Blog 18

In the 12th century, educated Asian and African individuals began to arise. During this period of time many leaders, such as Gandhi, Nehru, Sukarno, Mandela and Ho Chi Minh, With the India under British rule, they were able to develop their culture which bound their people together. British attacks on Islamic Ottoman Empire antagonized India's Muslims. After this war, influenza broke to wiping out millions of Indians. This is when Gandhi decided to make a move and start a movement to protest against racial segregation of Muslims. He also fought for women to help elevate their say in marriages. Shortly after, women were able to gain more rights than they could ever imagine. They were granted equal rights in divorce and child custody. The Turkish women gained the right to vote20 year before French women did. Iran had read wealth in oil and a solid alliance with the U.S. The White Revolution's purpose was to grant women the right to vote, modernize the country and improve lives/working conditions.

Blog 17

According to Catholic social teaching, it is frowned upon by God to ignore our less-fortunate neighbors and those who are in need of goods that are necessary for life. It is believed to be that God's gift of Earth serves to provide for all of his children, being everyone who lives on the planet, and not jus those who are fortunate and can afford. God also opposed those who hoard wealth and the fact that wealthy plantation owners in Latin America were succeeding as their workers were nearly starving. People who owned large property were also responsible for being able to provide for those who are in need and being responsive/available to them. No one officially owned anything materialistic since material goods were owned and created by God. Due to this belief, land or property can be taken and given to those who are in need of it even if it was formerly owned. 

In the nineteenth century social catholicism dedicated itself to improving the conditions of labor. To enforce prevailing labor protection, the government has became the answer to it. Doing this has included minimum wage laws and a few other regulations the give rights to workers. Rerum Novarum and the Laboream Exercens are to be two encyclicals are the most extensive treatment of labor issues. Even though they are years apart, they both share one common feature. Which was that they both had the tendecny to move back and forth rather quickly between abstract theological reflection and practical principles of worker justice. Both Leo XIII and John Paul II held an ideal of worker justice.

Blog 16

The Soviet Union was the first country to claim that they were communist. After World War I, many organized demonstrations to express their outrage. Many trade unions arose to defend workers interests and benefits for even independence. The Provisional Government was unable to meet Russia's demands and out them out of the war which caused aggression towards the government as many were demanding for their withdrawal. A group called the Bolsheviks came to power in 1917 as their leader, Vladimir Lenin, promoted the end of the war and land for the people. The Bolsheviks eventually called their party the "communist" party. The Bolsheviks then signed a treaty that took the Soviets out of the war and temporarily lost territory.
About 30 years after the Russian Revolution, communism hit China. The party that opposed the communist party was know as the Nationalist Party, led by Chiang Kai-shek. The Nationalists promoted modern development meaning the construction of railroads, light industry, banking, airline services, etc. Women also began to gain more rights as their gained their right to vote and a Marriage Law outlawed arranged marriages, and made divorce easier. Women then learned to read and write as well as produce clothing, blankets and shoes. Japans invasion of China broke down the Nationalist Party.
For women, divorce and abortion was made easier for them. women no longer had to take their husbands surnames, pregnancy leave was granted for women who worked,
The two alliances that were formed during the Cold War were NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The border that separated the East from the West was known as the Iron Curtain. Tensions grew but no shots were fired. The Cold War was basically a stand off war between the United States and their allies and the Soviet Union and their allies. The United States and Soviet Union never fought directly due to the fact that their allies basically fought their battles for them. Nuclear weapons were used aside from the hydrogen bomb.
As China began to industrialize and welcomed foreign investment, their economy grew dramatically. Improved diets, lower mortality rates, declining poverty and massive construction all helped to improve millions of peoples' lives in China.

