U.S. Senators Altering Facebook

The privacy issues Facebook arrises are not just spoken of by concerned parents, but now U.S. Senators are calling attention to them. Due to some of Facebook's latest updates, privacy precautions have been stressed less, resulting in users having "less control over private information, and it was done without the users' permission," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said on Capitol Hill stated. Due to the fact that Facebook's population has been consistently increasing, providing sufficient privacy settings for all 400 million users has been a struggle. Yet Facebook is making steady progress in ensuring all users that their information will be private. They are in the midst of converting the regular settings, where information is automatically shared with the public, to the "opt-in" setting, where no information is shown automatically, and instead one must choose what he/she wants to display to the public. "The way to go is opt-in," Schumer said. "The default position should be that the information is not shared, not that the information is shared. Amplifying his colleagues' concerns, Schumer called on Facebook to "reverse its policy so that users have to opt in to shared data, rather than opt out." With both parents, administrative figures, and now political figures on Facebook's case, they will surely clean up their act in terms of providing their users with more trustworthy privacy.

In terms of how this article correlates to an historical event, I feel as though this relates to when communication devices were first invented. Take the telegraph, for example. During the Industrial Revolution, inventors discovered a way to communicate via telegraph, sending messages from one location to another through a transporter and receiver. One of the biggest issues they faced with the telegraph was ensuring privacy amongst the messages being sent. In order for any messages to be received, they had to be decoded first, which was done most likely by someone who worked for the receiver of the message. This means that whatever information was being sent was not always kept private. Technical similarities between Facebook and the telegraph are scarce, yet the purpose they both hold is to make communicating and social networking possible. Also, they both have carried the same issue- ensuring privacy. Although it was difficult to provide much privacy for telegraph users, Facebook has and continues to search for new ways in order to ensure privacy to its users.

War Crimes in World War II

World War II consisted of multiple war crimes. Some of these war crimes consisted of the Holocaust, the Raping of Nanking, Firebombing, and the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. “The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.” (http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005143) The German Nazis considered themselves superior to the Jews, and this mindset led to one of the greatest mass destructions of all time. The Raping of Nanking is also a historical event of such horrific human action that history itself attempts to forget it. Although Japan had already taken control over most of China, this was not enough. Tension between Chinese and Japanese military troops caused an exchange of firing near Peking (now Beijing), and the Japanese used this incident as an excuse to declare war against China. This led to a significant period of time in which Japanese gladly took the lives of thousands, proceeding to rape, burn to death, or bury alive innocent Chinese civilians. When the events were drawn to the attention of the public, neighboring countries were quick to attempt to clean up the reputation of the Japanese along with cover up the tragedy as best as they could. In attempt to bring World War II to an end, America dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. To this day, it is undetermined whether or not dropping the bomb was the necessary course of action the United States should have taken in attempt to reach the end of World War II.

All of these events are very controversial events that took place during World War II. In my personal opinion, they all would be qualified as war crimes, however the definition of a war crime may vary. When war is declared, those agreeing to participate in the war are aware that what comes with fighting are severe injuries, destruction, and death. With this said, the “crimes” committed such as the Raping of Nanking and the dropping of the Atomic bomb would not technically be breaking any rules. However, actions such as those discussed above cross the moral border. Take the Raping of Nanking- did the Japanese have any right to take the lives of thousands of innocent Chinese civilians? And not only that, but what incentive did the Japanese have causing them to display such crude and vial actions against the Chinese? In order to determine whether or not something is really a war crime or not, I feel as though it is merely personal. Majority of the events that took place centered around World War II or a war of some sort included an abundance of deaths and destruction. This is what is expected of a war. However, does that make it right? That question can be answered only individually.

Sources:

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005143

http://www.nanking-massacre.com/RAPE_OF_NANKING_OR_NANJING_MASSACRE_1937.html

Primary Document from WWI

Memoirs & Diaries - The German Gas Attack at Ypres, April 1915

Utterly unprepared for what was to come, the [French] divisions gazed for a short while spellbound at the strange phenomenon they saw coming slowly toward them.

Like some liquid the heavy-coloured vapour poured relentlessly into the trenches, filled them, and passed on.

For a few seconds nothing happened; the sweet-smelling stuff merely tickled their nostrils; they failed to realize the danger. Then, with inconceivable rapidity, the gas worked, and blind panic spread.

Hundreds, after a dreadful fight for air, became unconscious and died where they lay - a death of hideous torture, with the frothing bubbles gurgling in their throats and the foul liquid welling up in their lungs. With blackened faces and twisted limbs one by one they drowned - only that which drowned them came from inside and not from out.

Others, staggering, falling, lurching on, and of their ignorance keeping pace with the gas, went back.

A hail of rifle fire and shrapnel mowed them down, and the line was broken. There was nothing on the British left - their flank was up in the air. The northeast corner of the salient around Ypres had been pierced. From in front of St. Julien away up north toward Boesinghe there was no one in front of the Germans.

Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. III, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923

MustacheLand

National Anthem:  

 

What is your National Identity?

