Qin Shi Huang Biography

Hello class, for this years May Madness I am taking on the role of Qin Shi Huang. To better understand my ruler please take a look at the biography linked down below.

Link: Qin Shin Huangdi - Biography

Qin Shi Huang Promotional Video

Hi everybody, for this years annual May Madness, I will be taking on the role of Qin Shi Huang. Check out my promo video down below and don't for get to vote for me!

                                     

Imperialism in the Modern World, 1900

White Man's Burden

Rudyard Kipling uses adjectives such as "sullen" and "new caught", "savage" to depict the native peoples as opposed to Europeans. His usage of such worlds conveys his sense of white dominance because he words that lower the characteristics of the natives. By addressing them as "sullen" and "savage" he is referring to them as barbaric and animal like. In addition, by using "new caught" he reiterates the idea that the natives are no better than animals for the Europeans to tame. Thus Kipling expresses his sense of white superiority.

Letter of Lin Zexu to Queen Victoria Response

Lin Zeux conveys his distaste for opium in the descriptive terms he attaches to the drug by explaining how the 'poison' and it's repugnant odor has made the gods angry. By describing opium as poison it is clear that Zeux is seriously against opium and will take any means necessary to ensure it's destruction. He further adds in the letter that the gods are unhappy and that if Queen Victoria of great Britain extinguished the "evil" that is opium, the goods may be grateful and reward her with good health. Thus, he is also religiously expressing his distaste for opium. Then, the punishments inflicted on opium peddlers suggest Lin Zeux's perception of opium's threat to China by illustrating the extremity he is willing to go to in order to exterminate opium from China. In his letter he describes anybody who uses or had used opium would be executed and any British merchants who try selling opium would also be executed. His logic is that if a life is taken, the murder must give up his life as punishment but now, the same should apply to opium since many have fell victim to it. So he derived the conclusion that anybody that tries to sell opium would be executed. Therefore, the fact that he is willing to take these measures show how Zeux has massive distaste towards opium in China.

Impact of the Industrial Revolution on society

List of changes that may have come to peoples lives from the Industrial Revolution

• access to cheaper goods that are imported from other parts of the world
• better availability of products due to mass production
• better transportation for people and food
• food would no longer have to be produced locally
• gives more time for people to focus on other things
• new innovations can occur due to this
• land would no longer determine wealth 
• new jobs would emerge when machines replace handmade productions 
• people would define wealth by material possessions 
• the value of religious practices may depreciate 
• value of human labor deprecates 
• urbanization
• gender roles that existed before the revolution change

Based on the Luddite response to the industrial revolution that was splendidly described by Horrible Histories, there were people who were extreme reactionaries who opposed the change. They did not like the way machines were replacing their labor and devaluing human labor.

Response to Niall Ferguson's "The 6 killer apps of prosperity"

I feel that Niall Ferguson makes a very interesting argument on the end of the "great divergence", an event that started after the 1800s where western civilization presided grow more successful and prosperous than the rest of the world. It is a neat concept, which Ferguson uses, when he sums up the cause for the great divergence into six prim factors. The factors are essential in establishing a prosperous society. Ferguson called them the "six killer apps", and they are competition, the scientific revolution, property rights, modern medicine, the consumer society, and work ethic. He explains how throughout history Europeans have come up on top in comparison to the rest of the world because they had these six killer apps. According to Ferguson, the sequence, or rather programming of these apps are not really important, and likewise geography does not play a factor in western dominance. Due to intellectual levels being constantly being challenged and explored, European society has achieved it's sate of dominance, whereas in other parts of the world there has been either governmental, religious, or social restrictions that bound people from advancing via the six killer apps. For example, the ottomans destroyed a observatory because it was considered blasphemy to question gods domain, and China's confucian tests that determined a persons overall intellectual potential via the memorization of Confucian teachings, and many more. Although this may be, today, the tables have turned. Today, other parts of the world are able to do the same thing what Europeans did in the past and what western society is currently doing, at a much faster pace with better quality. Thus he derives the claim that the great divergence is over. In the end I want to say that I agree with what Niall Ferguson claims.

Fabian Fucan Rejects Christianity

In Fabian Fucan's attack on Christianity, he adresses various cultural, social, political, religious, and historical aspects. As far as historical aspects go, Fucan mentions how Japan is the land of the gods, and that the "Divin Regalia" became the protector of the Japanese empires. Fucan explains, on the premises of a political aspect, that the Japanese rulers were given their right to rule by the Gods. He also highlights how the adherents of Desus reject the authority of the Japanese. As for social aspects, he mentions how Europeans, or rather "barbarians", have spread their barbarism to various new lands such as Mexico and the Philippines. Altogether describing their ways of life to be animalistic. In addition, Fucan, enforces the fact that they believe their religion to be superior to all others and are constantly attempting to spread their flawed faith.