Blog 15

The reading talks about the different alliances between the countries of Europe. It also talks about the Germans' defeat in the Great War. The war made each European country mobilize. The war also mocked Enlightenment values of progress, tolerance and rationality. As the war ended, many' values and beliefs changed such as women receiving the right to vote, radios and movies started to be created, and people became more open about sexuality. The Great War also widely affected other countries out of Europe. Some could argue that it sparked the beginnings of the ideas of the Nazi party. The war also led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire. The Great Depression began in 1929 as the stock market crashed. The Depression led the rich to jack up stock prices as the poor became poorer.Banks had closed and many lost their savings. The unemployment rate plummeted as many shops had to close down due to their loss of savings and business. Adolf Hitler discriminated against those who didn't have blonde and blue eyes or who were not a part of who he believed to be the master race, also known as the Germans. Many were exiled to concentration camps, the most popular being Auschwitz. The Nazi government then became the aspect of German life. The Marshall plan was put into place by the Americans who seeked to aid Europe and Asia. They donated billions of dollars to rebuild Europe after all the damage that had been done after World War II. The Germans felt threatened by the Soviet Union which lead to the birth of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO split up Germany into two, the West and East. NATO was formed in order to keep peace between the allies and axis powers.

Blog 14

By 1912, China was unable to keep up with their internal expansion and growing population. They underwent a crisis where they were unable to effectively perform functions such as tax collection, flood control and public security. Eventually China lost its power as internal trade routes lead to a higher rate of unemployment and higher peasant taxes. The Taiping Uprising occurred alongside the crisis in China. Its leader, Hong Xiuquan claimed that he was Jesus' younger brother who was sent down to rid the world of demons. He called for the abolition of private property, prostitution and opium smoking. Hong believed that the Qing dynasty "poisoned" China. Differently from Confucian customs, the Taiping Uprising promoted equal rights for women. The Taiping Uprising then established their capital in Nanjing in 1853. From then, it took Chinas economy nearly a decade to recover from all its devastation. They also went through a phase of "self-strengthening" where they largely depended on foreigners for materials and machinery.
Opium had first been transported from Arab traders to Britain, American and China. It became a highly addictive drug known to relieve pain. Opium was traded illegal into China which dramatically affected their population growth. The legalization of opium became a hot topic for years but Commissioner Lin Zexu had opposed the legalization of such a drug. As the British defeated China in the second Opium war, the Chinese lost control over Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea. Western nations plus Japan and Russia then controlled all influence on China. Later during the nineteenth century, Japan became the leading force in the West. Japan's army became one of the most powerful as they were able to fight for and capture Taiwan, Korea and later on Manchuria. Japans big defeat of Russia became a huge wake up call and proved Japan's military strength.

Call to Action Day

Today was Call to Action Day and I decided to go to Fair Oaks Elementary school to read to the students. When we first go there it was bit awkward and I felt like the directions weren't very clear but once we got started with the kids, they helped us get a feel of their routine when they come into the reading center. For the first 10 minutes, we read a book to a student while asking them comprehension questions to make sure they're paying attention. After that we would use a white board to write out different letter combinations that form different sounds and try to help the student understand how to pronounce those set of letters and what words you can find them in. Once we were finished with that, we gave the student a book that emphasized that specific letter combination so they could get a feel of the different words you can find those vowel sounds in and why it is relevant. The last activity we did was we let the student read the same book they just read while timing them for a minute and seeing how many words they can read per minute. We completed that three times while setting goals for the student to reach. The first student I had a session with was such a sweetheart. He loved reading and he was good at it for a fourth grader. As we were leaving Fair Oaks, he ran up to me and asked when I would be coming next which made my heart melt. The second student I had was a second grader. He had a hard time focusing on the reading as he found everything to be a distraction. Towards the end of our session he was able to pronounce words that have the letter U with the letter E at the end (ex. Flute). He struggled in the beginning but during the session where he had to read the book twice, he started to get the hang of it. I really enjoyed today and found it very rewarding especially when one of my students came up to me which showed me that he really enjoyed our session. I am now starting to consider volunteering for elementary schools' reading center in Redwood City since I enjoyed having one-on-one time with the students and making a difference in their reading and comprehension skills.

Blog 13

the CST handout talks about how smaller nations are deprived of true self determination due to the fact that they were formerly controlled by larger countries and experience dependency. As European countries took over the New Word, Africa and Asia, they spread Christianity by forcing baptisms and conversions at gunpoint. These actions were hidden. Catholic teachings both taught others that they all have moral obilgation to care about world poverty and want to change the gap between the worlds richest and poorest lands. Catholicism also provided believers with suggestions and ideas on how to improve their struggles. Poverty in the cities mainly affected the bishops as they urged to make a difference and guide individuals towards the right path just as Pope Paul VI did.

