Marcus Aurelius Explain Everything Project

Marcus Aurelius Biography

Here is the link:

https://docs.google.com/a/bps121.org/document/d/1eP1kTM0AP3wN0NjxlEhDiVXGVmriVqsfJTMHcbUCBFU/edit?usp=drive_web

Kwame Nkrumah Italicized Question pg. 1112

Nkrumah's call for African unity instead of fragmentation reflects the tensions between decolonization and the ongoing cold war in that in each conflict, the less prominent idea struggles to overcome the idea of higher prominence.  For example, Nkrumah asks for unity despite the heavily prevalent division in the African continent.  Also, the colonies desire for independence even though with the cold war, the superpowers and nations of greater influence, such as France and Great Britain, want to retain these colonies.  In Nkrumah's case, he battles with the people who feel unity is impossible with the different ethnicities, cultures, and ideas in Africa.  The colonies struggle with the colonizers who wish to hold control of these areas under their power.  Nkrumah also portrays the distaste that the colonies have towards the superpowers.  He wants to build a great nation based on trust and hope rather than on fear and suspicion.  He also stresses the division within the world due to the cold war and that African harmony can provide an example for the entire globe.

Effectiveness of Conclusion of War

The causes I identified for World War II were the harsh punishment of Germany after World War I, which gave rise to Hitler's radical ways and followers, and the subsequent aggression by Germany on other nations. This aggression was also used by Japan and Italy, which then led to the onset of a global war. The formation of the United Nations after WWII helped to resolve the cause of aggressive behavior by countries. However, the division of Germany and occupations of it by the U.S., Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union might not have resolved the WWII cause, German punishment. Considering the split of Germany resulted in two opposing sides, capitalism and communism, then this may also lead to aggressions and a later war. Also, the differences between the two superpowers of the U.S. and the Soviet Union can lead to future aggressions and thus, may not have resolved this cause.

Map for before World War I

Change and Continuity with Evidence for World War I

A change in the world between pre-World War I and post-World War 1 is that Europe developed new boundaries and thus, new countries. A continuity between these two time periods is that Africa remained predominantly British colonies.

Change Evidence:
- Austria-Hungary empire before; Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia after
- Romania's boundary expands northern border after WWI into previous Austria-Hungary region
- Russia's western border turns into Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Poland

Continuity Evidence:
- colony of Sudan before and after World War I belongs to Britain
- colony of Egypt stays with Britain before and after war

Reasons Why:
The change occurred because the empires that lost parts of their respective regions were all in a decline after the war. In order to restore peace and keep a balance of power in Europe, these new boundaries and countries were established.

Africa remained predominantly British colonies because after the war, prominent and imperial countries in the world were resolved to put in agendas that would help in limiting future potential large-scale wars. As a result, none of these other types of countries had time to change the colonizing scheme in Africa.

Map for after World War I

Ottomans, Safavids, Mughals, Tokugawa Japan, and Ming/Qing China

The Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals were similar to Tokugawa Japan and Ming/Qing China in that they all attempted to isolate themselves from the outside world. This idea was similar amongst the societies because they all valued stability within their political and social structures rather than outside cultural influence.

The Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals were different from Tokugawa Japan and Ming/Qing China in that the Columbian Exchange, specifically the introduction of American crops, had a lesser effect in regards to population growth in the Islamic empires. This occurred because Islamic empires relied more on the traditional crops established in their regions as well as the use of traditional agriculture methods. They did not try to use the American food crops to enhance their diets like the people of Tokugawa Japan and Ming/Qing China did. The demographic growth in the Islamic empires was stagnant and barely rose for each empire.

Reason for Placing Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Dynasties

The textbook grouped the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals together because the structure of their dynasties, such as politics and economics, are very similar. All three descended from semi-nomadic Turks and therefore, follow the same steppe traditions. As the realms and expanses of individual kingdoms as well as their influences do not match those of the previous larger empires, such as the Romans, Byzantines, Persians, and the Chinese dynasties, Bentley and Ziegler have decided to group specific smaller kingdoms of later times. In the future, we will see in the textbook that kingdoms of similar structure and origin will be placed together in order to follow this ideal. This differs from the previous presentation in that the empires are not talked about individually despite the fact that they occupied different regions.

Pg. 748 Fabian Fucan Question

In Fabian Fucan's attack on Christianity, the religious aspects include that it will overthrow the Buddhas and the gods of Japan. He also targets the religion's desire to promote their faith in every area of Japan and he criticizes their martyrdom. Cultural aspects are that people of Christian faith will overtake the country, force Japanese inhabitants to lose their customs, and impose Christians' customs on them. The historical aspects are his inclusion of how Christian believers have usurped the countries of the Philippines and Mexico. Political aspects include that Christianity will take away the gods of Japan who have provided the Imperial Dignity for generations of rulers. Additionally, he implies that it will take away the Three Divine Regalia (symbols of rule received from the gods). Also, the idea that they will usurp Japan can be considered a political aspect. Social aspects are that the religion will take away the customs of Japanese society and force the members of the society to be sectarians.