Our great country of Mustacheland is well known across the world as a country of happiness and good people. We welcome all and love all. We do not have one distinct faith. We believe in everyone having his or her own beliefs. We speak Mustache a mix of Pig Latin and Spanish. We are a mix of ethnicities being that we allow anyone to come live in our humble country. We have a wonderful president named Mr. Must Ardinstache. He is our leader and we would have nothing without him. He makes us strong and holds us together. Our main Industry is hair coats. These are coats woven from our countrymen’s great Mustaches. Every year on the fifth of May all men and women shave their mustaches for the first time that year. The hair is then used for the rest of the year to produce widely known hair coats that are warmer than fur coats. If you were to compare us to one other glorious nation it would be America. Even though America is not known as the United States of America yet we would best be described as that wonderful nation of the future.

Mustacheland- The Creation of the Nation; "A Fable"

The humble nation of Mustacheland was brought to this earth during the 1600s. The people of northeastern Cuba experienced a time of great depression, struggling through a deprivation of necessary items. One of these items happened to be shaving cream and razors. This led to the rapid growth of vast valleys of upper lip hair. The use of mustaches began being used for all common necessities, such as coats, blankets, clothing, hats, etc. When the discovery of great usefulness their upper lip hair was to them, it became the secure provider of warm clothing. This in turn led to the people of the land to shave their mustaches once every few months and make coats/warm clothing out of them. This nation became a strong community and gained much wealth through the vending of their newly discovered clothing. Since then, they have industrialized and created mass production industries, causing a great boom in their economy and coat sales. To this day, coats have kept their value and has made Mustacheland a valuable and dependent trade partner.

All hail Mustacheland!

Connections and Alliances

One country we would relate to is Japan, post Meiji Restoration. Mustacheland is know for its warm mustache hair coats, so since Japan is westernized we would partner up with them. At first we would trade with them, since their ports are open to western trade. We would trade our coats to them in return smelted iron, silk. Although it is a long distance to travel in order to trade, Japan had built steam ships by then, and would have no problem crossing the seas.

Eventually we would like to have Japan's help in mass producing the coats because they built many factories which specialize in mass production, and have large fleets of ship in order to trade with the rest of the world, so this could lead to a strong alliance. Their skill in production and trade, and our valuable and high quality coats.

Politics then and now- Both endured their flaws

http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Politics/obama-briefed-terror-plot-reviews-meeting-national-security/story?id=9484260

Strayer- pg. 562

Again, when scanning CNN.com for interest sparking articles, I stumbled upon multiple articles regarding Obama and his controversial feedback he received after his first months as President. The expectations of those who voted for him were high, due to the fact that the promises he made society were of high caliber. They also promised a better America. Government today is based on the rules and regulations created in the very first government. When trying out a government for the first time, what came with this was almost a trial and error effect. There was positive feedback as well as negative feedback. This was the case both in the past and present in terms of government, whether it's the Reign of Terror, World war 2, or today's issues such as Obama's presidency not living up its expectations, this article called to my attention yet another connection between the time era's we've learned about and now. Throughout the government of the Incan's, the Aztecs, the Moguls, the Europeans, and the Americans, there were pros and cons in all aspects of the government. The same goes for today's government as shown by articles like this one.

Yet another mobile phone released- thanks to the breakthroughs of the scientific revolution

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/05/google.nexus.announcement/index.html

Strayer, Chapter 16 pg. 477-484

When scanning CNN.com and reading an article regarding the release of Google's newest mobile phone, what consistently arose in the article was how impressed the critics were by the technological details included in the phone. I couldn't help but continually realize that these technological advancements would be not be possible if it weren't for the scientific revolution. The scientific revolution was a time period in which science was exposed to society in a way that had never occured before, allowing those interested to excel in science and allow it to benefit both themselves and their neighbors. The release of this one was not a surprise, however instead this was just another reminder that the rate of technological advancements is rapidly increasing. Whether it's the improvement of iPhones, cellular devices, computers, laptops, or mp3 players, every item of technology released today is based off of the first items released years ago, during the scientific revolution. The scientific revolution and the release of yet another handheld technological device compliment eachother and in turn come hand in hand, due to the fact that one could not be possible without the other. This aspects helps me comprehend the true significance of the scientific revolution, and allows me to truly wrap my head around the fact that the rate of technology advancements is faster now than ever before.

You may now erase all this text.

Extra Credit blog post: The strategy behind test taking

Extra Credit Blog: Why take a test? What is the purpose of a test? How do you study? Can you learn something during a test?

I feel as though taking a test is extremely beneficial. After four weeks of lectures, discussions and assignments regarding various topics, being tested on the material learned is the most efficient way of discovering how well one truely knows the material. Tests hold the soul purpose of testing both the student and the teacher on how well the lessons were taught and how efficiently the students were able to grasp the concepts.

My study habits depend on the subject. For my foreign language, which is French, I make flash cards for vocabulary words and gramatical rules. The note card method works very well for nearly all of my subjects, for they et the facts down and allow me to study independently by quizing myself. However for math and chemistry, I have to use the method of repetition. By printing out blank copies of tests, quizes, and homework, and re-doing all of them, it really helps me fully grasp all concepts taught and allows me to pick out exactly what I misunderstand or are not feeling as solid about.

