Ch. 24 (Strayer, pp. 747-755) Response

This section of the book focuses on issue of the world’s environment and the globalization of environmentalism. Environmental issues have spiked recently as we have become more aware of how we can alter the natural order of things. Some important factors of this include our huge rise in population, our use of energy resources, and economic growth. I agree to a degree, I can’t say our economy is doing all that well in terms of growth at the moment, but I do see how it has grown since modern technologies and science had risen. Global warming is huge issue to be concerned with in terms of environmentalism and it is shocking to think that there are people out there who still say that global warming is a myth. Environmentalism is still fairly new to the world, and though there is still a lot of conflict and issues even between people who are environmentalists, it is a movement that is already seen as being a common goal for the majority of the world. 

Bourgeois and Proletarians Response

This section of reading focuses on the bourgeois and the proletarians, otherwise known as the oppressor and the oppressed. The reading itself is somewhat difficult for me to comprehend, but from my understanding it seems that the bourgeois class brought about the industrial revolution. The proletarians seem to be the working class that were dependent on the wages given to them by the bourgeois as they competed with the machinery constantly being upgraded by the bourgeois. This of course is asking for a disaster to strike, as the oppressed can only stay oppressed for so long.

There may always be a case of people being oppressors and people being oppressed, but with that comes the rise of the oppressed as they fight for their rights. I am curious to see what a society with neither would look like, as even now in America we have the rich being the ones in control, for the most part at least.

Ch. 24 (Strayer, pp. 740-747)

This section of the chapter is about religion and global modernity. It was interesting to read that there are people that really thought religion would die out because of the rise of scientific vulture, especially with religion being such an important aspect of life all throughout so much of our history.

Fundamentalism is also discussed in this section of the chapter and is something I have trouble grasping.  With the rise of scientific culture I can understand people being stubborn, but it makes more sense to me that there were churches that adjusted to the change rather than going to the extremes that fundamentalists did trying to control politics. Maybe it’s the liberal in me but I largely believe church and state should be separate and we already struggle with that. I would not want to live in the places where fundamentalism took over or continues to attempt to take over.

It’s also always nice to read about the good that churches do in times of need and change, such as “agitating for debt relief for poor countries”, having many churches join up to explore ways to confront many of the worlds issues, and much more that I can appreciate.  

Ch. 24 (Strayer, pp. 734-739) Response

This section of chapter 24 focuses on the globalization of liberation by comparing different feminist movements from the west, the global south, and internationally. All forms of feminist movements are important, and it is very unfortunate that there are still so many places that treat women so horribly and still see them as being less than men, which is completely wrong. The feminist movement is something I feel attached to, not just because I am a woman. My aunt, whom I am very close to, took part in the feminist movement, still does in fact, and has made sure to let me know how important it is that women be treated equally and how important it is that women be aware of their ability to be independent. It’s interesting to read that women from different area, though they were part of the same movement, they did not have the same views. It’s unfortunate to read that there were so many difficulties between feminist groups and that we could not be more united in our thoughts. I wonder if there is still so many divisions between feminist groups. It’s also incredibly sickening to think that some one would actually call feminism a “disease”. 

Ch.17 (Strayer, pp.504-507) Response

This section of the book is about the French Revolution and how it differs from the American Revolution. I was surprised to read about how all these different kinds of people took part in this revolution as they tried to gain more freedom and rights, having been influenced by the American Revolution that had happened before. It seems that this was a particularly violent revolution, though I cannot imagine any revolution happening without some sort of violence being involved. I do not know a lot about revolutions but it was interesting to read that those involved the French Revolution symbolized their want of a new society by making a new calendar starting with year 1 in 172 (a year before the King Louis XVI and the Queen Marie Antoinette were executed), it was their way of starting from scratch. I curious if this whole changing the calendar thing stuck or how legit it was because I have never heard of some one being able to just dub some year as the start of civilization or anything except for in the case of Christianity doing so. I'm curious what France would be like right now if the French Revolution succeeded and Napoleon had not been brought down as well as what happened after the French Revolution ended.

