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. 

Ch. 17 Industrial Revolution

In what respects did the roots of the Industrial Revolution lie within Europe? In what ways did that transformation have global roots?

In the early phase of Europe's Industrial Revolution, industrialization spread quickly by 1850. Europeans favored innovation and competed among each other which I can assume there was a large advancement in technology. Larger empires like China, the Ottoman, or Mughal didn't grow their technological factors for this feeling of security in their economy. "Such internally competitive economies, coupled with a highly competitive system of rival states, arguably fostered innovation in the new civilization taking shape in Western Europe"(829). The society in Europe was leaning more towards capitalism where they were developing market-based economies. These created networks of exchange and trade where various different cultures were generating a global root of innovation. Europeans were going on voyages like to China where they were getting inventions from, and from India where they were getting their textiles. Chinese porcelain and Japanese lacquerware became very popular and were looked up to for its high quality. In the Americas, the Europeans discovered silver to trade in Asian markets as well as timber, fish, maize, potatoes, and more. Cotton produced by slaves was a hit for the textile industry at low prices. In addition, sugar produced by slaves "furnished cheap calories to European workers"(830). The Americas made great profits for European merchants and entrepreneurs due to the fact the Americas wanted to trade with the machine-produced goods from Europeans. This was definitely one of the roots of technological and economic growth. The main key point to get out of this is that commerce and cross-cultural exchange provided technological transformations for the economy. 


What were the differences between industrialization in the United States and that in Russia?

The American industrialization started with the textile industry and was the world's leading industrial power. They grew financially from the British, French, and German capitalists. The U.S government enabled tax breaks, grants for railroad companies, laws for corporations, and more. The Model T produced by Henry Ford was affordable for many ordinary people. On the other hand, there was an abuse of capitalist industrialization. Many railroad workers went on strike because some of their payment was cut and farmers railed against banks, industrialists, monopolies, the money system, and political parties. Progressives pushed for wage and hour legislation, better sanitation standards, antitrust laws, and greater governmental intervention in the economy. One of the main characteristics of American industrialization if socialism. 
The Russian industrialization was the sole outpost of absolute monarchy where the state exercised greater control over individuals and society. There was a hierarchy that influenced its societies like upper levels were landowners and military and government officials. Most Russians were peasant serfs where they had masters, were subjects to sale, and exploited. This was basically slavery (from how I see it). A difference between these two countries was that the United States had an uprising for change from society as free farmers, workers, and businessmen for new opportunities. In Russia, change was rarely initiated by the state. Peter the Great was to be Russia's "window on the west." Catherine the Great continue it to modernize and westernize Russia viewing herself as heir to the European Enlightenment. Another thing was the freeing of serfs in 1861 where it was stimulated by the military defeat by the British and French in the Crimean War. By the 1890s, Russia's Industrial Revolution was launched! They focused on railroads and heavy industry and fueled by foreign investments. They were ranked fourth in the world for steel production and had big industries in coal, textiles, and oil. 

How did the Industrial Revolution interact with the Scientific Revolution and the French Revolution to generate Europe's modern transformation?

The Industrial Revolution interacted with the Scientific Revolution and the French Revolution to generate Europe's modern transformation of European society and to propel Europe into global dominance. Agricultural predecessor began in Western Europe and spread rapidly. Both revolutions combined resulted in a strong political and economic impact in Europe, including individualism and secularism. The Scientific Revolution helped the Industrial Revolution for new technological inventions where it was greatly encouraged.