Biography Presentation- Santos Barillas

DGP Chapter 9- The Mongol Impact Part 1

I don't want to sound mean or anything! But, Asian history doesn't really grasp me. I will try my best to blog about the Mongols, since the textbook has long chapter for it and received a packet for more reading. I will see what information can at least be somewhat interesting. Today is part 1 of the reading and I am going to use my packet for these blog. How the Mongol Empire was found? by Chingis Khan, there is a chance he didn't think about the wide impact of his help to encourage Europe's later quest of exploration and help take off direction that created the modern world. On page 252 (packet), source number 5 "Guyuk Khan's Letter to Pope Innocent IV" is interesting how a formal reply is sent to a plea from Innocent asking Guyuk to abstain from further incursions into Europe. Guyuk was caring to Christianity, no doubt because some of his chief advisors were followers of a Central Asian variety called Nestorianism. Source number 9 " From Francis Balducci Pegolotti, Book of Description of Countries" seems to be a book of laws. The first sentence in bold says " Things Needful For Merchants Who Desire To Make The Journey To Cathay Above Described." Clearly knowing that a Italian man wrote this is interesting how it was a manual to encourage Western merchants to venture across Inner Asia to China. That all I can find compelling in the packet, hopefully in the textbook, has other information not mention in the packet.

DGP Chapter 6- Vikings and Polynesians

It's interesting how the vikings are the first to discover North America and the polynesians spreading to South America. Both civilizations make our mind think, how the possibilities of having ancestry in the Americas. When I hear about the Vikings, I imagine being barbarians and wonderers of the sea. They are famous for their longboats, which they use since they lived around the north sea of Scandinavia. The only way of communication and trade would be in the longboats. The characteristics of the boat is "tall, up-curved bow and stern ,overlapping oak side planks, and the open hull fitted with dozens of long oars." (p.147). What got my attention was the Viking's discovery of America was at most one part of a huge maritime expansion of Scandinavian people. From the years 750 to 1050, the era that uprise the Viking Age. Looking at the map on page 148, its compelling how the vikings move from Europe, Iceland, Greenland and through North America (up in Canada). It's amazing how strong their longboats were, to support the current of the water and storms that can happen on the way. The reading of the polynesians to be honest wasn't my favorite. The only thing that grasped my attention was how their can be a link of ancestry in South America. On pages 178 and 179, shows data and graphs, how their can be a clue of polynesians brought language, culture, plants, food and etc. Question is how did they get to South America?, page 172, shows a small map of polynesian islands. They have a great understanding of the water current and using stars as their guide. Both have in common is to explore what is not known, risk the dangers on the way, to settle for something better in their civilizations.

Chapter 9- The Golden Age of China

China was a major role in their economy and technological innovation which had effects throughout Eurasia. All of China’s neighbors feel its gravitational pull and borders reached far into Central Asia. Visitors were attracted from a far for its wealth and cosmopolitan culture. The “Golden Age” of Chinese Achievement are important in this period, the Sui dynasty reunified China. Sui rulers extended the canal system, but their inhuman behavior and failure to conquer Korea alienated people, which worn out state’s resources. The Sui dynasty was overthrown, but the state didn’t fall apart. The Tang and Song dynasties were built on Sui foundations; established patterns of Chinese life that lasted into the twentieth century. It’s known as “Golden Age” of the arts and literature; poetry, landscape painting, and ceramics of high order. Also, birth of Neo-Confucianism, Confucian revival with added elements of Buddhism and Daoism. What I found interesting is the role of women in China, the era wasn’t very “golden” for women. During the Tang dynasty, nobility women in the north had greater freedom. Foot binding started in tenth or eleventh century, it was associated with image of female beauty and eroticism. But, I personally think it was to keep women inside their home, the men fearing that their wife will have an affair with another man. To be honest, China's history didn't really grab my attention. Hopefully, the previous chapters that I haven't blog about yet, will be better.

