Chapter 24 Accelerating Global Interaction

I felt that the topic in this chapter related back to when we talked about colonization. The spreading of cultures and goods from around the world and whether that is a good or bad thing. In one aspect it is a good thing because we get to learn more about other cultures and understand them better. The problem is that each culture has different morals and beliefs among their people that may be compromised by outside influences. When goods from across the world enter a culture they are not based on the same morals that culture lives by and therefore may not be acceptable to them. The prime example is of the Barbie dolls. This chapter spoke about the negative influence Barbie dolls have on the children in Iran. Barbie is an American doll that is famous among young girls. When these dolls were introduced to the women of Iran they represented everything the girls were taught not to be. Barbie is a very slender blonde who dresses freely showing a lot of skin. Barbie and Ken are not married but act like a couple together. In Iran the women are not allowed to show their skin and would be severely punished if they were caught flirting with men. I never realized how seductive and influential Barbie dolls are until I read this chapter. Even thought the women of America are much more free to dress and act how they want, I don't understand why it is acceptable to introduce young girls to this idea of perfection at such a young age. Barbie dresses like a very loose woman and portrays the media's idea of the perfect body. It is no wonder the girls in America are so obsessed with beauty in the concept of the media's standards. Introducing our children to these little images of perfecting may be the reason young girls grow up feeling they must be anorexic and perfect to be beautiful in other people's eyes. It is sad to think about it now that Barbie dolls are so popular among children and I agree with The Iranian toy seller Masoumeh Rahimi. The point about my interest in this topic is that although globalization allows us to interact and learn from other cultures it also has the potential to tarnish cultures. Through globalization something as simple as a doll can influence the morals of a young girl and her society.

Religion often leads to war because people base their lives on religious beliefs and feel passionately about them. Hostility accumulates between groups with conflicting beliefs and becomes violent to the point of war. Many people grow deep in their religious beliefs because religion gives "a sense of identity" (461) that gives the person a feeling of belonging to a unified group that shares the same ideals and beliefs. When acts of violence are committed out of religious beliefs people tend to rationalize with it more than a random act of violence not motivated by religion. It is ironic that religious violence is an accepted social concept for religion is normally seen as revolving around purity and peace within yourself through God. Some religions even claim to preach the killing of others such as the muslims' justification for performing terrorist attacks on America. Although to them they are not the terrorists, Americans are because we allow things such as abortion and homosexual relationships. They believe it is their duty as a servant of God to punish the Americans for allowing such "sins", things Americans see as freedoms. Religion has a power that allows people to justify their terrorist actions with religious beliefs.

Chapter 23 Independence and Development in the Global South

Ghandi played a big role in India's struggle for independence. Ghandi preached the effects of peace instead of violence and worked to better the souls of the people as individuals rather than group them into a nation that needed to be fixed. He wanted to bring together both Hindus and Muslims as equally important parts of India. Ghandi believed that the people of India should forcus more on religion and tradition rather than modern industrialization. He felt that the modern industrial world was oppressing India more than the Brittish were. Many people began to believe that Ghandi's indeas were drifting from the main goal of gaining independence from Britain. The Muslim and Hindu religios groups began to resent each other despite Ghandi's teachings. This resulted in the independence of India as two countries, Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. This partition resulted in many deaths caused by much violence that left Ghandi grieving instead of celebrating the new independence. Ghandi played an important role in setting the example of a peaceful leader, but sadly students ended up going against his beliefs.

South Africa's situation was very differnt from India's in their fight for independence. Although black natives made up the majority of South Africa they had no control because of the reigning minority of white settlers that also lived in South Africa. South Africa was ruled by people of both Dutch and Brittish descent. unlike the colinization of India there was a prodominant industrial ecnomy in South Afrca that enforced slave labor and created more incentive for the colinizers to remain in control and benefit from the production of South Africa. The racial issue was much nore extreme in South Africa than in India, fore many natives were forced to live on "native reserves" often away from their families so they could be more efficient in heir work. The native South Africans were severly restricted in their freedoms to move about their own countries. They were basically slave laborers in all aspects of their lives, treated no differently than a settler's herd of cattle. The settlers completely controlled South africa and even kept influencial leaders such as Nelson Mandela from supporting the natives to independence. Finally after strong internal and external preassures, Nelson Mandela was released from jail and was able to lead his county to independence. Although India and South Africa differed in their routes to independence they were both faced with many struggles.

