ch. 23: capitalism and culture

8) Feminism was becoming bigger where women emphasized on employment and education. Liberation for women was recognizing their own oppression across the country. There was more action than speaking upon equal rights like trashing the Miss America contest of 1968. Feminists brought the significance of respecting their sexuality and celibacy. Western feminism arises in colored women since white, middle-class feminists rarely paid attention to their oppression. These women focused on racism and poverty where they set up their own organizations.  African and European feminists resented Western feminists’ insistent interest in cultural matters such as female genital mutilation and polygamy. 

14) Imagining the world population went from 1.6 billion in 1900 to 7 billion in 2012 is absolutely insane. This was due to all the technological advantages and better sanitation resulting in a lower death rate. The Green Revolution technologies also made it possible for more world food supplies and genetically modified seeds. Oil was better off than coal to tap the energy potential of fossil fuels. In addition, other better qualities for humankind came along like hydroelectricity, natural gas, and nuclear power. Eventually, another impact on the environment of the increase in humans in the twentieth century is economic growth increasing services in science and technology. Although all the great factors are aware, many negative factors increased as well in the environment.

16) Very interesting video and I absolutely agree that the Whanganui River should be legal. Many people take advantage of nature and their iconic views. One of my favorite lines from the video was from the Indigenous girl, "Every living organism is just as important as you." There is life. There are emotions. There are things much greater than humans. Humans like receiving respect, but why haven't humans given respect to nature's living organisms? Indigenous people should be respected as well and they are often not thought of in global issues. This correlates to historical context because of the impact it is carrying on environmentalism. This is a step to containing wildlife and parks clean and safe. This honors all the living organisms in those areas and set an example for other areas around the world. Green and global is the way to go!

module 7

This pandemic is a major and endless headache bothering everyone in this world. I've honestly had enough of this pandemic and I absolutely hate talking about it because it’s what all the news talks about! It’s entirely devastating that another pandemic is occurring but it just sucks in all the positivity from everyone. Besides reading about various pandemics before COVID-19, I’ve also read about spiritual awakenings or a new era beginning. It has been a great belief of mine that something astonishing will occur to everyone once this whole pandemic is over. Although it has made the economy crash, case millions of deaths, and interrupted events, people should show some human decency among others. Being selfish at this time is probably the most wrong thing you can do. We should celebrate each other for standing in solidarity for others who were unfortunate of getting this virus. I am aware that this module is about an explanation on pandemics but it has been completely overwhelming for me to think and write about. I’m sure others feel the same way too but I applaud everyone doing their best and accomplishing it. 

chapter 22: the end of empire

6) What was the role of Gandhi in India’s struggle for independence?

Gandhi rose withing the leadership of the INC and got a wide support from Indians like peasants, urban poor, intellectuals, artisans, capitalists and socialists, and Hindus and Muslims. He transformed the INC into this mass organization producing miracles at huge events. He sought a peaceful and unified society throughout villages through ancient Indian principles of duty and morality. One of the coolest things about Gandhi, in my opinion, is the fact that he embraced efforts for women to not be regarded as a man's slave. He embraced women empowerment to the extent where he believed that brings more than just kitchen duties. His power was for women to see their dignity and worth. Many Indian women got out of their houses and joined the struggle for independence. Fighting against the sexism in India was to better the society and the development of the economy.

9) Why do you think Abdul Khan is generally unknown? Where does he fit in the larger history of the twentieth century?

I would believe he isn't as unknown as one may perceive, but it could be because he was a follower of Gandhi's movement. He is a well-respected figure in Pakistan and India, but not as much in the Western part of the world. He can be described as a Muslim-Indian freedom fighter who fought against the British Empire for independence. He was a pacifist and had a nonviolent opposition. He established the Servant of God movements where it was committed to nonviolence, social reform, unity of the Pathan people, and the independence of India. It then became affiliated with Gandhi's movement, the INC, where they were the most powerful political force in the region. He was repeatedly imprisoned in Pakistan and British due to Pakistani military thinking he was a communist.

15) What obstacles impeded the economic development of third-world countries?

Some obstacles started with the division of class, religion, ethnicity, and gender throughout all the population. Third world countries were dominated by powerful capitalist economies of the West. For a modern development to occur, there would need to be low rates of literacy, more people with managerial experience, a strong private economy, and mixing people who are usually segregated. Most developing countries had little leverage in negotiations with wealthy nations of the global north.

Module 5

What a time ain't it? Although we are in the middle of a pandemic and all hell broke loose, this isn't the first dangerous pandemic. Vibrio cholerae, or Cholera 6, was an outbreak that spread through contaminated water in the years of 1817-1930. It was nicknamed the "Blue Death" because of how much body fluid was lost in a person that their skin turned blue. Cholera still exists in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Haiti. The early symptoms are vomit and then diarrhea and dehydration. This could be fatal within hours due to the toxin being produced in the small intestine. It has been stated that the Cholera 6 occurs in poverty, war, natural disasters because of inadequate sanitation. This bacteria can be spread by one's stool that can contaminate food and water supplies. This means that wells, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, and even grains can be exposed to which people use in their everyday life. In addition to killing about 1 million people, it caused social and economic structure in turmoil. There was a vaccine that was created, oral cholera vaccine (OCV), that was requires two doses for full protection.

chapter 20: fascism

According to Mussolini, fascism was anti-communism. Italy became a fascist regime where the government suspended democracy and imprisoned, deported, and executed opponents. They disbanded opposing political parties and groups were organized in corporations. Later on, the Germans took on fascism in the Nazi Party under Adolf Hitler. There was extreme nationalism with the use of extraordinary violence. Hitler generated a dictatorship where he enhanced the views on war. I want to point out that before the Jewish genocide occurred under the Nazi Party, Hitler got his ideas from the first modern genocide at the beginning of the nineteenth century known as the Armenian Genocide. The Turkish set out a systematic killing to all the Armenians in 1915 (look it up). Anyways, from my research, I found that fascism originated under the Italian regime. I chose this picture to show two of the most known fascist leaders, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. They became alliances and fascism became a horrendous definition. Mussolini brutally attacked and murdered his fellow Italian citizens and persecuted the Jewish people living in Italy. Both of these dictators had something crucial in common: who got to be part of their nation (superiority).

ch. 19: empires of collision

From the year 1800 to 1914, one of the most addictive drug use in history comes to play: opium. Britain has also violated China by intruding to sell opium to China's people, according to President Hu Jintao. It has much been said that the Chinese government was humiliated due to the unequal treaties they signed to give up territories to Britain.

