Chapter 11 Documents

When reading Chapter 11 Documents I really liked the aspect of anda, which is a close relationship between two related men. When reading about the Temujin and Jamugha I felt happy to see how close they were to one another and how they acted like brothers by protecting and loving one another unconditionally. I think this is an interesting concept for the Mongols to have since they are known for their aggressive behavior and usually don’t ever show signs of love and respect.

            After reading the first two documents I start to have this view of the Mongols of not so bad of people, and then I get to the document about Russia, and my idea of loving Mongols has completely disappeared. The Mongol invasion in Russia is really sad to read. The author talks about how so many people were killed in the fire, like when he talks about how children were killed in front of their mothers and fathers, and vice versa. It is such a tragic thing to talk about and I go back to my thought of thinking how horrible Mongols were and how aggressive and angry they were.

Chapter 9 Documents

Reflecting on the question “what it would be like to follow the Quran and reading Chapter 9 documents there are things I was surprised to read. I agree with the Quran’s understanding of Allah and how it resembles Christian ideas about God. There is only one God.  I like how the Quran focuses heavily on charity and giving to the poor and less fortunate. I think this is something that people need to be more aware of, especially now during the holiday season.

I was not happy to read about the subject of gender, which said that God gave men more strength then the other, I have to disagree with that, I believe that either gender can obtain more strength than the other. Another statement was that if women and disloyal that they should be beaten lightly (EXCUSE ME!)… This part really pissed me off because there should be no rule or regulation that a women or any person should be treated with violence, I was surprised to read that the Quran would even state that in the first place. The Quran had its ups and down with me as I read it but looking back in my opinion, as a woman, I would not be happy about following the Quran.

Chapter 7 Documents Reflection

Xuanzang was a Buddhist monk from China and what motivated him to travel to India was based on his religion, Buddhism. He visited many of the holy sites in India that were associated with Buddha. He wrote the Record of the Western Regions that was an account of his travels and impressions of Indian civilizations in the 7^th century C.E.

There were various rules and regulations during this time. The families were divided into 4 classes. I thought it was surprising how people could rise or fall into a specific class. I think that it allowed fairness into the caste system because they did hold specific rules on marriage, such that women can only be married once and promiscuous marriages were not allowed. This helps enforce the fact that the people cannot abuse that fact that they can change their caste level through marriage. I believe this idea is smart and something that I would have to agree with. 

Chapter 6 Documents + Packet

Evidence Handout

The handout that we received was very interesting. I literally didn't know about the "kelp highway" that  it talked about. It was really interesting to think and visualize about how there was sea level areas of fish, shellfish, and seaweed from the Americas to Asia. The people who migrated were available to hunt and gather food and the packet says that this helped other adapt to coastal lives and hunt for new food sources-such as shellfish.


Chapter 6 Documents

I took me awhile to understand the readings in the chapter 6 documents. The peoples' form of writing is definitely getting more complex and heavily detailed then the documents in previous chapters before. I want to focus on Rufinus's story because it was something that I believe was a very important story since it explains how Christianity came to Axum. I really like Frumentius in this story, I believe he is that role model for others since he has so much faith in his religion and others. He is a good leader and well organized. I feel like he expressed the "treat others as you would like to be treated" expression. Since this story is not strong primary sources, since Rufinus admits that these facts are from what he heard from Aedesius.

Patriarchy in Athens

During class, my group was assigned to focus on patriarchy. As sad at it is, I had no clue what patriarchy actually meant so here is the definition from Merriam-Webster for all of you that are reading this and asking the same question that I did. A patriarchy is a family, group or government controlled by a man or a group of men (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarchy). In Athens, women had no role in political life. They were considered “infertile males” because they do not produce sperm, which is believed to be the form/soul of human beings. This part was surprising to me because women were considered passive or inactive in the reproductive process. That put me in shock when I read it because I believe that women carry the most important role in reproduction. Women’s bodies carry and nurture the baby for 9 months until it is born. The men do not have to deal with childbirth, having terrible mood swings, and aches. This part of the book was just shocking and very controversial.