Reason for Qianlong's Tone

The point of view of Qianlong towards King George is arrogant and condescending. The reason for this point of view is because Qianlong believes he is the "Son of Heaven", and therefore, believes he is better than King George. There can only be one "Son of Heaven" and that person is Qianlong; as a result, he feels he has the power of God and heaven behind him. He also has been treated by eunuchs all his life in a large palace and thus, feels no need to act nicely towards others. He thinks he is incredibly extravagant and can just give orders.

Summaries for Paragraphs of Qianlong's Letter

In the first paragraph, Qianlong seems to be snotty about his society's possessions and feels as if he is higher and better than King George.

In the second paragraph, Qianlong again stresses his civilization's superiority in comparison to King George's inferiority. Qianlong does not want England to participate any further in the grand abundance of China.

In the third paragraph, Qianlong directly announces his refusal to accept King George's offerings regarding trade. He sees England as being irresponsible for asking for such impossible requests.

In the final paragraph, Qianlong emphasizes the need for England to obey his trade regulations. If they do not, their merchants will be punished.

Map of Ming and Qing Dynasties

History has Value

History can help people predict what will occur in the future. Based on the instance with the Ming and Qing dynasties, the history of the earlier dynasties can be utilized accurately to predict what could happen. Gilad's prediction that the bureaucracy in the Ming and Qing dynasties will increase and that a dynastic imperial monarchy will continue was correct. He used what occurred in history, which was the use of this type of government in previous Chinese dynasties and the increase in population, to make his prediction. I was also accurate in my prediction that Neo-Confucianism and a patriarchal society will persist. Similar to Gilad, it was based on the history of the earlier Chinese dynasties. Since a patriarchy and Neo-Confucianism were prevalent during these dynasties, I assumed that they would continue. Kaitlyn was also correct with her prediction regarding an increase in population. Her basis was that population continued at a steady rate in the previous dynasties, so she guessed that it would increase at the same rate in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Comparison between Actuality and Prediction of Gender and Religion in Ming and Qing

My prediction for religion was that Neo-Confucianism would continue into these two societies, which did coincide with what actually happened. However, I was inaccurate with saying that there would be more influence from Christianity and Islam. Christianity only had few converts and there was no mention of Islam in these dynasties. On the other hand, I was partially right in saying that Christianity would try to receive more converts.

For gender, I had predicted that a patriarchal society would continue and this was accurate. It in fact became further entrenched during these two dynasties. The reason for this structure's continuation and Neo-Confucianism's continuation was because previous dynasties also followed these. Based on the earlier dynasties, China seems to follow the same pattern, so therefore, it makes sense for the Ming and Qing to continue using a patriarchy and Neo-Confucianism.

What happens next? in Ming and Qing Dynasties with Gender and Religion

Based on the fact that a patriarchal society has lasted for many generations of dynasties and the idea that dynasties have thus repeated what previous ones have done in regards to gender, the Ming and Qing will most likely follow this same gender structure. In regards to religion, the increased influence in China from Europeans and Muslims as they augment trading excursions there will lead to more attempts to convert people to Christianity and Islam. However, Neo- Confucianism will probably remain as the main religion/philosophy because of its continuation from the Sui to the Yuan dynasty.

Review Game ch 21-26

Here is the link:

http://jeopardylabs.com/play/chapters-21-26

Reaction to Slavery and African Charts/Graphs

The first graph illustrates the increase in the African population from the 1500s to the 1800s, an augmentation of about 30 million. The increase seems to be steady from year to year. The second graph contains the number of African slaves exported in each century, from the 16th to the 18th. It shows a huge jump from the 17th to the 18th century with an approximate increase of 30000 slaves exported. The final graph demonstrates the regions in which the African slaves were exported to in the western hemisphere. The Caribbean received an amount of slaves just about equal to the amounts that Brazil, Central/South America, and North America all acquired.

From the graphs, I found the most surprising thing to be the continuous increase in the African population, even during the times of increased slave exportation. The first two graphs seem to be contradictory because common sense says that with the more slaves leaving Africa, especially since almost all of them were males, the population should decrease. The first two graphs help to add to the contents of the textbook. The population growth graph supports the book's information about how that despite the slave trade, population rose because of the enriched diets the Africans received from American food crops. The slave export graph defends the book's information that the 18th century was the highest point of the slave trade, in regards to the amount of slaves sent out from Africa. The destination of slaves chart does not coincide with what the book provides. The graph shows that the Caribbean acquired the largest amount of slaves, yet this region of the world is not discussed as strongly in the book as the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish colonies of Mexico and those in South America.

Comments on Classmates' Social Hierarchy Charts

Hey Holly! I was just thinking that it might make the chart clearer if you made an indication of the status and power.  Also, I know Portugal had different types of mixed parentage so you may have wanted to indicate those or make a separate Portugal chart with those mixes.

- Mark

Hey Lawrence, I like your flowcharts because they can be easily read and I can clearly follow them.  Also, it was a good idea to make the top levels a different  color so they stand out.  You may, though, have wanted to put more information about the role of women in the social hierarchies they applied to.

-Mark

Social Hierarchy Chart French Colonies