During a test, I try to stay calm and just focus. It is a tendency for me to get freaked out once viewing the the material, whether it is an in class essay or 4 pages back to back filled with math equations. I try to get through everything that I know first, and then return back to problems or questions that I am having more trouble with. This way, if I don't finish in time, I will have mostly solid answers completed as opposed to one answer finished and 10 minutes worth of work put into an incompleted problem.

As finals are approaching, I feel as though I have managed my time much more efficiently this year than last year. The thought of taking two hours test surely does not put a smile on my face, however it does not fill me with the nausous feeling I received last year.

Education's Effect on Colonial Era's Changing Identity

What came with colonial rule was racism, exposure to European culture, and economic & social disputes, which led to a massive identity crisis to all living in the Colonial Era. Various aspects of everyday life included social status, the location in which one lived, etc; however the most vital factoring portion for the majority’s transforming identity was Western education.

“To previously illiterate people, the knowledge of reading and writing of any kind often suggested an almost magical power. Within the colonial setting, it could mean an escape from some of the most onerous obligations of living under European control, such as forced labor.” (Page 607, Ways of the World) The introduction of education opened doors to an abundance of those who were now provided with the opportunity to do something productive with their life. The ability to obtain better paying jobs such as government bureaucracies, mission organizations, or working for business firms. Education also “provided social mobility and elite status within their own communities and an opportunity to achieve, or at least approach, equality with whites in racially defined societies.” (Page 607, Ways of the World) Along with adopting the rapidly spreading fashion of engaging in education, people were also adopting European culture. They began “dressing in European clothes, speaking French or English, building European-style houses, getting married in long white dresses, and otherwise emulating European ways.” (page 607, Ways of the World)

Along with the immediate change that the exposure and acceptance of education brought, it also conveyed long term change. “Western-educated people organized a variety of reform societies, which sought a renewed Indian culture that was free of idolatry, child marriages, caste, and discrimination against women, while drawing inspirations from the class texts of Hinduism.” (Page 608, Ways of the World) This portrayed the involvement of education into society would result in great progress for those living in the Colonial Era. Subjects such as mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry, anatomy, and other useful sciences were included into curriculum taught by European gentlemen to Indian natives. Although this raised the caliber of the everyday individual, the benefits of education failed to reach the regions of equality amongst blacks and whites. For the most part, Europeans rejected the idea of treating those of other races as equals, and the common misconception of the well educated was that their cultures were “primitive, backward, uncivilized, or savage.” (page 609, Ways of the World)

As one can see, the advancement of education and its spread throughout the Colonial Era caused both positive and negative effects to be thrust upon those experiencing this change. In the long run, my personal thoughts on the matter are that education did nothing but good for this time period, and I feel as though the majority would agree with me. Yes, those of higher caliber may have magnified discrimination more severely, however the controversy regarding equality amongst races can be brought up in nearly any circumstance. Education is not to blame for the prejudice feelings of those well educated, and instead acted as a wake up call to the world, allowing them to erase oblivion and naivety from their vocabularies and make something of themselves.

World's First Ferris Wheel- picture and source

The world's first ferris wheel, named after George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr. was invented in 1893 with the sole purpose of being displayed at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. It became one of the world's largest attractions, and I look forward to learning more about this topic.

Economies of cash-crop agriculture and wage labor- connections between then and now

Before Asia and Africa were enclosed within colonial societies, they were the power-house of producing items internationally for a significant period of time. They offered an amble supply of goods such as peanuts and palm oil in West Africa, cotton in Egypt, spices in Indonesia, and pepper & textiles in India. Colonial Rule was present in some areas and led to an increase in cash-crop production as well as some advantages to local farmers. Local farmers were able to own their own land, build substantial houses, as well as buy imported goods. Cacao was discovered and become extremely popular due to the fact that unlike cotton, "it was compatible with the continued production of foods and did not require so much labor time." (page 601, Ways of the World) It changed the way of the early twentieth century, and according to page 601 of Ways of the World, “a hybrid society was taking shape, partly peasant, in that most members farmed their own land with family labor…and partly capitalist, in that a minority employed wage laborers, produced chiefly for the market, and reinvested profits.” This quote states the kind of society that was evolving and how the twentieth century dealt with the changes it underwent. However, what came with the major increase of jobs/occupations was the need for more workers. There was a shortage of labor which resulted in a whirlwind of issues. “A shortage of labor fostered the employment of former slaves as dependent and exploited workers and also generated tensions between the sexes when some men married women for their labor power but refused to support them adequately.” This quote, stated on page 601 of Ways of the World, states one of the only downfalls of the economics of the cash-crop agriculture.