Olaudah Equiano on the Middle Passage

Based on what Olaudah Equiano mentioned in this passage, the crew of slave ships spared all expences to make the maximum profits from their business of transporting human cargoes. Examples of this, is shown in Equiano's description when he explains how the slaves were kept under the deck in such poor conditions that there was a unforgettable, repulsive stench present, there. In addition to this, they had constantly beat and oppressed any African prisoner who had thought of escaping or dying. In the last paragraph of the passage, Equiano also mentions how when a few of the African prisoners managed to jump into the ocean, the crew went through extreme measures to recapture the lost slaves. So it can be seen, just how conservative, and careful the crews of slave ships were, in order to make the most profit out of transporting human cargo.

Practice DBQ Reflection

The practice DBQ was not as bad as I thought it would be. The idea of writing a DBQ does not seem to difficult, but of course, it did take quite some time to organize my thoughts before writing the essay, and because of this I ended up not finish the essay within 55 minutes. Although this may be, I believe it will not be that difficult to improve my skill in writing the DBQ essays. The lack of a requirement for having outside knowledge definitely helped a lot since it was much easier to just make reference to the documents, right in front of me. Then, like I mentioned earlier, grouping the documents and organizing my thoughts on how to explain my thesis was definitely challenging.

Africa Map for Africa and the Atlantic World

Promotional Video Project Assessment

I would assess the promotional videos for a grade by looking at whether or not the students had included accurate/relevant details that were mentioned in the textbook. I may look to see if enough effort was put into the video, and I would see if the videos is actually a "promotional" video and not just a video stating facts from the book. What I think matters the most, when it comes to grading these videos, is having the correct information and being able to see that the proper amount of effort was put into making the video. In my topic area, I believe Mike and Anu did the best job in presenting their video with a good amount of information that would serve nicely in a promotional video for why the Spaniards should move to Central/South America. Hammad and Xavier had also done a good job with their video, by building good character and maintaining an appropriate feed of information.

James Loewen's Argument

I believe that James Loewen's argument is completely valid. He has reiterated the fact that students have been given the wrong information on Columbus from several textbooks. I myself am one of these students because I remember being taught of Columbus as the famous explorer who had discovered America. I believe Loewen makes a good case when he states how several history books makes out Columbus to have been this incredible explorer who had set sail with just his impenetrable ambition and desire for exploration. Although, in truth, the man had been aided by knowledge and technology that had been gathered or invented in other nations. In fact, sailors from Africa and Asia may have also made it to America but they end up receiving no recognition. Loewen, indeed makes a good argument for the biased information we are being given by history textbooks. In contrast, I believe Bentley and Ziegler do none of what Loewen accuses of several textbooks of doing. B and Z only mention Columbus briefly based on where he had voyaged and what the significance of his voyage was but they do not add excessive propaganda like what Loewen had argued, other textbooks have done.

Menzies' Argument

Overall, I think Menzies' argument that Zheng He's felt made it to North America is plausible. The reason I agree with his theory, is primarily because of the variety of evidence he has gathered to make his case. He had first mentioned the largeness of the ships in Zheng He's fleet. Larger ships would allow more durability for long voyages and Menzies had pointed out that if smaller European ships could reach the Americas, so could the Chinese. Next, he had mentioned Niccolò de' Conti, a merchant explorer from Venice, who had supposedly came into contact with Zheng He's fleet, and then managed to use their information to construct maps with Fra Mauro. Menzies also mentions how the Chinese fleet had developed a pizzigano chart of two islands that lied close to North America. The island descriptions listed in the pizzigano chart matched the modern descriptions. In addition to this, underwater slipways were made for ships that supposedly docked these islands. Then finally, Menzies mentioned how geneticist, Gabriel Novicks had identified that Native American DNA is more closely related to Chinese DNA than African or European DNA. In fact, Giovanni Verrazzano, the first European explorer to set foot in what is today known as New York, had seen people that resembled the Chinese. The Newport Tower at Rhode Island was also a piece of Menzies' evidence. He believed the the Chinese had left behind astronomical construction in places they had visited. The Newport Tower being one of these constructions, was supposedly used to examine longitude, according to professor Bill Penhallow. An alternate take on the construction is that it served the purpose of a lighthouse. Some of the evidence Menzies used could be questioned but for the most part I am convinced of his argument.

Mo`ikeha's Migration from Tahiti to Hawai`i Document Analysis

Based on this document there is a lot to the two-way voyaging relationship between Tahiti to Hawaii. Based on the passage, it can be seen that the political system is a chiefdom. As for the social steucture, it can be presumed that it is slightly paterichal but women seem to have a perminante role as well. This is ex amplified by Ho `oipoikamalanai and Hinauu who both decided to marry Mo `ikeha. So here we can see that women have freedom of choosing who they marry a privilaged that isn't really seen in other parts of the world at the time. The finally, it would seem that danceing and the existence of a Polythestic god hilights the cultural significance of the two-way voyaging between Tahiti and Hawaii. 

European prespective on Muslims Refliction

Based on the documents I have read in class, I feel that the chances of Europeans viewing Muslims in a positive perspective is very slim. The reason being, Muslims were seen as devil worshipers, based on the document. Mohammed was believed to be acquainted with the devil and all those who followed him were looked upon as devil worshipers. Although this may be the case I also recall reading about one caliph being thought of as truly good. So followers of this caliph may be accepted by the Europeans but the majority might still resent Muslims. Most of the collection of documents I had read attempted to show the evil characteristics of Muslims and how they are cruel and such, but if religion was excused from the conversation then there may be a chance. Therefore, there is potential chance of Europeans having a positive/complimentary view on Muslims, although this potential could be very small.