Ch.16 (Strayer, pp. 477-488) Response

This section of reading focused on the Scientific Revolution, something that I think is very relevant in today's society and something I was curious to learn more about. It was surprising for me when I read the section about why it was Europe instead of somewhere else that started the Scientific Revolution. I found it interesting that I had never actually thought about that question before, even though I knew that Europe lead the Scientific Revolution. I hadn't even considered what may have held back other countries, but after reading that passage it does make sense for Europe to be the one leading the way in this Scientific Revolution. Something that also caught my eye was the topic of the Scientific Revolution also being a cultural revolution. The rise of science did cause a lot of conflict for religion, and even still does. One of my favorite quotes in this book thus far is definitely Galileo's "God is no less excellently revealed in Nature's actions than in the sacred statements of the bible". I'm sure there are plenty of people who could prove him wrong, but I do agree with him.

Ch.16 (Strayer, pp. 461-477) Response

This section of the chapter focuses on the expansion of christianity that happened all over the world in the modern era. I don't like talking about this, as I am not a fan of religion and still cringe over what happened to the native americans because of the european invasion upon them, and how religion (though not the only reason these natives suffered) took part in it. Of course, Native American's were not the only people experiencing the expansion of christianity, as it did spread globally (though not as significantly in places like China). It's saddening to see that a large amount of what I read in this section seems to be about the negative things caused by religions and the conflicts around them. It makes me wonder what kind of positive aspects of religion are there that are worth all this trouble, if any. It's surprising to read and think about, even if it could be considered common knowledge, that there is conflict even between the religions that branch out from the "original conflict" such as with Islam. Something that caught my interest was Martin Luther's idea that salvation comes from faith alone and church has nothing to do with it.

Ch.14 (Strayer, pp. 417-430) Review

While the Europeans were settling in the America's the Russian Empire was also expanding and becoming "one of the great empires of the modern era." The creation of this empire was a conquest for Russians and similarly to the Europeans conquest of the Americas, it brought with it the deaths of many natives, such as in Siberia, whose immunities could not withstand what was coming for them. If they were not killed off, most likely the Siberians adopted the lifestyle of the Russians, even converting to Christianity and learning their language to survive.

 Russia was a great power of Europe as well as Asia, and although it was powerful, being stuck between Europe and Asia did give Russia somewhat of an "identity crisis" that they are still figuring out in the 21st century. It's interesting to find out that of all the Empires/colonies that came about in the modern era, it was the Russian Empire that lasted up until 1991. 

Ch.14 (Strayer, pp. 403-417) Review

It is not all too surprising that the Europeans were the ones to conquer a huge majority of the western hemisphere. They were geographically closer then their Asian counterparts, winds were pointing them in the right direction, they had an immense amount of motivation (be it to escape or expand), and because of divisions of other societies they had many allies to help them. 

Unfortunately, this arrival of Europeans caused great tragedies for the Native Americans. Native Americans did not have the immune system that the Europeans had developed being around domesticated animals and the diseases that came with them.  This, as well as starvation and probably lack of defense caused sometimes up to 90% of the native population to die. The massacre of all of these Native Americans is one of the worst tragedies for humanity to date. 

The loss of so many lives caused a labor shortage and thus the native's that were killed were quickly replaced with more immigrant newcomers as colonizing Europeans and enslaved Africans. Along with a change in people came a Europeans change in diet for the Americas (with the arrival of pigs and cattle and such) as well as the Eastern Hemisphere (whom adopted some American foods like corn and potatoes). 

An Atlantic Network was created with the trade of slaves, food, and other resources, though it was the Western Hemisphere or more so the Europeans that conquered it who dominated this "Atlantic World" and globalization. Two "Old World's" were quickly becoming a globalized "New World". 

Starting things up

Just so you know this blog is a class assignment!