Along with the many changes that the early European culture experienced, some migration also took place. As stated on page 602 in Ways of the World,“Driven by the need for money, by the loss of land adequate to support their families, or sometimes by the orders of colonial authorities, millions of colonial subjects across Asia and Africa sought employment in European-owned plantations, mines, construction projects, and homes.” Large European-financed plantations began growing sugarcane, rubber, tea, tibacco, and sisal, along with multiple other items that lured thousands, including those from India, China, and Java. What came with this however were poor working conditions, disease, gender discrimination, and poor pay. The migration to European farms or plantations was more common in Africa than in Asia, due to the fact that the lose of jobs was on the increase in Africa. With the help of colonial governments, the “settler colonies” of Africa (Algeria, Kenya, Southern Rhodesia, South Africa) were able to have large land masses in their possession which has once been the home of multiple African societies. More of the land was granted to whites, who were by this point making up about 20% of the population. Mining became a primary source of wage labor for a growing amount of people, however the working conditions were despicable. Whites and blacks were beginning to experience discrimination now more than ever before. Well-educated whites were able to find business opportunities as doctors, teachers, professional specialists, and jobs of that nature. Those of the opposite skin color, however, were unable to find work so easily. Racial segregation was introduced.

To be honest, in order for me to make connections between the lifestyles of both Africans and Asians both past and present, I would need to be more educated on the topic. I feel as though my knowledge on the matter is based off of mere stereotypes, or whatever the latest I am hearing on the news regarding one of the two locations. Now that we will be learning and discussing the history of both Africa and Asia, I feel as though I should learn more about the present day aspects of both areas. The connections I can make, however, is that Asia was and is still a huge exporter of goods for around the world, and that Africa continues to experience racial segregation.

Tokugawa and Meiji Restoration- Digging Deeper

Read 1 and blog about how a specific area interacted with European forces. What were colonizing motives? How did the people being colonized respond?

Prior to U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival, Japan was governed by a shogun, or military ruler, who was a descendant from the Tokugawa family. They were a a largely influential family in Japan's history due to the fact that they acted "in the name of a revered but powerless emperor." (page 578, Ways of the World) The expectation of this shogunate was to at all costs protect Japan from the return of civil war with 260 daimyos, or rival feudal lords.

The shoguns were able to provide Japan over two centuries of peace, thanks to their own military power and political skills. In order to stay colonized and control the daimyo, they placed strict regulations on internal travel and communication and "required the daimyo to spend alternate years in the capital of Edo, leaving their families behind as hostages during their absence." (page 578, Ways of the World) However, due to the fact that by default the daimyo were the more powerful ones, they began acting as if they were independent states. They built separate military forces, law codes, tax systems, and currencies. Tokugawa Japan had no national army, however, along with no uniform currency and hardly any central authority at the local level, meaning they were "pacified...but not really unified." (page 578, Ways of the World) In order to further colonize the country, the Tokugawa placed strict and detailed guidelines for governing the occupation, residence, dress, hairstyles, and behavior of the four status groups, ranked hierarchically. The Japanese social structure was divided into four groups:

1) samurai

2) peasants

3) artisans

4) merchants

As time went on, Japan needed to make sure that it could stay united and colonize its people. As the substantial burst of economic growth, commercialization, and urban development came to be, peace is what came along with it. Japan was becoming on of the world's most urbanized countries. Education was becoming of prime importance as well, with 40% of men and 5% of woman able to read and write, which was a huge improvement. The growth of importance of education was subconsciously building Japan a remarkable industrial foundation and in turn colonized the people and the future of Japan.

The samurai, who once lived only by the sword, were broadening their horizons as well. They discovered the importance of business and commerce and drifted from the long held tradition of honoring the warrior code. They still ranked highest on the social pyramid, however were not as educated in the business aspect of society. This led to some anarchy, for now the social status were experiencing some disorder. Peasants began moving to cities and taking the jobs of artisans or merchants. According to a decree of 1788, the peasants "have become accustomed to luxury and forgetful of their rain..." (page 579, Ways of the World) This led to the shogun declaring that all luxury items must be avoided by the peasants, which was, like many others decrees, ignored.

The attempt at colonizing Japan, some successful and others not, led to widespread corruption. Unfortunately, the shogunate were losing control.

However, this the shogun's downfall led to the Meiji restoration. At this time, "the country's new rulers claimed that they were restoring to power the young emperor, then a fifteen-year-old boy whose throne name was Meiji, or Enlightened Rule." (page 580, Ways of the World) Now that the shogunate were eliminated, the new patriotic leaders of the country made clear their goals-- "to save Japan from foreign domination, not by futile resistance, but by a thorough transformation of Japanese society, drawing upon all that the modern West had to offer." (page 580, Ways of the World) Knowledge became a greatly influential aspect to the countries transforming society, and was greatly motivated "so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule." (page 580, Ways of the World)

All in all, Japan underwent multiple changes throughout the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The shoguns held power for an extended amount of time, and were able to colonize the country for as long as they could. The social pyramid experienced a bit of a shaking up, if you may, and the samurai's lifestyle underwent a modernized makeover. Corruption was slowly taking over the Tokugawa regime, and Japan experienced a bit of a rough patch regarding a visit from Commodore Perry in hopes of opening more ports for trade. The Meiji restoration was soon after underway, slowly but steadily attempting to repair the areas needing mending in Japan. As a whole, Japan did a sufficient job in keeping itself colonized and the changes that took place did have both a positive and negative effect on society, however never posing a drastic transformation.

Industrial Revolution- Positive or Negative?

I feel as though the Industrial Revolution had its pros and cons. I will create a list here and by the end will see if one side outweighs the other.

