Chapter 19: Internal Troubles, External Threats

The introduction of WW Chapter 19 was quite disturbing. People make mistakes, and it is normal to be ashamed of them, but the important thing is to move forward and learn from these mistakes. Japan is basically lying to the world by publishing textbooks that “…distort history and attempt to cover the truth [of Nanjing Massacre].” Japan can no longer change what happened in Nanjing, but the least they could do is admit to their wrong doing by speaking the truth, allowing textbooks to hold factual information.

China was obviously furious, for they were the victims in the massacre. I too would be furious if our textbooks had not mentioned the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, or how Spain took over the Philippines. Koreans also expressed anger with Japan, for they started sexual slavery for militants. This situation reminds me of the Holocaust and how some still insist that it did not happen, despite the pictorial evidences and survivor stories.

This chapter focuses on Europe’s imperialism and how European countries tried to influence and pressure China, the Ottoman Empire, and Japan. Because Europe was seen as “the center of the world’s economy” with its global expansion, they kind of put themselves on a pedestal. They thought highly of themselves and saw other races as inferior. They came with the conclusion that whites’ skulls were larger, and therefore, they possess more knowledge than those of other races. This gives the implication that intelligence is based on the size of one’s skull. I’m pretty sure that most no longer think this way, but it’s funny. There are kid geniuses that have college degrees that probably have developing skulls.

Another disturbing topic of this chapter is China and Britain’s trade of Opium. Europe just destroyed China with the smuggling of Opium into the country. First off, because it was illegal, there was an uprising of corruption. To pay for the opium, China had to give up a good amount of silver, which led to economic problems. This imbalance of trade resulted in many addicts.

When the Emperor expelled opium imports from China, Britain went against them and called it a violation of property rights. This resulted in the Opium War and the Chinese signing treaties that did not benefit them at all. They had a $21 million debt to Britain, were forced to open ports for trade, lower taxes, and Britain even destroyed the emperor’s summer palace for more ports after the second Opium War.

The world hasn’t changed much though, people are still power hungry.

Oh, and another side note! It’s quite sad, but I’ve always been confused about the exact location of the Ottoman Empire. Thanks to map 19.2 found on page 572, I now know this information (or at least its boundaries in 1800).

Chapter 17: Atlantic Revolutions and their Echoes

Had the multiple echoes of feminists movements NOT occurred, where would I be? Certainly not at NDNU or any other university for that matter. I'd probably be illiterate, and spend all day back at home, doing chores with my mother. I wouldn't be able to read the history text book, type out this blog, or even operate, let alone turn on my macbook. Now wouldn't that be a devastating life? :D

Though there were/many feminists, the one mentioned in the text, Olympe de Gouges (France) wrote the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman". I wonder what triggered these feminists in the Modern Era to 'demand' equality between men and women. In the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman", de Gouges wrote: "Woman, wake up; the warning bell of reason is being heard throughout the whole universe; discover your rights." Whoever the first feminist was, what evoked her to begin such a movement that eventually travelled across the Atlantic?

However it started, I'm glad it did. Despite the fact we still deal with a degree of gender inequalities, it has improved. (It's the same with slavery. It still exists in many parts of the world, but it was a lot worse.) Today, women can attend universities, manage businesses, be employed, and even vote. I wasn't of age at the time of the 2008 U.S. Presidential elections, but it is difficult to imagine a time when women were prohibited to vote. How would America's presidential offices differ had they still only allowed men to vote?

Criticisms against the Feminist movement were numerous. "...feminists were viewed as selfish, willing to sacrifice the family or even the nation while pursuing their individual goals (522)." Wow. They weren't selfish, they were sick and tired, sick and tired of being considered the weaker race and looked down upon. They only longed for change, equality.

Chapter 16: Religion & Science

If the Nobel Peace Prize existed at this time Nicolas Copernicus and the many other discoverers/scientists would have probably been the firsts awardees.

Nicolas Copernicus was one of the very first to contribute to the Revolution of Science. The medieval idea of astronomy was that the Earth was at the center of the universe, while the sun and other planets revolved around us. Copernicus argued against this and proposed instead that the sun was at the center of the universe, while Earth and other planets revolved around it. This act of straying away from the old belief was seen as going against the church, and god. Therefore, religious authorities were not in favor of Copernicus’s ideas. Little did they know that he was absolutely right.

It’s kind of funny how medievalists came up with the theory that the Earth was in the middle of the universe. Apparently, it was a spiritual influence and was parallel to the purpose of the Catholic church in that the Earth was the center of attention.

Medieval everything revolved around theology and spirituality. Everything was explained in the light of God. If asked, “why does the sun rise and set?” A typical medieval answer would be because God likes to nurture the crops and bring his peoples warmth. As opposed to medieval answers, modern answers would look at science to identify the reasoning. A modern answer would include the Earth’s rotations around the sun.

Because many people contributed to the Science of Revolution, the Church felt under attack. They were the ones that people sought to when they wanted answers and now that new knowledge was surfacing, people also began to question the church’s authority. It’s like having a lifelong friend who turned out to be some liar. You thought you knew them, until someone comes along and tells you the truth, leading you to question your “friend”. (Not to call any church and their officials liars, just an example.)

In a way, this new knowledge of science became globally traded commodities: “…the achievements of the Scientific Revolution spread globally, becoming the most widely sought-after product of European culture and far more desired than Christianity, democracy, socialism, or even Western literature (485).” No trading was probably involved, but knowledge that was discovered in Europe was soon spread to other parts of the world like Japan and China.