Makeup for Early Modern World: Chapter 13 Empires and encounters.

In the sixteenth century the Spaniards conquered the Aztec and the Inca empires.  I ask myself how they did it if these empires were so big?  But they were tricked into fighting within their own people by the Spaniards.  Eventually a lot of people died because of this, which the book calls “The Great Dying”.  I think it says exactly what happened during that time.  Disease also played a great part in the dying, because the native people did not have immunity from the disease that the European people brought. The thing that gets me the most about these conquests is that mostly it was done for expanding their territory yes, but because of religion.  They wanted to force their religion on the native people.  I think as I have become more educated, I have come to realize that religion is not such a good thing.  However, that is another blog topic.

The Americas was not the only place that was conquered, so was the Caribbean.  They also faced a lot of hardship because of this conquering for the land and its goods.  Primarily for profit of the sugar plant that grew there. The Europeans had the people as slaves in order to get a profit.  It was sad to read about all of this, but it needs to be taught.

We all know about the conquering of the Americas by the Europeans, or at least I think everyone knows.  Sometimes I am ashamed of having Spaniard blood, because of what they did to the Native people of the lands.  But, I have to think, if it wasn’t for the conquering of the Spanish and the English to the Americas then we would not be here today.  We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it and try not to do the same thing again.  

Makeup for Late Classical Era: Civilizations of the Fifteenth Century

       I have always been interested in the Native Empires from all over the world.  I think I might have direct linkage to one of them, maybe one day I will do a DNA test. I am really interested in figuring out my ancestral linkage.  The thing that interests me is how they lived, their religion, and especially their respect for the Earth.  They were one of the first to be on this land that we now call the Americas.  When you think about it, they were what we would have looked like if the Spaniards and British didn’t conquer their land.  We still see people that are direct blood line with different indigenous groups and they look very different than most of us do.  

       One of the first amazing empires was the Aztec empire, which was primarily situated in Mexico but spread to the surrounding lands.  They were amazing because they developed many things that we still use today like, cities, military, and even a political network.  One of the things that amaze me from the readings is that they had an estimated 5 to 6 million people in the empire.  They did also however do a lot of conquering of other lands, and other tribes.  They made these peoples give them things like, clothing, military supplies, jewelry, building materials and other things.  In a way they were having these peoples as their slaves.  This was very interesting to me as well, because we don’t hear much about this part of the empire.  But I suppose with any big empire, in order for them to thrive they have to get the jobs done somehow.  That was the only way they knew how I guess. And who is to say maybe they exchanged goods and not forced them to give it to them.  

Makeup for early Classical Era: Ch 6 Africa and the Americas

As I stated before I was always interested in the Native Culture.  The one I chose to write about is the Maya Empire.  The Maya are the group of people that I am probably most connected to genetically.  The Maya Empire was situated in Mesoamerica mostly in the lower Mexico and Central America.  I am from El Salvador, so that is why I am mostly tied to this group.  All though I think I have more Spaniard blood in me, based primarily in my physical features.  I am more white than dark like most of people that are from that area.  I like to think that I am part of this group but I will never know unless I trace my lineage. 

The Mayan were a very powerful group, but also very smart. We all know about or at least heard about the Mayan Calendar.  Some of us thought that the world was going to end in 2012 because that is when the Mayan calendar ended.  We are still here, but I think something did happen.  Maybe the planets are different, or maybe that’s why our weather is so weird.  We have wars going on, so much violence, and so much death.  Maybe it wasn’t the end of the world but the end of humanity.  I got a little out of topic there, sorry.  There is so much going on in the world now days that it is hard to not think about it.  But, going back to the Maya, they were smart because they developed not only the calendar, but also mathematical equations which helped them to make the calendar.  They had an elaborate water sewage system. They made pottery, tools, and a large labor force.  No doubt the Mayan were impressive.  

The face of change

A lot happened in the 20th century.  Mostly in the transformation of the economy, especially after two wars.  It is amazing to me how the world recuperated after two very big world wars.  A lot of pain, suffering.  A lot of resources used, especially money.  