Pros:

1) The inventions that came out of the Industrial Revolution, such as steam and fuel run engines, the spinning jenny, the power loom, the cotton gin, and many more benefitted the people of that time era immensely.

2) The inventions benefitted multiple aspects of society. The engines provided a quicker and more efficient way of transportation and communication. All of the machinery that was invented allowed the amount of human labor to decrease and in turn led to a more efficient output of goods.

3) Due to the fact that the list of successful goods and services was ever growing, a “culture of innovation” (page 528 Ways of the World) was created. More was created, more was accepted, and ultimately more was improved.

4) The industrialization spread globally, changing and improving all areas, allowing trading opportunities as well as advancement in global relationships.

5) New forms of energy were discovered, such as oil, natural gas, and nuclear reactions, which led to the introduction of automobiles, airplanes, computers, and extreme advancement in electronics as a whole.

Cons:

1) Due to the fact that factories and machinery required very little human labor, there was a huge increase in the loss of jobs of many.

2) The importance of agriculture, once the most dominant economic aspect in every civilization, shrank tremendously. Agriculture was once the greatest generator of national income and employed a large amount globally. With the importance of agriculture lost, what came with that was jobs lost as well.

3) New classes were established within the Industrial Revolution. There were the aristocrats, such as large landowners, who once ranked as top of the social pyramid. However as urban wealth became of more importance, the aristocrats were replaced by businessmen, manufacturers, and bankers. These new jobs were now of more importance than that of an aristocrat.

4) The new class system was not one built upon relationships. The aristocrats, middle classes, and laboring classes were completely separate. In Benjamin Disraeli’s novel Sybil, he describes the different classes as “two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are ignorant of each other’s habits, thoughts, and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones or inhabitants of different planets.” (Page 538 Ways of the World)

5) What comes with factories is pollution, and what comes with pollution brings are problems. The quality of the factories in which laborers were working in were not of very good quality and led to both health and safety issues.

6) Although factories were created in order to lessen the amount of work both men and women had to do, it was still necessary for someone to be tending to the machines. This was a job that not many wanted for the work hours were demanding, the quality of the working quarters were unsatisfactory, and the pay was scarce. This led to unsatisfied workers, poverty, and rebellion.

As one can see, the list of ‘cons’ is a bit longer than the list of ‘pros.’ However, I feel as though the list of beneficial things that the Industrial Revolution brought is more significant than that of the cons. Yes, what came with the Industrial Revolution were some minor flaws, however in the long run, nothing but beneficial things have come from it. I feel as though as over all, the Industrial Revolution affected society positively and was extremely beneficial in forming what today’s world looks like.

Extra Credit Post

Today’s game that we played gave me a much better understanding of what life would be like in Europe in the 1800s. Luckily I was a single woman going into the Industrial Revolution because providing for just one person is hard enough. In order to eat decent food, have suitable clothing and a roof over one’s head, one must work all day ever day. In order for all of these things to be made possible for more than one person, then it is necessary for everyone in the family to work as well, including the children. I saw some families where children died due to the horrific working conditions, which as tragic as it was, in some ways benefitted the families due to now there was one less mouth to feed. I felt that the factory managers should have been a bit more lenient and conscientious of the wages they were paying their workers. Yes, I realize that they had to make livings for themselves and their families at home as well, however when it is at the point where families are going hungry or living on the streets then I feel as though something must be changed.

When it came time for the second round to commence, I felt as though I had a better idea of how to be successful. Although eating less may be harmful to my body, eating only potatoes saved me an amble amount of money. Also, as awful as it may sound, it was quite beneficial to me that Layla passed away early on for I would not be able to provide for the two of us. She would have been too little to work in a factory and I would have been unable to bring her with me to work. All in all, I feel as though it would have been extremely difficult living in the times that we are studying, and it is highly doubtful that I would be capable of living a successful life back then. Playing this game allowed me to grasp a deeper understanding of what life for people of that era was like, allowing me to gain more interest in the topic as we continue to study it.

Welcome to Manchester

Hello, my name is Lola Johanson and I have just moved to Manchester. I am 20 years old and I have left my extremely wealthy family in France to come here and start a new life. I had one child, a baby girl, who sadly did not make it here alive. My husband disappeared immediately after Layla was born. I am here on my own, ready to make a living for myself. Word in France was that Britain is home of all of the latest and greatest inventions, and they have a textile industry with 52 million pounds of cotton. With railroads criss-crossing and factories steaming, Manchester is just the place I have been looking for.

Living in the countryside of France was dreadful. The estate where I usually stayed in was big enough to house the French army and a few more, and everywhere I looked there was some maid just waiting for me to ask them for something. I never saw any of my multiple mothers and my father was always off taking care of some business related need. My 16 siblings were always at parties or gambling or out spending our father’s money in the most absurd ways imaginable. I needed to get out of there before I turned into one of them, which I promised myself I would not let happen.

