Ch. 16, 17, 18: Western Expansion & Globalization

1) What was The Great Dying? Cite examples and details from the historical record in your response. Could this be considered a genocide? Why/ why not?

The Great Dying was in the Americas where it was a natural phenomenon also known as "the Little Ice Age" which the period of unusual cold temperature spread mostly in the Northern hemisphere.  Scholars debate the causes suggesting: "a low point in sunspot activity, leading to less intense solar irradiation of the earth"; "chief cause was volcanic eruptions, whose ash and gases blocked the sun's warming energy in the upper atmosphere"; scientist also link it to the "demographic collapse in the Americas" which is the Native Americans deserting their farmland and traditional practices of forest management that caused a revival of plant life to take in large amounts of carbon dioxide and green house gas which got into the atmosphere and resulted in a global cooling.  This is a tough consideration of it being genocide, but just like histories past with the plague and other diseases being carried especially by outsiders traveling through the seas in ships were also a big factor in bringing or creating diseases that caused so much death during those times.  I don't think it was intentional as it could be more accidental, but the evolution of humanity in relation to immunity and cultivation of medicine helped yet even now during the pandemic, this is something we must adapt to, learn, and grow from.  Even with modern technology and the advancements of science plus medicine, viruses can continue to manipulate or manifest themselves.  Its a scary world and it was most likely even more confusing back then with small pox, measles, etc.  

2) What did native Siberians and native Americans have in common in terms of their experiences with Europeans during the early Modern period?

The native Siberians were overrun by Russians by 1720, about 700,000 Russians lived in Siberia which reduced the natives to 30% of the total population like how native Americans were slowly being pushed out of their own land.  The other similarities with their experiences were the disease that took over the people which were brought from outsiders that arrived.  Another thing in common were some became dependent on goods as those that settled started to spread across the native lands since their resources were depleting.  Siberans and many Native American people were also introduced or pressured to convert to Christianity from Europeans.

3) Discuss the history and impact of the Indian Ocean trade network (the Sea Roads) from the Classical to Modern periods.

The Sea Road in the Classical period linked people all across the Eastern Hemisphere.  It was a trade route by sea that was transported by ships that accommodated larger and heavier cargoes which meant they could carry more products that were designed for bulk or mass market items which meant lower costs to ship.  This benefited Southeast Asia as they were transformed by this experience which involved commerce with neighboring areas that they were able to dock ships like the Indian Ocean basin.  “Paralleling the Silk Road trading network, a sea- based commerce in the Indian Ocean basin connected the many peoples between China and East Africa.” (page 292, Map 7.2)  The Byzantium gained access and command of the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean during the Classical period but China, India, Arabia, and East Africa contributed to the commerce in the Indian Ocean where the Sea Road traveled.

In the Modern period, the Portuguese were the dominant trade force in the Indian Ocean.  Sea trade was becoming more popular especially receiving the supplies faster and reaching farther obtaining products from other countries.  They were the empire of commerce that were able to trade openly due to their more established navy that established fortified bases throughout multiple locations that made them a trading post empire.  The trades of spices and controlling the sea gave them the upper hand to monopolize spice plus trade routes/access.

4) Look at the pie chart titled “The Destinations of Slaves” on page 627 of our textbook. What might people find surprising about the percentages of slaves who disembarked in different parts of the Americas? What factors explain why the percentages were this way?

When I look at the destinations of slaves disembarking by percentages, it's an almost even split between Brazil and Caribbean with the majority of the pie chart consisting 45% each taking a whopping 90% (almost 10 million).  Mainland North America and Mainland Spanish America with just about 10% (almost 1 million).  The factors are that the labor demands in Brazil and the Caribbean were needed for the plantation economy while in North plus Spanish America and Europe the voyage across the Atlantic caused more than 14% deaths which could explain the lower amount of slaves traveling also were at a smaller capacity compared to the ones headed to the islands.

5) What does Strayer mean by the “echoes of Atlantic Revolutions”? Cite examples and details from the historical record in your response. Are the Atlantic Revolutions still echoing in the 21stCentury?