Chapter 20 Colonial Encounters

The story in the beginning of the chapter tells about how an english man spoke swahili to young Kenyan boys who spoke perfect english. The englishman explained that they normally did not speak english to the "natives". This made me think about some research I did on Zimbabwe. I was suprised to see that the official language of Zimbabwe id english. This is a result of the colinization of Zimbabwe by the British. I thought it was ironic that the emglish man refused to speak english with the native people considering the english were the reason for the natives converting their language to english in the first place. The colinization of countries resulted in loss of individualism and culture within the countries. Plantations were formed and the native people were put to work for the colinizers' benifits. A picture of native people working on a tea plantaion with the label Lipton printed across the tea bags made me think about the major corporations that include slave labor today. I began to wonder if the large corporations will ever be able to produce their products without the use of slave labor in foreign countries that had formerly been colinized. The colinization of countries often resulted in slavery and cruel gorverning. I am not sure that colinization was a good thing even though it did introduce new things around the world from different cultures. I still believe that we might have a better sense of these cultures if they were never colinized in the first place.

Chapter 22 The Rise and Fall of World Communism

When reading this chapter I was particularily interested in the communist feminism section. Communist countries set the foundation for the upcoming feminist movements in the West. Numerous laws were passed to give women more rights and freedoms such as having the choice to taking their husband's last name or easily getting a divorce. Women were also allowed to make their own decisions about abortion and were given maternal leave from their jobs. The fact that women had jobs in these communist countries shocked me because at this time the women in the US were fighting for places in the working field even though the US was supposed to be a free country. Women became a large part of the industrialization and were trained to do many of the same jobs as men. An organization called Zhenotdel was set up to establish womens' place in the world with their new freedoms and opportunities. This organization promoted women and taught classes on literacy and prenatal care. When I read how the women in this group encouraged Muslim women to take off their veils I was reminded of the oppression of women in the middle east. I find it remarkable and sad that these communist countries gave their women so much freedom back in the 1900's and today the Muslim women have little if any control over their own lives. Even the women in China progressed in spite of the strong patriarichal society. They managed to enable the Marriage Law of 1950 that allowed the women to choose their own partners, own their own property, and put an end to child marriage. The Women's Federation was created and helped women become more active in the communities outside their homes. Even though many of these women's movements did not last very long they introduced women to the idea of equality. I think it is incredible that the women of this time were able to make such an impact despite everything else that was going on in the communist countries.

Chapter 21 The Collapse and Recovery of Europe

When reading about World War I, also known as the "Great War" I realized how much of an impact the war had on the contries of both sides of the battle field. Germany and Britain were both deeply effected by the war they engaged themselves in. The war was "Great" because it took on immense power because the ally system that was created to maintain peace between the great nations of the world backfired to back up the opposing sides in World War I. The people back home in their contries believed the war would be over soon and their men would be home before Christmas, but were only left to keep hoping as the war trudged on for four years. There was little advancement in the war because of the system "trench warfare" that left millions dead in fights that only moved enemy lines a few yards. The impact the war had on its homelands led to "total war" in which the participation of the people at home in the nations at war was required to help support the troops. The poster shown at this part in the chapter shows the propoganda used to encourage women to join in the working class in factories to produce the supplies needed by their troops. Women on both sides of the war took over the jobs their men had left behind as their efforts to support their nations. I found it interesting that this part in the book did not speak more about the role women played in World War I. Women were the diving force tat supplied te products needed such as uniforms and artillery. In the time of the Women's Suffrage Movement, these women were finally given a chance to work in the factories that were previously limited to men. Women were able to experience the liberty of working for themselves and feeling that they too could be an important part in the fight for their countries even if they were not allowed on the battlefield. This movement ultimately led to the increase in jobs for women and was unintentionally a big step in their movement towards equality.