Richard, my first love and once husband, was always in full support of my plans I had for the future. We were going to have a family, get married, and start a school system in the local town near my estate. However, once I got pregnant with Layla, everything seemed to go downhill. Arguments were the only conversations we had, and I began seeing less and less of him. Then Layla was born, on October 7^th, and Richard was gone. No one ever saw him again. After that tragedy I knew I had to get out of that town, away from everything that reminded me of him and our future plans we had together. I took what I could fit into a knapsack and headed south with Layla. However due to the fact that she was was born premature, she did not make it even a week. Having lost both my husband and a child, I continued on my voyage to Manchester. Upon my arrival, I can only hope to turn my life around.

Industrial Revolution

When reading about the Industrial Revolution, it was clear to see that it was a time of complete transformation. Change for the positive, that is, with new inventions being released constantly. The coal-fired steam engine, the spinning jenny, the power loom, and the cotton gin were just some of the many beneficial tools that added to the “culture of innovation.” (Page 528 Ways of the World)
However, the positive aspects of the Industrial Revolution were all that were stated in this section. It got me thinking if along with all of the beneficial effects this time had on society in the late 1700’s, if there was a downside as well. After some further research, I found that there were some negatives as well. According to Wikipedia along with various other websites such as Yahoo Answers, the main downsides of the Industrial Revolution were enclosure, pollution, child labor, and insanitary working quarters.
Enclosure took place where those of the wealthier class took money/land from those of a lower class, forming one larger and better lot, leaving the farmers jobless. The machines and factories caused pollution, which dirtied the once clean air. The factories needed more workers than just adults, and in turn hired children to work their machines. Due to the fact that they were hiring children, they were able to get away with paying them below minimum wage as well as having them work in extremely close and unsuitable environments.
As one can see, the Industrial Revolution brought both positives and negatives to society in the 1750s-1800s. The positives, however, strongly outweigh the negatives. All of the beneficial things the new inventions brought truly improved the way Europe matured as a whole, opening up countless doors to even more future opportunities. The negatives were in fact harmful in some ways, and it is understandable as to why some saw the Industrial Revolution as damaging to those who lived through it. Yet as a whole, I feel as though for the most part all that came with the Industrial Revolution was beneficial and “this continuous emergence of new techniques of production and the economic growth that they made possible mark the past 250 years as a distinct phase of human history.” (Page 528 Ways of the World)

Robespierre Trial- My Personal Opinion

Due to the fact that I was assigned to defend Napoleon on the trial that took place in class, by default I was going against Robespierre. I felt as though both arguments provided were strong, and I was impressed with what the opposing side had to say. However when it comes to my personal opinion on the matter, I feel as though Napoleon’s actions truly betrayed the ideals of the Enlightenment, more so than Robespierre’s did. Although I was assigned to play a witness acting as an expert on the Napoleonic code, while researching the topic, it was clear to see the Napoleon’s definition of equality did not meet those of the French. Of the almost 2,500 statements included in the Napoleonic code, there were sections devoted to equality such as Book 1, Title 1, Chapter 1- Of the Enjoyment of Civil Rights, which in statement #8 states- Every Frenchman shall enjoy civil rights. As our textbook implies, the French Enlightenment emphasizes reason, toleration, natural law, equality, and promotes the ideas of change and progress. As shown by the evidence provided by prosecution of Napoleon, he did not follow these ideals of the Enlightenment. Yes, he did help the people of France and his leadership skills are quite respectable, however I feel as though his constant eagerness to gain more power strayed from the French ideals. In the textbook, it states how in the enlightenment personal discoveries were made by both scientists and philosophers. These individual discoveries were sometimes successful and sometimes failed, however they in some way benefitted the community. An example of this was when French writer Voltaire questioned the outlook of the Scientific Revolution, which in turn triggered the expansion of deism. Breakthroughs like these were what made the French Enlightenment unique, and although in the trial I was assigned to defend that Napoleon followed these ideals, my personal opinion states otherwise. I personally feel as though he was too self absorbed and focused more on making his mark on France as opposed to influencing “the growing global awareness of its major thinkers.” (Page 485, Ways of the World textbook)

Extra Credit Post

Extra Credit Blog: What interesting facts did you learn through the trial preparation process? Why do you think it is interesting? Did you learn anything beyond historical knowledge? (skills, research strategies, etc)

Throughout the course of the Napoleon trial, I become much better affiliated with the step by step process of a trial. I have only done one event like this before and had previously found it fairly difficult to follow, however I feel that due to the fact that the study of Napoleon caught my interest greatly, I was able to better grasp the concept of the trial. I discovered that in order to be successful in the roles one is playing in the trial, it is crucial to come to the stand extremely prepared. In order to both feel and appear to be better educated on the topic of discussion, one must be well educated on the matter. However one cannot feel comfortable with the side they are defending and must become well associated with aspects of the opposing side.

I felt particularly interested in this topic because I have had an interest for Napoleon and his reign of power from a young age. When I was little I visited Filoli gardens quite often, and remember there being an exhibit distinctly about him. From then on he and his actions have been of primary interest of mine, which surely factored into why I have enjoyed this unit so avidly. As for the actual process of the trial, I enjoyed that as well. I enjoy working on group project because I think it is nice for us to have a break from doing the usual presentation watching/note taking class. It allows us to work as a team while using the knowledge gained from the class, resulting in successful performances such as the trial.

