Fighting for change

Universally, the world has been fighting for rights, freedom and liberty. Wars have been fought for reasons today we still ponder on. Our Militaries are built stronger so we can have protection against our competition, yet our competition are building stronger armies as well. Yet, right here in American, individuals are fighting amongst each other, such as civil rights leaders, and Feminist arguing for equality. Union members arguing for fair wages. Yet we're at war with other nations. We all have to realize that the problem we have is bigger than human life. We are all fighting now for better health in the Post Modern civilization. Yet, we are building green cars, using less fuel, and focusing on new innovation. We're not just fight for civil rights, now we're fighting for precious life.

Intransigence

I always wonder, would've been so wrong for the Afrikaners to simply go into partnership with the people of South Africa? Ironically, Afrikaners were only 20% of the population in South Africa, yet they ruled 80% of all the Africans land due to inheritance of powers by their forefathers. I am personally angered and saddened at history that people could become so evil when it comes to commodities; which, belong to the gods of the land. I feel as if no one should profit from the land especially since the land originally belonged to the people of South Africa. No one went to England taking whatever commodities there. Just to mention, I've never heard of any textbook mentioning what England had. Could that have been intelligence to persuade others to give up rights?

The War and Leadership Problem The modern civilization was a time of social changes across the world; which included hostel take overs, competition and conflict with strange foreigners. Public policies and government worldwide along with commerce alliances created the need for power in many dictators. Even though some of these men (usually men) had great ideas, they also created much tension outside of their ethnicity. Such as Adolph Hitler this is a man who is hated by most, yet he did some good, such as job creations. According to Strayer’s Way of the World- A Brief Global History, “For many countries still suffering from the Depression throughout the 1930’s Hitler seemed to have found the secret for recovery: economic planning, controlled wages and prices, government investment , and enforced peace between capital and labor.” (pg. 640) Hence, these are the things we need in order to have order and to have a strong infrastructure. Indeed, were taught in grammar school and church that violence is not the solution, and in god we trust; all men are created equal. Yet nations have gone to war for the mere purpose of domination over other nations in the name of power. The text talks about labels such as fascism, communism; yet the main goal universally is once own individuality having the choice to think and analyze matter for self.

Divisions

Divisions Civilizations were built based on divisions of owners and labor. Ironically, what divides us is the color of ones skin and population majority. Even though European descendants are the majority, Asians may be the dominating force of power, “Europe would have remained inferior, as ever, in wealth and power, the great civilization of Asia”. (pg 409 ) I find this topic interesting based on our classroom debate question, China’s rebirth was just as significant as the renaissance. I totally agree that China made a large impact worldwide civilization based on the evidence, and based on their historical and current tracking record. Another topic chapter 14 covers in depth is slavery; which, is considered as the labor force. No doubt Africans were sold into slavery by the leaders of the country for financial gain and political cohesiveness, I get that. I just disagree with the inhumane acts of violence against one race due to the color of skin, and the language of the people. However, The Columbian Exchange brought on worldwide change, not just in North American, also in Brazil, and Caribbean island. In summary, humankind civilization was built on the idea that “modern society, with its promise of liberation from ancient inequalities and the end of poverty for MOST, hardly seemed around the corner”. (pg 396) World inequalities based on the text was the platform for civilization historically. Our society is that egalitarian for all, but no doubt for majority set “we came here to serve God and the king, and also to get rich”. (pg 406). Society will never be an equal civilization for the divisions of humankind.

Islam

My Perspective of Islam Muslims Islam is one of the most controversial Religions worldwide. There’s no dispute about it. One reason I find in Islam so intriguing is it a religion, culture, or political machine used by adversary for financial gain? Islam appears to be frightening for the members and the non-members of the group. I find it conflicting for members of a civilized society to execute power over another. Strayer’s Way of the World, points out that the significant breaking point was the “absent of Muhammad”, which is labeled “umma”. Mohammad was supposedly a peaceful man, but why was there so much controversy after his leadership. This makes she wonder how was his leadership style? Did he in fact latently promote coercion or power? A possible challenge is the idea that religion and politics are intertwine. In comparison Christendom were the “focused on correct belief” Islam focused on the “correct behavior, prayer, cleansing, marriage, divorce, inheritance, business and commercial relationship, treatment of slaves and political life” (pg. 313). As you see, this religion is focused more on business relationships, and power. I see why fighting amongst the Sunni, and Shia still exist today in our so called modern world.