Another interesting topic is that of liberation amongst many groups, especially women's liberation, called Feminism.  The civil rights movement helped to bring this on as well.  Women were not allowed to do many things.  Like vote, go to war, get birth control, and even speak their own minds.  Feminists movements allowed women to have a voice. To make change.  The word feminists has a negative tone, or so I have seen in the media and other places.  But, it really isn't a bunch of women who are angry at men.  It was just a group of women that wanted to make a change for all women in the world.  They did make a change in the world historically, and recently.  Because of these women, women can now vote, women can now take birth control, and especially speak up.  

World wars

The World wars have always been of great interest to me.  Primarily the information on Hitler and the Nazi regime.  I just can't seem to comprehend how this one man did so much damage. And how and why the hatred toward Jews started.  I didn't know that it started all the way from the after effects from the 1st world war.  They reason was because the people blamed the loss of world war 1 on the Jews and civilian socialists.  I think this is why it was much easier for Hitler to gain control of the power of the country,and, had a large following.  The other reason that I didn't know is that Germany was also going through a Depression, and Hitler helped them get out of it. Which answers my question as to how in the world did people get tricked into believing in him?  It makes sense though, because he helped the country, and it was a way for the people to thank him for what he did.  World War 2 was a very sad time in our history.  A lot of lives were lost all because of someones views on people.  I do see that this can happen again in our lifetime.  I hope it will not, but a lot is going on right now. For example, in the middle east and in Africa. We need to learn from our mistakes from the past, and hope that this sort of thing does not happen again.  

Revolutions and the consequences that they caused

       As the book states, we all learned about the North American Revolution in school.  And what we learned that the people were trying to gain independence from the British.  But, I have to admit, I did not know much about the French and the Haitian revolution.  The Spanish American revolution I also heard a little about this.  What I do know about the Spanish revolution is that they caused a lot of suffering to the native people in different areas of the world. Being from Spanish descent, I am ashamed to have Spanish in my blood.  They caused a lot of pain and suffering to the native people. But, they were not the only ones.  

Even though each countries evolution had different reasons to start it, they all had one thing in common, suffering.  This was the consequence for the people who were involved in these revolutions.  The French and Haitian revolutions included genocide against the slaves, which brought upon the revolt.  

These revelations included good and bad things, it brought a lot of change to the people and communities that were involved.  But it also brought a lot of suffering in result of this.  It makes me ask, was it all worth it? It was definitely worth it for the people that revolted against the treatment that they were receiving.  Things like slavery had to be stopped no matter what the consequence.  Things like unfair taxation, I don’t think so.  

       

The worlds of Christendom

When I have heard about the spread of Christianity, I remember that it was spread fast. And, that the reason that happened was because people were attracted to that faith because it primarily made everyone equal.  Christianity is such an interesting religion to read about because of this reason.  It is amazing to me that one man can do such a change in the world.  It makes you wonder if it really is true. What if the man we call Jesus really did exist and he was really the Son of God?  It seems to me that the more I read about the Christian religion, the more confused I am about it.

In the readings Christianity became one of the main religions in Europe, and I have always wondered why? Was it because there was a lot of discrimination, or even slavery?  And this is why they chose to convert.  The story of Yao Hong is very interesting because it gives a personal story.  We can understand why she converted to Christianity, even though she was Asian, and it was not the main religion in her country.  I did not know that there were Christian communities in Asia. 

Another topic that is very interesting to me is the control of Jerusalem by the Muslims in 638.  In the news we hear a lot about the Jewish and the Palestine’s fighting over Jerusalem.  This battle has been going on for many centuries, and it seems very odd to me that all three religions, Jews, Muslim, and Christians “fight” for territory.  They all hold a special meaning to the place, so why not share it?  All three religions share the same God why not share the same city?

Another interesting face is the treatment that Christians received during this the time that Christianity was spreading.  They were practically punished, ridiculed, and segregated just for believing in Jesus.  Yet with all this treatment that people received, Christianity still spread, and it has even been one of the main religions of the world.  Makes you think that maybe there is something about it that is true. 

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