Comment on What kind of -ist Hannah Teter Is

Hannah Teter and Vonn are humanists. They believe in the natural beauty and wonders of the human body. As olypmic athletes these women know a lot about the abilities of the human body and probably have a great appreciation for all the body can do. Vonn and Teter are women who train constantly and push their bodies tho the limit, it is only natural for them to love their bodies. Taking pictures of their bodies does not bother Vonn becasue she thinks that people should be more comfortable with nudity. I agree with the athletes that the human body should be observed and appreciated for its beauty. The body is incredible and should be marvelled for its abilities. I feel that people like olymipic athletes have more right to show off their hard earned bodies than the women in other magazines who have artifically created their bodies.

Chapter 19 European Movement in Worl History

What struck me most interesting in this chapter was the section about the perception of the "other" (563). Throughout history people have always treated other people differentlyt because they labeled them as different. It is an "us" vs. "them" kind of issue. People create a self concept and group with people who relate. All people who differ from them are automatically considered to be an other. This classification of people is very dangerous because it justifies peoples' actions when they treat one another differently. It is easy for a person to dehumanize another person when they classify them as an other. The white Europeans easily classified Africans as unhuman because they looked different from what the Europeans were used to. the Africans differed from the norm and were judged because of it. The Europeans convinced themselves that the Africans were less than human and thereforeable to be manipulated like animals. This section of the chapter speaks about the process of classifying people as the "other". In religion many would think that all other people who are not Christian are not children of God. People usually classified "others" based on physical appearances. Later the Europeans took a more scientific approach at classifying people. Craniologists began to measure the size of skulls. The skulls of white people happened to be larger so they automatically assumed that caucasian was the supior race and that all others were inferior to them. Race became everything, there were sterotypes created that labeled every person in a race the same things. There was no more individuality because people looked at your skin color and assumed they already knew everything about you. This system of creating "others" has only seperated the human race and kept us from uniting to learn from one another.

Chapter 17 Atlantic Revolutions

The beginning of the chapter spoke about eurocentricism. The idea that everything revolved around Europe caught my attention because it reminded me of what I had seen on T.V. the night before. I had been watching the opening ceremony for the olympics and noticed that when each country was introduced there was a little screen off to the side that showed where that country was in comparison with the United States. When I read about this chapter the next day I thought about how we are like Europe in our belief that we are the center. I found it interesting that all of the Atlantic revolutions were connected in that each reflected the one before it. The American revolution from the French was a big event that triggered more and more people to believe in their own independence. The idea of liberty spread like the industrial revolution. Soon everyone wanted to be apart of it. The revolutions influenced much more than independence, they inspired freedom of slavery, nationalism, and feminism. The people of Haiti are a good example of the abolition of slavery for they revolted and took freedom by force because they knew they deserved equality. People around the world began to realize that they were more than just a class status. Everyone was born with the right to freedom and equality, which ment that people no longer wanted monarchs or a handful of wealthy controlling all of the money while the majority of people starved. They realized that they deserved a better life and used to revolutions as a way to take what was rightfully theirs from those who formerly controlled everything and everyone. Although today everyone is no treated equally there is a much better sense of freedom because of these revolutions. We now have democracy and instead of tring to conquer the rest of the world many nations are more interested in becoming allies. Without the Atlantic revolutions I fear the world would have been far worse than it is today.

Chapter 18 Revolutions of Industrialization

The industrial revolution is a period in history where everything changed for the generation at the time and the many to come. Starting in Brittain the industrial revolution was the begining of new innovations and lifestyles for everyone. The industrial revolution followed the scientific revolution for people began to think of new ways to make things more easily. The people wanted to create new systems that would produce goods more easily and at less cost, but good quality. Machines were created and factories were built that put these new ideas into action. Industrialization spread quickly throughout the rest of the world once they saw what Brittain had created. Although this revolution created a foundation the the technilogically advanced society we now live in I am not sure it had all positive effects. The new factories enforced workers to work 13 hour shifts with little pay. There was child labor and critisism for women working alongside men to support their families. The creation of machines put many people out of jobs that were once done by hand. The revolution created a difference in classes as some people rose to upper class society through owning factories, but left many in the middle and labor classes. Middle class families did generally well, but the labor class were forced to live in crowded housing and work long hours while mansions were being built around them. Today there is a need for jobs in our country because like the industrial revolution we are outsourcing to try and produce more at lower cost to ourselves. I think that if there were less machines more people would have jobs building, what is now built with machines, with their own hands. Technology is increasing everyday and I think that it may lead to our downfall. It may be smarter to revert back to the days when things were made by the hands of our communties. It will be interesting to see how the industries will end now that I know how they began.