In terms of skills and research strategies, as I mentioned earlier I feel that it is necessary to be extremely prepared for the trial. Whether one is a witness, a cross examiner, or making the opening/closing, showing up knowing your topic is what truly impresses the jury/opposing side. While I was a member of the jury, I remember being most impressed by those who came across as well educated on their topic and presented their argument with confidence. Presenting with a strong base of knowledge as well as projecting concisely and confidently are two crucial traits that I learned all members of a trial must strive to carry.

Enlightenment

Upon reading about the Enlightenment of the early modern world, I realized that most of the events taking place were similar to more current events occurring today. I was able to make a clear connection between discoveries being made and breakthroughs happening in both the science regions and other aspects of human beings to an event in which took place recently at Menlo. When Richard Dawkins, a well known writer and strong atheist, came to speak to us, he proposed his outlook on evolution, providing us with his insight on how the world and existence came to be. His breakthroughs that led to his strong beliefs subconsciously tied in to what I read about in the textbook, providing me with two different experiences in which the same sort of mannerisms are taking place.

Throughout pages 482-484, it is clearly stated how significant the "enlightenment" was to those of the early modern world, primarily focused in Europe. What triggered this new sequence of events in which significant breakthroughs were made, the Europeans "new approach to knowledge-- rooted in human reason, skeptical of authority, experessed in natural laws-- was now applied to human affairs, not just to the physical universe." (Page 482, Ways of the World textbook) Through means of mainly scientific development, "growing numbers of people believed that the long-term outcome of scientific development would be "enlightenment." (Page 482, Ways of the World textbook) Although the progression in enlightenment caused some controversy, those who were thoughtful of it believed in it were able to gain the knowledge to transform human society. Majority of the beliefs of enlightenment were directed against superstition, ignorance, and ideas without clearly stated evidence. Enlightenment centered around a theme of progress, supporting constant transformation and improvement. Whether it was through religion, critical thinking, or scientific discoveries, the Europeans never seised in searching for opportunities in which breakthroughs could be found. The effect the enlightenment had on those in which it impacted was extremely significant, and "for some, it was virtually a new religion." (Page 484, Ways of the World textbook)

After researching the enlightenment the Europeans experienced in throughout the 14-1700's, I connected this gained knowledge to an event that took place in my own life. When Richard Dawkins came to speak, what he had to say reminded me of what I had read about in the textbook. He explained that in order for himself to believe in anything, there must be clear evidence provided in order to back up whatever point one was trying to prove. The way he views knowledge and evolution and various beliefs reminded me of the way the Europeans began to interpret knowledge as the enlightenment began, and provided me with a better understanding of the general concept. Both Dawkins and the Europeans believed that for them to believe anything, there must be proof provided, proving that whatever the event, occurance, or belief one is presented with is true. Aside from the Europeans that believed in religion as well as scientific evolution, a fair amount of Europeans had the same beliefs as Dr. Dawkins. I feel as though the connection between the textbook and a personal event helped me better understand enlightenment, grasping the concept on a more beneficial level.

Knowledge Categorization- Opinionative Discussion

As we discussed in class on Friday, there are multiple categories in which people choose to determine how one gains knowledge. Some we came up with were discovering wisdom through history, common knowledge, personal experience, testimony, scientific evidence, and the most controversial of the bunch, revelation and religious knowledge. As the discussion regarding the various units in which one categorizes their source of knowledge unraveled, the discussion became quite heated. With some taking the stance that the only way to truly believe what one is learning is when evidence is provided, the counter argument proposed the idea that not every bit of intelligence must have proof to back it up. Both arguments introducing topics fairly and both of equal stature, we were unable to come to a clear conclusion.
However, I felt that this is a situation in which an ending is not necessarily needed. Both opinions were stated clearly with personal opinions provided, proving that both sides felt passionate about what they were arguing. My personal opinion is that the categories Ms. Xia posted on the board regarding ways in which one gathers knowledge from were all adequate and I agreed with each of them. Yes, providing proven evidence on a matter will cause me to trust the topic to its fullest extent, however learning things through personal experiences and/or being enlightened religiously are ways I choose to abide by as well. Yet this is not how the whole class felt, and some argued that in order for one to truly believe, there must be a topic hand in hand with concrete proof. This proved that for some, believing is seeing, and for others, seeing is believing.
As we dive into our next unit, with chapters relating to great revolutions world wide, we will find that many of the transformations made will tie into our class discussion that took place on Friday. Not all discoveries and changes being made were supported by proof or concrete evidence, and some will run along the lines of a more spontaneous event, backed up by merely personal beliefs. It was crucial for us to get a taste for what we will be learning, and become better familiarized with a topic that will arise frequently as we continue to grow. Determining how one chooses to gain their knowledge is both a personal and essential task, and it was nice to begin in deciding which categories we will choose by introducing the topic in class.