Sub-Saharan Africa Map

Viewpoint on Griots of Africa

In my opinion I believe history would be more memorable if it were to be passed down the way the African Griots had done. Though this may be, there are issues with this method of preserving history. One of these issues concern the originality of the story, which means that when a story is being passed down from generation to generation, variations may be added to the original story to make it more easier to express. This depreciation of the originality of the concepts/events that have cured in history may ultimately lead to false interpretations of the story. Therefore, even though it would be more well known through words, by having it in text would preserve the accuracy of history as it happened. Thus I would not really like to learn history the way the Griots did, and would instead prefer history in text.

How I Would Express the World's History

In my opinion, a timeline is the best way to consider the progress of history up until why we have covered in the duration of this course. I feel that a timeline is the best way to express the course of history because timelines are very good in showing sequence. In addition to it's proper structural structure, a timeline can also hold as much information as it wants. Each and every significant even can be simply be branched off the main timeline. Color coding on a timeline would also further support the accuracy of a structural depiction of history. This is why a timeline would seve as the ideal shape, which I would use to consider the progress of history. I also have an alternative solution, for considering the progress of history. Instead of a timeline, I would also find it useful to have a tree like diagram that begins with the start of human civilization, and then branch off into divisions based on how humans separated and established themselves in different parts of the world. Each division of branches would continue until it ends up ultimately to the establishment of every civilization/country that exists today. This method will not only depict history in a sequential order, but it will also illustrate in high detail, what events lead to other events. It would almost be like a family pedigree of one person, except it will be historical events and the progression/devision/diversity of human beings as a whole.

First Semester Essay Progress Reflection

Based on the essay progress chart I have filled out, it would appear that I need to improve in several areas of writing a compare and contrast, as well as a change over time essay. To be more precise, for the compare and contrast essays I have written in the first semester, I seem to have failed completely in analyzing the information and establishing a proper amount of evidence. I also seem to have only partly understood how to form a proper thesis. I believe these issues could be resolved if the comprehension of the historical material was better executed before writing the essay, and also I believe the issue could be resolved by better analyzing the information written down as evidence. As for the change over time essays I have written in the first semester, it would appear that I have performed poorly in fulfilling the requirements of analysis, global context, sufficient evidence, and thesis. For issues relating to thesis, analysis, and evidence, I believe the same solution I have concluded for the compare and contrast essays will suffice. As for global evidence, it could be improved by better relating the historical material in a global perspective, which would require the understanding of the information before essay attempts. Then finally, I believe that only when these issues are resolved, I will be able to approach the expanded core section of the essay.


Link to Essay Progress Chart:
https://docs.google.com/a/bps121.org/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ai_lGQhWTiY1dEVzTFhyY2ZRYXF4ZHlCbWsxa0pQelE&usp=drive_web#gid=0

Mongol Trial Progress 1/9/14

Today, the prosecution side of the upcoming trial ran a practice trial. We began with the opening statement and then questioned the prosecution witnesses. This exercise helped all the witnesses develop a stronger understanding of how they should be answering the questions on the day of the actual trial. It also assisted in identifying errors in backstories for witnesses and errors or typos in the opening statement. I participated in this activity as the peasant witness, Li Wei. Overall this mock trial helped bring the group together for a good collaborative review for the upcoming Mongo trial.

Mongol Trial Progress 1/8/14

Today, I reviewed and finalized by backstory for my witness as the peasant known as Li Wei. This was done in preparation for tomorrows practice trial that will prepare me and my group for the upcoming Mongol trial.

Mongol Trial Progress 1/7/14

Today I researched one of the defense witnesses, Yelu Chucai. I have shared the information obtained from my research, with my group via google drive. It is meant to assist the cross examiners for the prosecution team, form their questions for the defense witnesses in the upcoming trial.

Mongol Trial Progress 1/6/14

Today, I discussed my role and developed a complete character for my role as a pesant witness in the upcoming trial with Yash, who is the groups lawyer that is in charge of direct examination of the witnesses. This details of this pesant witness has been shared with the group via google doc, by Yash.

Mongol Trial Progress 1/5/14

Today I made notes for the Xi-Xia, Jin and Song dynasties. I hope to use these notes in discussing and structuring the background details for by peasant witness, tomorrow.

Mongol Trial Progress 1/4/14

Today I watched "Storm From the East: Tartar Crusaders" and "Mongol Hordes: The Last Khan Of Khans" for more information on the Mongols for the upcoming trial.

Mongol Trial Progress 1/2/14

Today, I researched the effects that took place in China due to the Mongol invasions. I read about their conquests of the Xi Xia Dynasty, Jin Dynasty, Yunnan Dynasty, and the Song Dynasty. This will help me develop my role as a pesant by giving me an understanding of which type of background would support me the most as a witness to the production side of the trial.