Chapter 16 Religion and Science

I find it appalling that religious groups acted through force rather than peace in the early modern world. When I think of religion I don't think of war and persuasion, I think of peace within yourself and your faith in God. The religious groups like the Catholic church seemed to have more hierarchy than most rulers. The church had more influence in state matters than it ever should have had. A church is somewhere a person can go to connect with God and find guidance in their life. It should not be another form of government. The Catholic and Christian churches seemed to force their beliefs upon other people whom have unique cultures and beliefs of there own. It sends off the message that religion is an all or nothing deal. You either believe in our God or you are a sinner kind of thing. This is ridiculous. Every person is unique and therefore should be able to practice his or her's personal beliefs in God. I think that as long as a person is content within themselves and their spirituality it does not matter what religion they are for they are striving to be a better person just like everyone else who believes in God. The churches should simply keep their doors open to new comers instead of imposing themselves upon other cultures. Even though religion and science are opposites I believe religion should be more like the practices of enlightenment, people should be able to see the world through their own knowledge and beliefs.

Chapter 15 Global Commerce

In today's world we take a lot of things for granted because we are all accustomed to these things being an ordinary part of our lives. Things like spices and sugar are a normal part of people's kitchens. Around the 1500's this was not the case. Simple things like nutmeg and sugar were luxuries that were perceived to be important enough to kill thousands of people to obtain it. Commodities such as sugar and fur led to the corruption of the cultures of many people and enslaved millions. The Portuguese were not as interested in the actual products as they were in power. The Portuguese wished to control the trade empire in the Indian Ocean. They did not have anything to offer in return so instead they took it by force. The Portuguese would destroy cities leaving only enough people alive to warn other cities of their treachery. The Spanish looked to control the people more than trade. They wanted to spread their religious beliefs and gain control over the communities as well as the products they produce. The Philippines were named after the Spanish king Phillip II for this very reason. The Dutch were mainly pirates in their actions because they were private companies as opposed to groups sent by the government. The Dutch companies killed 15,000 people for nutmeg. I would rather go my entire life without tasting nutmeg than to hurt another person. Although the situation was different back then. Many European countries did not have any sort of spices to flavor or preserve their food with. I'm guessing their very bland culinary life is what lead to their obsession for spices. The Brittish were much more peaceful in their trade with India for tea. They would actually work with the native government t a certain extent to minimize bloodshed. The Europeans did not stop at spices, they also wanted fur, for it was a great luxery. The Europeans would trade with Native Americans for furs because the Native Americans were experts in hunting. The Europeans ended up corrupting the Native American culture by influencing them to kill more and more animals and by introducing them to alcohol, which lead to innapropriate behavior. Not only did commodities during this time in history corrupt cultures, it enslaved millions of people. The Europeans would take African people and force them into slavery to produce the much wanted commodities. It is incredible to look around our kitchens today and think of how many people were killed for each of the spices in our cabbinets.

Chapter 4 Sugar

First of all I apologize if this isn't very long. I had written this all out last night but when
I went to post my blog the website stopped working and erased all of my work except for the first sentence.
No matter how many stories I read about slavery it is always hard for me to believe that such an atrocious act could have been committed by humans. I would think that people would instantly know that it is wrong to enslave another person. Then again people debased the Africans to justify their actions of enslaving them. The slave owners actually proved themselves to be more inhumane than the enslaved themselves. It is hard to believe that the majority of people allowed slavery to continue and that slavery continues to ruin lives of people today.
I was shocked to see how much of the chapter was about slavery compared to the amount of material on sugar itself. The chapter was about the production of sugar and I was expecting it to go into much more detail about the line of production. I felt that the chapter should have spent more time on the places sugar traveled to and its effects on the people who encountered it. It is good that the chapter spent time talking about the slavery that produced the sugar because the enslaved people were the reason the world was able to experience sugar. I just wish that the chapter had gone through the effects sugar had in more detail.
It was interesting that one of the pieces of evidence was about the slave platers. It spoke sympathetically about the sugar plantation owners and their troubles as if the owners were the ones doing the hard labor, not the slaves. Overall I felt that this chapter was very informative and shocking.