I believe Strayer meant that the echos of Atlantic Revolutions continued to have a ripple effect causing new movements from revolutions in the: North American Revolution (1775-1887) which also sprung the beginning of antislavery movement; French Revolution (1789-1799); Haitian Revolution (1791-1804); Spanish American Revolution (1808-1825).  These revolutions created an echo of challenges about oppression and/or exclusion.  The Atlantic Revolution gave new insight on abolishing slavery, independence from foreign rule for unity, raise awareness for feminism against the masculinity of society, and are still relevant in the 21st Century.  Women are still fighting for equality which is long over due.  Slavery may be gone, but after that there was segregation and discrimination towards colored plus immigrants not being treated fairly.  Even til this day, there is still social justice that is demanded and racism exists which is rooted from the acts of histories past.  The Atlantic Revolution was the global significance that pushed to where we are today, still fighting for peace and freedom.

6) What did feminists and abolitionists have in common? How and why did they sometimes work together?

With the Atlantic revolutions, it inspired women to secure greater equality in a movement for feminism and efforts for abolitionists to abolish slavery.  They were both working to gain freedom, justice, and equality.  It was also white men who seemed to take control and had the dominant power that was over women plus slaves, so they were both fighting for a just cause.  Their mentalities of creating a better future of equal rights and integration of trying to be more accepting to women and slaves.  It was a sense of freedom for both.

7) NO QUESTION? :)

8) What was the Industrial Revolution? Where and when did it begin? Discuss its long-term significance to people, cities and the planet.

The Industrial Revolution began in Europe, specifically Britain in the 1780s.  The population increased throughout the world especially in Japan, China, and Western Europe has grown exponentially so there was an energy crisis where the economy could not supply enough for the demand of industrial fuels, wood, and charcoal.   Therefore, nonrenewable fossil fuels replaced the energy sources that needed wind, water, wood, physical labor of animals and humans with the use of coal, oil, and natural gas.  The innovation of Europe created a new age in the economy and use of inventions to save time and create more amounts of energy.  To the planet, this was an impact to the environment as the lands were changed by the heavy machinery landscaping.  Sewage systems and waste were dumped into the ocean and rivers which consisted of hazardous chemicals damaging the ecosystem plus poisoned the water supply or fish.   Smoke from industries polluted the air and those nearby or worked in those factories were susceptible to have an increased chance of respiratory illness.  Cities would become covered in black smoke which created an eerie dark atmosphere.  One of the biggest things to come up was the use of locomotives to haul coal.  This sparked railroad building all over the world.  The rapid growth of the U.S., Japanese, and Russians followed behind Britain with their innovations.  This gave many people jobs, but were not necessarily safe, fair, or well trained to do so.  In the Industrial Revolutions coal fired steam engine for locomotives continued to be the highlight which later on helped with creating the textile industry that produced iron and steel for railroads, steamships, food processing, and construction.  This led to more innovation in regards to agriculture, science, and more.  For agriculture there were mechanical tools and use of chemical fertilizers to create a faster and more efficient way of farming.  The Industrial Revolution pushed the innovation even further to reach Asia, Africa, and Latin American countries to develop more modern societies.  The continuous production of inventions created many of the products and made it easier to reach the demand for supplies.

9) Chapter 18 contains some powerful images. Why do you suppose Strayer chose to include these specific images? How do they illustrate concepts introduced in this chapter? Choose one image and a) describe it, b) explain how it illustrates a concept from the chapter, and c) give your general thoughts about the image, as you might do in the context of a small in-class discussion group. The images you can choose from are (your version of the textbook may use different titles and page numbers):

            An American View of British Imperialism (p.790)

            European Racial Images (p.791)

            Map 18.2 Conquest and Resistance in Colonial Africa (p.796)

            Colonial Violence in the Congo (p.803)

            The Educated Elite (p.815)

The picture I chose is the Educated Elite which was showing asian people dressed up in European clothing posing for a photo, specifically its King Chulalongkom of Siam with the crown prince and other young students.  I suppose Strayer chose to include this because the identity and cultural change in the colonial era started to integrate or almost disregard native's own traditions to trade for another which is a constant conception of image throughout history in the attempt to blend in or look more "modern" or "fashionable" in which they would think to be more accepted.  Especially in this chapter, influence from others in regards to social status would depict those who are looked upon as inferior believe that this is whats right or how people should look.  The European presence changed the cultural identity of these Asian people, but what I wonder is if they were forced, was it their choice, a suggestion that planted an idea in their mind to accept, or truly became interested in the style as it indicated that they "enthusiastically embraced the culture and lifestyle of Europe."