Chapter 5 Documents

Looking at the Chapter 5 document and reading them were difficult to understand. It was not like I did not get what I was reading I just couldn’t believe that women would agree to put themselves down in such a way. For example, in the document Lessons for Women, the author tries to explain the principles of Confucianism to that of women in society. It was crazy to read about the ancestor’s three customs about the birth of a baby girl. One of the customs is the baby is supposed to be placed bellow the bed to symbolize that she is weak and low in status. This is saddening to think about, if I had to do this to my own child, I could never. Women had such strict and ridiculous rules that they had to lead and follow. It is just crazy comparing women today in modern  day, to that of Ban Zhao.

Chapter 4 Documents

I enjoy reading the documents in each Chapter cause it helps me further learn more about the subjects and I feel more confident in specific topics we discuss in class because these documents are primary sources, which is crazy to think about. These documents date from hundreds to thousands of years ago and are still read and studying today, pretty cool to think about.            

In the Chapter 4 documents, The Analects was the most interesting to me. I really enjoyed learning about Confucius and his teachings and principles in class. I think is interesting how the Analects was not written by Confucius, but his followers or as in the book, his disciples. It shows the great appreciation that Confucius’ followers had for him and how they truly remembered and followed his teachings and conversations. I thought it was also surprising how Confucius’ teaching and conversations were written and documented similar to how Jesus’ teachings were. Jesus’ sayings and actions were recording in the Gospels by his followers (some of them being his disciples). Just reading and analyzing this connection was just really interesting to me since it was something I never knew before. 

Chapter 3 Documents Reflection

If I had to choose to live in either the Greek, Chinese or Indian Empires, I would choose the Ancient Greek Empire. The Greeks of Athens were governed by Pericles in a democratic government. The Athenian people set good examples for another and try to stay away from rivalry. They have respect for their authoritative figures and the laws. The people seem to respect one another and his or her own property, so there is no quarrels or fights. The people of ancient Greece really seem comfortable in their country and are happy with their living-situations. For example in the passage, "...our homes are beautiful and elegant; and the delight which we daily feel in all these things helps to banish melancholy" (Strayer 147). This sounds like a place I would want to live in! Where all the people are happy and there is little violence and where people respect their country.

Chapter 2 Documents

Chapter 2's documents have been very interesting. The thing that caught my attention was the documents on the laws. Transfering from chapter 1 to chapter 2 documents is such a change. The laws caught my eye because they were so harsh and different from the previous eras we have read about. The laws are intense and most end in the punishment of death. Looking at how paleolithic peoples were compared to ancient Mesopotamia is interesting and very different. Such as the laws about gender, men are beginning to seem more superior to women and the women are seemed as more at fault and the ones who receive more punishments for specific actions.

Egalitarianism Reflection

Nisa’s story is very captivating. Her story helped show me that Paleolithic peoples were more egalitarian than laters people in wealth because when Nisa explained when she was living "in the bush," she explained how there was always enough people to share with one another, to respect each other, and did not fight. Everyone was willing to share their food and other items with others and were willing to help one another as a community. Currently in the present she explains that no one shares anymore and how people have become selfish.They follow the “what’s mine is mine” outlook, even Nisa herself following this outlook on sharing. In the beginning of her story, Nisa explains how the people now call her a “poor person” because she doesn’t own any animals and she carries her things herself. Laters people are depending on the amount of animals domesticated to show wealth, and are becoming more dependent on these animals to help with migration and traveling. I was actually really interested in reading the documents in the book. It was interesting to read the life stories and helped me connect more to the subject since it was from a primary source. 

Chapter 1: The Ways We Were...

I think it is so surprising how early human beings adapted and evolved in the World. The way they made new technology is so shocking. How they used stones and rocks to make blades and axes. If I were to look at a stone or rock on the floor I would never think, “Hmm… maybe this rock can be turned into a weapon?” I mean to me, it is just a rock. But the fact that arrows and bows, spears, axes and other hunting equipment can date back to thousands of years ago when they were first made is surprising.

When the book talked about the first human societies and I was intrigued how the small societies would treat one another. There was no oppression and no absolute power. Everyone has the same set of skills and was treated equally. Domestic abuse was never exhibited or acted upon. Our ancestors began with little violence and no cruelty. It got me thinking how did these terrible things get introduced into our World.

After reading these sections I realized how many things were influenced or invented from our past ancestors. The past is really part of our present and it also helps for our future as well.

My first blog post

Yay! Started my first blog ever.