The Great Asian Experience

Chapter 3 Just to condense certain prominent facts Strayer points out in part 3, Ways of the World, A Brief Global History concerning commerce; hence still are valued in the 21st century. Historically, not much has changed in today’s society in the way we specialized trading of import and export goods. Currently exchanges of goods are still being routed by road, and sea, (monsoons moving on the sea by the winds to and from Africa to India). Certainly, technology has changed; air transportation has been added. Presently, within the city limits horses aren’t being used; however, in some rural areas horses are being utilized for plowing agriculture fields just as in Paleolithic era and during the classical era were they wild horses are running 25 miles down the Silk roads. According to Strayer’s, Way of the World, “Exchange of goods is not equal” (pg. 218), this statement is referring to Relay trade- the changing of goods to multiple hands many times before reaching its final destination. In comparison, currently this is valid; in the second and third wave of civilization there is no mention how the leaders determined the upper class and lower class; but today this determination is made by zip codes. So the distributions of goods are still not distributed equally. Nevertheless what does this mean for us? Trade has a major impact with the success of society; trading is significant not just for the exchanged of: salt, gun powder, rice, and many other commodities it’s also a political machine. With the exchange ideas, and culture, “silk roads are conduit for culture” such as religion. Religion in China was dominated by Confucianism, and Buddhism the later was spread through trade down the silk roads via India, Asia continent to China making up cosmopolitan center of exchange. Religion (Confusions, Daoism and Buddhism) was not the only significant entity exchanged, but the transmission of diseases. Diseases were spread usually through transitioning from one civilization of people unbeknownst. The transmission of diseases was during transportation commerce such as measles. In comparison in currently measles is running rampant from overseas and ended up in New York, just to exemplify things haven’t changed much. In conclusion, there has been some speculation that the Chinese borrowed from the western society, however, based on the text all ideologies were shared from all across the continent. What kept civilizations intertwine was: Religion which was a major dominated factor among the elite over the masses, along with commerce; have not constantly remained equal. I’m impressed with the people of Japan, and how they borrowed from the people of China but not by force, totally voluntarily. They appeared to be a nation of classy people in arts; ironically, the people of China were of “gentry’ class”, (pg. 218). The people of Japan were disconnected geographically, which may have played a major part in the individuality. However, the dominating religion took precedence with Christianity; which gave the people an option and the freedom to choose individuality.

Hierarchies Values, Rituals and Beliefs in Civilization

I relished in how Strayer’s Ways of the World, chapter 3 speaks about the continuum of rulers. Strayer’s points out that no matter the era there has always been a hierarchy society, “Gathering and hunting people, agricultural societies organized around kinship principle and village life, emerging chiefdoms, and pastoral peoples”. Men are rulers of women. The rich rule over the poor, and this way of life form the world to what we live in today. Hence, its obvious power supersedes the less powerful. Ironically, you would assume that the agricultural era was an egalitarian society, but it was more of a social dominated movement for the owners of land masses (fief). Historically, humans from near and far have always had belief systems, that a greater power is responsible for all human nature, natural nature, and animal nature, ranging from disasters to good fortunes. You wonder are people born evil. Without these ideological attitudes regarding life I could imagine what type of civilization we would live in today? Religion is one of society’s biggest mysteries. Indeed, belief systems, maintain a certain order in people. Ironically, the same order has been used to control the masses. But taken in account that all religions are intertwine and perfected overtime I personally enjoy the freedom of pluralism. I take in account totally, and then extract out what actually works for me.

Gathering and hunting

Gathering and Hunting communities.                                                              

This ideology builds cohesiveness within a community. I really enjoyed hearing how our ancestors combined their man/womanpower to build structures.  In our modern world we’ve slowly moved away from gender based roles due to the complexities of life. Indeed, there is something’s that hasn’t changed drastically. Historically males had more dangerous roles, such as: hunting and killing of large ferocious mammals; comparable to current times of males building bridges and highways. Likewise women roles still consist of daily gathering of children, groceries and so on.   

In the Paleolithic era life for the San people was based on values and norms. They didn’t particularity have a hierarchy system; everyone based life on what’s expected as a member of a cohesive group.

I enjoyed reading the passage regarding “insulting the meat” and how the older members of the group would not encourage inequalities within the group.

“When a young man kills much meat, he comes to think of himself as a chief or big man, and he thinks of the rest of us as his servants or inferior. We can’t accept this we refuse one who boasts, for someday his pride will make him kill someone. So we always speak of his meat as worthless. In this way we cool his heart and make him gentle” (pg. 27).

In comparison in today society we have an enormous abundance of inequalities and in my opinion most come from mass media and the super flux of how the population has grown. “We don’t trade with things, we trade with people” (pg. 27).

Indeed, as the population grew, people changed from small bands of ten to twenty people to hundreds to thousands and so on. It’s evident that the larger the group the more complex situations become; hence, not just for Homo sapiens but for animals as well.

In essence, Robert Strayer’s readings seem more in the field of anthropology rather than history, however one discipline can’t be solely defined as one they all are intertwine.