Blog 12

The reading starts off by talking about Europe expanding their industries. Europe sold most of their products to foreign countries due to the fact that they were producing way more goods than their people could afford. In the early 1900s, investors realized that they could make more money by doing so and selling their products abroad. Over seas communication also became very popular to the Europeans. Steam-driven ships helped to transport products faster, underwater telegraphs made it easier for countries to communicate quicker and the discover of quinine helped to prevent spread of malaria. During this time period, Europeans also valued many other countries' customs. Diversity arose as Europeans began to marry individuals from countries such as Africa and China. Biologist began to compare and contrast physical appearances between those from Europe and others from Africa and China. Europeans were believe to have been the superior race at the time. After a while, the British attempted to take over parts of Africa and other independent countries. They successfully seized Australia and New Zealand and were nearly wiped out due to the fact that the British had brought in many diseases. As the United States attempted to expand, it disrupted the peace between them and Mexico creating an imperialist war. The United States also took over the Philippines which was formerly under Spanish rule. European men were believed to have been superior due to their "masculinity". In French Africa, "natives" were restricted from raising their wages and faced force labor. Many injured at work and others caught AIDS. AIDS was believed to have first been passed to humans by chimpanzees in Cameroon killing millions. Africans usually worked under white miners and make only a fraction of what the whites did. The Africans were forced to stay in barbed wired all-male prison like structures where they would occasionally return home to prevent them from starting a family by the mines. Asians were forced to take care of growing sugarcane, tobacco and tea, rubber, etc as well as working at mines. They were also paid poorly and forced to live under terrible conditions as death rates doubled due to disease. The ability to read and write was widely seen as a privilege. European culture was widely embraced as many followed their traditions when it came to marriage, housing and education.

Blog 11

This reading talks about the Industrial Revolution and how it shaped Europe as technology and science flourished. India was the center of the textile production, mathematical and agricultural innovation and was the first to use the sugarcane plant to produce sugar. China was the world leader in technological advances.Europe had no obvious advances as compared to other countries.Europe gained their influence through widespread contact with many other countries. In 1850, Europe began to industrialize with their textile industry booming and their mining and manufacturing industries. For many, this opened many doors and opportunities to live a higher quality life. American industrialization began in New England in textile factories. The United States became the . world leading industry power in 1914. The invention of the assembly line became a very efficient technique that the Europeans commonly used. The reading also continues to talk about Russia's industrialization and how the became the fifth in the world for overall output.

Blog 10

Enlightenment thinkers in the eighteenth century found slavery as a violation of human rights. Slavery was seen as out of date and unnecessary in the new era of industrialism. Britain was first to forbid the sale of slaves. Shortly after, other nations, specifically Latin American countries, abolished slavery. European Enlightenment thinkers challenged women's inferiority. For the longest time, women were seen as weak, vulnerable individuals and were banned from participating in certain events. Soon, women found more educational opportunities. Upper and middle class women gained entrance to big universities. Women were able to own their own land and control their wages for the first time. The second reading talks about men's rights and how "all men are created equal".

Post 9

This reading was about the sister of Notre Dame, Julie Billiart and Francoise Blin de Bourdon.  Julie Billiart and Francoise Blin de Bourdon did not agree with the unfair treatment of others and fought against the French government. Both sisters took a lot of risks including their own lives. They proved that women withhold powerful forces by fighting for what they believed was right. To me, this reading was important especially during the Revolution because for the longest time, women were seen as weak, soft spoken and dull. It just stood out to me how just like Dorothy Stang, these women put their lives on the line fighting for equality and were determined to achieve their goals. 

Week 7

Haiti was in debt for many centuries in history; the loans taken out by the Haitians from the French, German, and North American banks costed 80% of the governments revenue in 1915. From the early eighteenth century to the mid-ninetinth century there was much political and social upheaval, leading some historians to think in terms of a "world crisis" or "conserving revolutions". The Atlantic revolutions were different than those els where for the reason that the strained European states were global rather than regional and the were closely connected to one another. In North America, not until the mid-eighteenth century  most people did not think to break away from England for such reasons: protection in war, access to British markets, and their identity as "Englishmen". The principles of the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804)  had different meanings to different people. To the grand blancs- the rich white owners- it suggested greater autonomy for the colony and fewer economic restrictions on trade but resented the demands of the petits blancs, who sought equality of citizenship for al whites. The Latin American and North American revolutions occurred in different societies and gave rise to very different to very different historical trajectories.