1. With the growing population, China wasn't keeping up with its people where there were a majority of impoverished people. Not only that, but the state was also unable to be effective in tax collection, flood control, social welfare, and public security. What else? Officials were corrupted and there were harsh treatments on peasants happening all the time. The Europeans made it much difficult for the Chinese government to get back on their feet as well as disrupted internal trade routes, tons of unemployment, and increased taxes for peasants. Eventually, all of this contributed to a growing number of gangs and outright rebellions. The rebellion's leaders were against Confucianism, Daoism, and Biddhism where they idolized a unique form of Christianity. These people wanted a change in their communities like abolishing private property, ending prostitution, no more opium smoking, and forced segregation of sexual military camps of men and women.

5. The Ottoman Empire became weak and local warlords became powerful. Territories shrank by the Russians, British, Austrian, and French The Europeans gained oceanic access for Eurasian commerce to Asia. There lay cheap manufactured goods imported from the Europeans and many people started riots on the bad quality foreign imports. Eventually, the Ottoman Empire fell under European rule.

9. Japan changed by samurais evolving to a salaried bureau where it was about 6 percent of the total Japanese population. There was a long era of peace that contributed to economic growth, commercialization, and urban development. Peasants who turned out to be entrepreneurs used their innovations for agriculture that grew more rice than ever! Japan became a well-functioning society between urban and rural areas. In addition, education was aspiring among the population where 40 percent of men and 15 percent of women were able to read and write. This was a solid foundation during this era due to Japan's industrial growth. Samurais, although devoted to their warrior code, they were far more interested in their commerce than continuing to be samurais. Merchants became wealthy and many peasants moved to the cities. There, they became artisans where they enjoyed their luxurious lives and ignored their social status as farmers.

Ch. 18 Colonial Encounters

10. The young boys with severed hands in the picture titled “Colonial Violence in the Congo” on page 803, were among the victims of a brutal regime of forced labor undertaken in the Congo during the late 19^thand early 20^thcenturies. Such mutilation as punishment for their villages’ inability to supply the required amount of wild rubber. Discuss… what would you share in a class discussion group about this photo?

Seeing this photo for the first time my first impressions was "Wow." These were young boys and the brutality and pain they faced were unimaginable. The forced cultivation of cash crops was successful among colonial authorities but not for the Congo people. As one man shares his experience, "And yet the German wanted us to pay him tax. Were we not human beings?" I read a lot about how dogs and animals were treated better than the enslaved people and honestly, it couldn't be any more true. These people went through HELL! Seeing the photograph of the young boys really demonstrates that these colonial authorities had no remorse. Just from this one photograph one can tell how much they are suffering for themselves and for their people. They're barefoot, skinny, and tired. It makes me wonder what other people's impressions were when they saw this photo. 

11. How did cash-crop agriculture transform the lives of colonized peoples?

Many Asian and African peoples were producing an international market and offered trade items like peanuts and palm oil in West Africa. Other trading items included cotton in Egypt, spices in Indonesia, and pepper and textiles in India. In some areas, there was an increased cash-crop production by local farmers like rice. There were no more exports of rice and now farmers were provided with irrigation and transportation facilities, and ownership of small farms. Not only did the production of cash-crops improved, so did the wellbeing of others because of how they were living. In addition, this practice of colonial development was also reached in the Mekong River where there were environmental consequences. There was mass destruction of mangrove forests, dikes and irrigation channels that use of the soil's resources, and large amounts of methane gas being generated. African farmers also took the initiative to develop and export cacao, used to make chocolate. There was less labor time and essentially easier to produce than cotton. Although as something as good as producing their own crop and being successful at it, problems awakened. There was a labor shortage that "brought a huge influx of migrants from the drier interior parts of West Africas, generating ethnic and class tensions." 

13. How were the lives of African women in particular altered by colonial economies?

The lives of African women were altered by having more domestic responsibilities and more opportunities. Women were in charge of planting, weeding, and harvesting as well as food preparation and child care. Women were expected to feed their own families. A woman's workload was increased as men wanted to grow their own personal field. Since men were seeking employment in cities, settler farms, or mines,  wives were left to manage the domestic economy usually or almost alone. In addition, women had to make food to men in the cities and also took over the tasks of men. These tasks included planting, milking the cows, and supervising the herds. Since the majority of men were absent in maintaining the domestic economy, women went back to their families instead of with their husband's family. These women made their own and new, improved farm equipment, laborsaving crops, and also earned money as traders. In the city, they established a self-help association where prostitutes and brewers were included. I enjoy the fact that women made a difficult situation into something greater and successful since men were basically useless to them after so much time being alone. Women thrived and dominated the economy by selling food, cloth, and inexpensive imported goods. One example of becoming successful women were the Nupe women in Nigeria gaining more wealth than the men in their households. Cassava was a big cash value compared to men growing yams. This is the beginning of the independence of the woman where they made their own profit! I love a good story about the empowerment of women.