The European Renaissance

The European Renaissance is an important time in history, it was the "rebirth" of Classical Greeks ideas. In 1348, the bubonic plague hit all over europe, which question religious faith. Many will start to question;"Where is God?", to help cure or stop the plague. Faith of many got lost and especially in Florence. The bubonic plague is when they are bitten by a flea that carries the plague bacteria from an infected rodent. To reaction of destruction, interest in classical ideas started to happen. Increase of literacy and interest in non-religious texts. A good example would be the written work of Bocaccio, who wrote in vernacular language. He wrote in Italian, which uneducated people can hear, the language they know. The bible was being questioned, it wasn't taken as seriously has it was in the past. Individuals started to interpret the passages in the bible, instead of literally believing the stories. The world of literature starts to have different genres; biography, narratives, novels and etc. Sometime people started to become interested of. The arts, was a huge change as well. During the medieval era the paintings were religious; colors were dark and a lot of gold use. Especially, baby Jesus would look like a small adult; sometimes with a five o'clock shadow. In the Renaissance, paintings were about ordinary things and people. It look realistic and baby Jesus look like a baby. It wasn't about the religion views anymore, it was about getting out of the box. Explore new ideas and recollect the classical ones to make new ones. Without the Renaissance not happening, what would the world be like.

Chapter 13- The Worlds of the 15th Century

It been three months not blogging. I know I should since it is part the grade, to be honest I either forget or don't feel like blogging. But now, since the semester is going to be over, I need to caught up with most of the topics since September. My goal is to have many blogs as possible by December 6, I will do two blogs a day. So, with previous blogs I will give my opinion and what I learned from that chapter.

In the Islamic World had two powerful empires; The Ottoman and Safavid Empires. The Ottoman Empire lasted from fourteenth to early twentieth century. Had big territories, Anatolia, Eastern Europe, most of the Middle East, and North African coast. The empire efforts was to bring new unity to the Islamic world. They have an aggression towards Christian lands, which cause the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the Europeans feared the turks. The Safavid empire appear in Persia from a Sufi religious order. The empire was established shortly after 1500, which imposed Shia Islam as the official religion of the state. Sunni Ottoman empire and Shia Safavid empire will fight constantly, between 1534 and 1639. I found interesting is the age of the four great Muslim empires, sometimes called “second flowering of Islam.” Which is the new age of energy, prosperity, and cultural brilliance.

The Americas' history is known for the Mayans, Aztecs and Inacs Empires. In the book only two are mention; the Aztec and Inac. Both empires were established by one- marginal peoples who took over and absorbed older cultures. Both were destroyed by the Spaniards and their diseases. The Mexica were a semi-nomadic people who mirgrated southward from Northern Mexico. Form themselves on an island in Lake Texcoco by 1325 and built themselves up and install the capital city of Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs were a loosely structured, unstable conquest state, a population of 5-6 million. I know about the Aztecs that they are more prominent in human sacrifice, than in earlier Meso-America. Their believes of human sacrifice is gods shed their blood to create humankind, so is only fair to do the same. Also, they believe the sun needs the life-giving force of human blood to help it fight the ever-encroaching darkness.

The Need For Water In Ancient Societies

After reading the whole packet about water in ancient societies, I learned new information that I haven't heard before. I just every interesting that every part of the world, different civilizations were brainstorming how to make water go through the cities and farms. Taking world history in high school, I only remember the Romans constructing aqueducts through cities. Until now I learned more about other societies in the world that developed similar or different water systems. Also, when reading a question, came across my mind. "How was the water going to be sterilize. If not people can get sick from drinking it?" The answer was in the background section, the Chinese solved the problem by boiling it. But, societies who didn't thought of doing that. They have to built a water system that has to be 100 miles or more away from a lake or river. The evidence that is gathered are just two visual and written, which is too bad that many of the water systems aren't available to examine. My favorite evidence use for research is photography, I personally love photography is a passion of mine. But back to the point, using the two different photographs; aerial photograph and LANDSAT Imagery shows a kind of clear view, where the ancient and modern water systems are located. The early Egyptian king drawing from mace- head craving has very nice and interesting details. Having the king, about to dig the soil is strange. But, it represents that the king cares about his civilization and that it was his idea. That thanks to him everyone has water to drink, wash, cook and bathe in. Knowing that he actually didn't help built the water systems, makes no sense to draw him with a hoe at hand. Instead should have drawn workers and him sitting at his throne. The technology of the water systems in the world have similar functions, some needs people, animals or water currents to do the water. The written evidence is my least favorite. Sections from the Code of Hammurabi, got my attention. How there are rules about water systems, farming goods being destroy and water machines taken away. Knowing the history of water systems in ancient times, it wasn't only a technological invention. It was economic, political and legal development of ancient civilizations, that made our present day, bring clean water.