greatly. This chapter ended by talking about the rise of Japan as a new Asian superpower. Japan joined on the band wagon of imperialism by colonizing and eventually taking control of taiwan and Korea.    

Reference

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