Comparisons between Magicia empire and other 15th century domains

The empire of Magicia relates to the studied empires in multiple ways. As we, the Sun God’s children, gained more and more knowledge of the various domains, we chose to adopt the styles and mannerisms that we liked and noticed ways that led to success. Some of the aspects of the various neighboring empires were:

Ming: According to the textbook, the Ming dynasty held “heir to a long tradition of effective governance, Confucian and Daoist philosophy, a major Buddhist presence, sophisticated artistic achievements, and a highly productive economy.” (Pg. 370, Ways of the World textbook) The listed aspects of the dynasty were ones we took note of, and chose to include some of them into the lifestyle of Magicias. Our empire strives to have a steady and significant government, causing the people of our colony to respect and trust their rulers. Our island is known as the “island of ideas,” which includes artistic developments of every kind. We plan on bringing our discoveries along with us as we travel and conquer. As for a productive economy, we aspire to hold that title as well. The ideas and schemes we propose to neighboring communities can be bargained for money, power, and land, which in turn will open many doors to discovering new ways of producing a successful economy.

Aztec: The Aztecs were known for their productive military capacity, which impressed us immensely. Through negotiation and perseverance, they were able to build their own capital city of Tenochtitlan. They took an aggressive stance for their military, and in turn were able to bring “more of Mesoamerica within a single political framework ever before.” (Page 384 Ways of the World textbook) Being able to embark on a military journey much like that of the Aztecs is one Magicia plans on doing, and are in the midst of building an unbeatable army. As for their method of payment, the Aztecs required the conquered peoples and cities to “regularly deliver to their Aztec rulers impressive quantities of textiles and clothing, military supplies, jewelry, etc.” (Page 384, Ways of the World) We do not plan on copying exactly this method of the Aztecs, but one similar to it is one we plan on executing. Due to the fact that we will be providing an enjoyable and successful lifestyle for those that we conquer, we will expect the same respect in return, both through methods of payment as well as appropriate well being.

Inca: The Inca Empire was named the Western Hemisphere’s largest imperial state. We plan on Magicia carrying the same name. Not only in population, but also in terms of power, wealth, and supremacy. The Incan government was one in which we choose to adopt and incorporate in our empire. They ran a bureaucratic empire, however allowing many accommodations for local situations. “At the top reigned the emperor, an absolute ruler regarded as divine, a descendant of the creator god Viracocha and the son of the sun god Inti.” (Page 386, Ways of the World) Due to the fact that we stand as the three children of Inti, we hold the absolute highest ranking in society. Below us rules an Emperor, governors, and various appointing and supervising citizens overseeing one of the many regions of Magicia. Holding this style of Government, we plan to be successful throughout our journey of domination.

Russia: The Russians held multiple qualities that the empire of Magicia plans on incorporating in our lifestyle, however one deliberately stood out. “Everywhere Russian authorities demanded an oath of allegiance by which native peoples swore “eternal submission to the grand tsar,” the monarch of the Russian Empire.” As mentioned earlier, as the children of Inti and acting as the ultimate leaders of our empire, we expect the devotion we deserve. We have genuine intentions in befriending the civilizations conquered by us and luring them under our rule, however with the expectations that they will respect us. We will not demand grand quantities of tribute and require absolute devotion from all, yet we do insist assuring that our people are aware of our power and take that into consideration at all times.

Ottomans: The Ottomans diligent mannerism of staying dominant is a quality us Magicians admire greatly. Standing as the creators of the Turkic warrior groups, a significantly aggressive clan of warriors, the Ottomans were successful in sweeping over the majority of the Middle East, North America, and southeastern Europe in order to “create the Islamic world’s most significant empire.” (Page 425 Ways of the World) Along with its substantial power in conquering and taking over almost all neighboring areas, the Ottomons were also known for their “Persian culture, especially its poetry, painting, and traditions of imperial splendor.” (Page 425 Ways of the World) Both qualities the Ottomons hold of successfully defeating all of their challengers as well as including cultural diversity into its lifestyle were ones we found extremely successful. We plan on creating somewhat of the same name for ourselves, in someday being known as one of the greatest elite’s of the new world, along with carrying respectable assets along the way.

Safavids: The Safavids made a daring move that Magicians respect but do not agree with. In forcibly imposing a “Shia version of Islam” (Page 380 Ways of the Worlds) on the Persian lands, they did “gain popular support and came to define the unique identity of Persian culture.” (Page 380 Ways of the World) However, we do not agree with forcing a religion. When conquering lands, we plan on being open to adopting the religion(s) of those now under our rule, along with openly introducing the religion we practice on the island of Magicia. In doing this, our people will feel as though their voice can be hard as well, allowing them to have a say in the religion(s) of the empire.

Mughals: The four empires of Ottomon, Safavid, Songhay, and Mughal “brought to the Islamic world a greater measure of political cohrence, military power, economic prosperity, and cultural brilliance.” (Page 381, Ways of the World) The Mughal empire played a crucial role in creating political unity, resulting in “a land of great wealth and imperial splendor.” (Page 381, Ways of the World) That is exactly what we intend to do as well. In staying dominant and using the knowledge we will have gained along our journey, the Magicians will lead our conquered lands in significantly better shape than before. Consistently maintaining a strong army ready to fight at any time, along with proficient work techniques and never taking a step without sustaining constant class and using the adopted ideas of varying empires, the Magicians will defeat all.