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.