Blog 6

An important development of science was the anatomy of universities. Universities were places where people were able to pursue a career and were free from any church related influence. The main topic was the Science Revolution where the printing of books increased. People also began to develop a new way of thinking. Enlightenment that people had their own thoughts and reasons without anyone else's influence. Many different faiths formed due to the fact that individual thoughts were valued.

Blog 5

This reading mostly focuses on the spread of Christianity. Christianity had spread from Europe, in Spain and England, and eventually moved to Russia. Protestant Reformation broke apart the Roman Catholic Christianity as a priest by the name of Martin Luther brought different issues of Catholic Christianity to the surface and to the people. Violence arose in France as Catholic mobs killed over 3000 Huguenots. The Protestants continuously tried to break away from the Catholic Church  as they placed emphasis on the education of priests. New England Puritans created their own Protestant version o fChristianity in North America emphasizing on education, purity and responsibility. Native Americans in Spanish America began believing in the Christian God and converted by practicing baptizing, attending services and embracing saints. In China, many became familiar with the texts of Confucius. As Jesuits, they valued ancestors and emperors. Eventually, they became familiar with Buddhism and Daoism. Hinduism in India encouraged many to dance and sing in order to honor their deities.

Blog 4

Slave trading resulted in disrupted commerce for some areas within Africa. It also brought lost of aspects of African culture into many different countries. Slaves were owned often by wealthy and were inherited by children. Some slaves in Islam acquired higher political status. Slavery was largely based on plantation agriculture and lacking rights. Europeans exchanged slaves for textiles, metal goods, and firearms. Slave trade shaped African societies as they used cowrie shells as a form of their money which grew on the corpses of the dead bodies. More men than women were traded as slaves which lead to their being more women than men in Africa. With there being more women, this meant that men were allowed to have multiple wives.

Blog 3

This reading is about how Europeans traveled and expanded to Asia and found many different resources that Europe didn't have and were able to trade for them. It also talks about how the Portuguese handled and avoided piracy as they attempted to control commerce. It then begins to talk about how the Spanish had control over the Philippines till the end of the nineteenth century.  I found this interesting because new a days, a lot of Filipinos has Spanish last names like mine for example. Also, some have a sort of Spaniard look to them. Silver was one of the first goods to be traded globally. From the Philippines to Africa and even Mexico. Silver and furs were traded all over. Another thing that was commonly traded were slaves.

Blog 1

This reading talks about how Europeans were motivated to go beyond their lands and the seas that separated them from countries. They seeked more land due to the fact that they needed a larger base to support their economy. Many Europeans and Africans were affected by plagues that went around and killed a vast majority of populations. The Columbian trade was the trade of nearly anything you can think of. Animals, food, disease, plants, everything. It all revolved around the connection of four continents by seas which made it possible to communicate and trade with one another. Sugar became a huge spice, sweetener and medicine for many. Due to its white color, powdery look and effect on ones activity, many perceived it to be a drug. It was first pioneered by the Arabs and soon spread to many different countries.

Blog 2

The reading talks about how the Russian expansion brought many different people into the empire. Russians were known to be hunter gatherers which is why it was no surprise that they became interested in Siberia for its soft gold and fur. Locals would depends on Russian markets for many different resources that they were able to obtain from other regions. In the eighth century, Russia became the most wealthily region in Europe due to their rich agricultural lands, valuable furs, and mineral deposits.

Another topic that is brought up is the formation and expansion of China. China built an empire that acquired many different people who weren't all part of Asian decent. It was known as the Qing dynasty. Qing rulers tended to reinforce Confucian ideas such as the importance of loyalty to their country and loved ones. Chinas expansion was seen as a threat by Russia which i why they created the Treaty of Nerchinsk which marked the boundaries between the two.

Many in Central America gained influence on their social life from the Turks. Women in Central America went from being open to society to secluding themselves. Orthodox Muslim reformers wanted to restrict women from taking any part in religious activity. It all changed in the Islamic empire. Women had protection over some of their rights which helped them gain independence. Ottoman authorities allowed Christian churches to move in which lessened the amount of conversions. Christians welcomed the Ottoman conquest because they had lower taxes. Many Christian men became a part of the Ottoman elite.

Yay- Im done!