reading response #5

Well, we first talk about eurocentricim and how it overwhelmingly influenced many civilizations. What we see here is a clear understanding of the double-edged sword. On the good side, it got everyone on the “same page” many cultures were lost and completely unknown, the European nations went out, explored, and reported back, opening up everyone to new knowledge of Islamic cultures, Indian and Chinese cultures. And on top of that left a little of themselves there for those nations to learn about Europe. This is essential to the spread of lifestyle and the exchange of ideas.

Now it could be said that we left a little too much of ourselves there, maybe even over stayed our welcomed and intentionally tried to change these cultures that have survived many of years prior to our faces showing and yet somehow the European influence convinced them that their way of life was, subpar, only because it did not fall into the European mind set.

Next we look at globalization and markets then and now.  To sound cynical, unfortunately not much has changed. Then we had high volumes of consumer goods being exported to other countries at a significant price, harvested by people who worked for less than what their work was worth and normally in subpar conditions that are not fit for humans. Also many who are forced to work in order to well, breath. Today we see many places in third world countries working for pennies on goods we are willing to spend of upwards of $500 dollars. Here in America, we are willing to pay undocumented workers $5 an hour to harvest our goods and then complain because they are taking jobs away from the American people. Our history is full of people in charge willing to pay bottom dollar for labor in order to shore up their profits, unfortunately it isn’t even history repeating, it’s on going and is set to continue as long as profits drive motivations.

Finally looking at culture borrowing. You see this a lot in America where people practice Christianity, but picks and chooses what to believe also with a sprinkle of Buddhism and just a dash of Hinduism. There is a hipster mentality that goes with the purest though, say for instants with Islam, many Muslims denounce the attacks that are perpetrated in the name of Allah because that’s not how Islam is, many people who follow the exact letter of the law may view someone who does not go to church as a non believer. Overall I that people just have to deal with aspects of their culture being a part of another culture. In today’s society we see that a lot in fashion, many of what was viewed as “street” or “ urban wear” has become mainstream ideas of individuality and comfort, where as 15-20 years ago it would have meant you were brought up in a bad household or were part of a gang

chapter 11,12,13

Starting with chapter 11, we get a great sense of how Islam played a significant role in the development of afro-eurasia. Despite our view of Islam today, it was very forward thinking back in the day.  Albeit a rocky start, their contribution to science has been well documented especially in medicine (i.e. mapping the circulatory system).

Between the Turkish invasion and the crusades, the Islamic nation has seen their fair share of violence and conflict, but has stayed astute in philosophy and outward thinking.  There has been a plea, for many years by the Islamic community for people to separate what they se on television to what Islam really is. At its core it is a peaceful religion, but just like any other religion, there is a subset of those who will die to protect their very word.

Into chapter 12, it is apparent that nomads were largely unpopular as people who moved from place to place pillaging and attacking in order to survive, then moving on to the next village to do the same. Of course, they did not take the time to write down these conquest so there is no written record of such acts taking place by them, thus pure speculation. Many of the Germanic and Asian tribes have been portrayed as evil bold thirsty savages. Sounds like a good start to a “historically accurate” movie.  But, all in all, much like the religious zealots I mentioned before, this was probably a small subsection of people who went and took advantage of those who trusted weary travelers and of course, first impressions are everything.

Finally to chapter 13, what we learn here is how world history changes the more we start to look for evidence. It has always been said that, “history is written by the winners”, which is true, but it has been rewritten by the researchers. What we see here is that with many of the stories and accounts being potrayed in history, eventually we are going to see holes in the theories and explanations. Now did these people do it intentionally? We don’t know, the eyes see what the eyes see, and given that many of these stories were accounts of accounts it’s easy to think that the truth could be stretched a bit or parts forgotten. 

It’s like one big game of telephone, the only problem is that we have to buy the next edition of the history book at cost.

commerce, culture,christianity

Looking through this first chapter I immediately compare the culture of commerce to how we have progressed over the years. It was that, then we relied on these worn paths between continents to provide us with exotics from far; spices, silks, fragrances all set up along the roads or shipped in and set along the harbors. We’ve come a long way since then. Using such commodities as currency as well, could you imagine trading a lamb for a dress for your wife?

These roads meant that merchants had to let their goods speak for themselves and it was truly buyer beware at this point. A man could claim the lamp he was selling contain a mystical powerful genie that would grant you three wishes and it was on the buyer to take that risk. Given today’s technological advances, you can confirm that claim with a few amazons’ reviews, albeit possibly negative for the false advertisements.

I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the Chinese culture. More so for the china of lore rather than the modern version. To be a part of the early Buddhist lifestyle would be a welcomed treat from our currently iLife. I do feel the western influence of lifestyle has tarnished the great view I have of china, although, its more within places such as Hong Kong, which until recently was still under British rule. Of course I don’t know how I would fair with life in Mainland China.

The biggest part of European Christianity I have learned in my lifetime, was the creation of the bible. When it came to creating the new testament bible many of the things that made the old testament were omitted in order to show a different side of god, the kinder, gentler all accepting god, through this process many of the controversial stories and accounts were omitted. Also it became first come first serve. If you got your story in by the deadline, the chances of you getting into the bible were higher, thus the bible became more of an advertising tool than it did the truth. The reason I bring this up is that during this postclassical era Christianity had to be able to relate to a wide variety of people in order to gain popularity through recruitment.

Although its hard to deny that through these efforts the eastern, more sophisticated thought process one over the western views of Christianity, even though both were subscribing to the same goal, strength in numbers through the eyes of god.