The first questions I have on the Missions of California are;
How many are there?
I've heard they are mostly along the coast, is this true?
Where exactly are they?
During what year were they each build and who exactly decided to build them?
Are they all still up and running or not so much?
Is there a fee to go in and see them?
Lastly, do they have an official website and if so, what is it?
Well, off I go in search for these beginning questions and then time to plan how I will go off to see them.
Hope you stay tuned :)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Presentation
Presentation
At tonight's presentation I will share with you where the field trip journey has lead me.
On page 617 Strayer writes,
"We cannot be sure what will prove of lasting significance and what will later seem of only passing importance."
As I journey from the San Jose Airport to Seattle in search of a quick getaway. I thought about the field trip assignment and where I could possibly go in search of history. Little did I know that the places I had already chosen to go to would be rich in history.
For my love of nature I had already chosen to go to Snoqualmie Falls and for my sense of fun and spooky effect, I had decided to do the Seattle underground tour.
Off we went to Snoqualmie fall. It was beautiful, the air felt so clean and I felt at peace. I knew little of the area so I went in search of information. I will be brief because of time but the area is rich in history.
I found out that;
* the Native people of the area are the Snoqualmie tribe.
* area is part of their creation story,
* outside settlers came in , saw the area and wanted it for timber and agriculture. * supposedly an agreement was reached where the Snoqualmie tribe would move to the
new land they were promised.
*they weren't given any land to relocate to but were forced out of their native
land.
* lack of land give resulted in the tribe being removed from the list of Washington Tribes till in 1999 when they finally became recognized.
My field trip experience then lead me to Pioneer Square for Bill Speidel's Underground Tour. Again I will keep it brief.
There I learned;
*that Bill Speidel was a reported and then opened his public relations business in
the Pioneer District.
*City was build from sawdust from the timber businesses
*When tides came in the city would get flooded because of the bad foundation of sawdust
* There was the Great Seattle fire on 1889 that brought forth some changes in rebuilding.
* though was to build above the old town so that they would no longer get flooded
*Some moved on with the plans of the new city but others remained in the underground part of the city ad they operated their businesses.
Some interesting things were seen during the tour like old lounge chair, some Windows, doors, what is trough to be a bath house, some skylights, several signs, mattresses, and the separation between the old wall and the new wall.
Lastly, my field trip Journey took me to Point Reyes to the Village of Kule Loklo. There I read that much information was saved about the native people of the area but that some volunteers and archaeologist had helped to gather some information. With the information gathered, they were able to rebuild a village to what they think it might of looked like.
At the village I saw:
*a cave looking structure where spiritual ceremonies take place, no inside
photography is allowed.
*I saw Granary, where staple foods were stored, it looked like a very small but tall tepee
*saw what their homes might of looked like, they looked like tree make tepees
*saw the family sweat lodge. It was a hot day and going in there was nice and cool.
* lastly, saw their garden.
I went off in search of a place that would qualify for this assignment to earn me a passing grade and that journey has sparked something with in. It's a curiosity to know of those what I don't know about yet.
My grandma has always wanted to visit the various Mission up and down the coast of California and I believe the time has come for us both to learn more about what they are about. As I continue in my search for their history I have decided to keep this blog a little longer as I learn about the Missions of California.
At tonight's presentation I will share with you where the field trip journey has lead me.
On page 617 Strayer writes,
"We cannot be sure what will prove of lasting significance and what will later seem of only passing importance."
As I journey from the San Jose Airport to Seattle in search of a quick getaway. I thought about the field trip assignment and where I could possibly go in search of history. Little did I know that the places I had already chosen to go to would be rich in history.
For my love of nature I had already chosen to go to Snoqualmie Falls and for my sense of fun and spooky effect, I had decided to do the Seattle underground tour.
Off we went to Snoqualmie fall. It was beautiful, the air felt so clean and I felt at peace. I knew little of the area so I went in search of information. I will be brief because of time but the area is rich in history.
I found out that;
* the Native people of the area are the Snoqualmie tribe.
* area is part of their creation story,
* outside settlers came in , saw the area and wanted it for timber and agriculture. * supposedly an agreement was reached where the Snoqualmie tribe would move to the
new land they were promised.
*they weren't given any land to relocate to but were forced out of their native
land.
* lack of land give resulted in the tribe being removed from the list of Washington Tribes till in 1999 when they finally became recognized.
My field trip experience then lead me to Pioneer Square for Bill Speidel's Underground Tour. Again I will keep it brief.
There I learned;
*that Bill Speidel was a reported and then opened his public relations business in
the Pioneer District.
*City was build from sawdust from the timber businesses
*When tides came in the city would get flooded because of the bad foundation of sawdust
* There was the Great Seattle fire on 1889 that brought forth some changes in rebuilding.
* though was to build above the old town so that they would no longer get flooded
*Some moved on with the plans of the new city but others remained in the underground part of the city ad they operated their businesses.
Some interesting things were seen during the tour like old lounge chair, some Windows, doors, what is trough to be a bath house, some skylights, several signs, mattresses, and the separation between the old wall and the new wall.
Lastly, my field trip Journey took me to Point Reyes to the Village of Kule Loklo. There I read that much information was saved about the native people of the area but that some volunteers and archaeologist had helped to gather some information. With the information gathered, they were able to rebuild a village to what they think it might of looked like.
At the village I saw:
*a cave looking structure where spiritual ceremonies take place, no inside
photography is allowed.
*I saw Granary, where staple foods were stored, it looked like a very small but tall tepee
*saw what their homes might of looked like, they looked like tree make tepees
*saw the family sweat lodge. It was a hot day and going in there was nice and cool.
* lastly, saw their garden.
I went off in search of a place that would qualify for this assignment to earn me a passing grade and that journey has sparked something with in. It's a curiosity to know of those what I don't know about yet.
My grandma has always wanted to visit the various Mission up and down the coast of California and I believe the time has come for us both to learn more about what they are about. As I continue in my search for their history I have decided to keep this blog a little longer as I learn about the Missions of California.
ChAnGeS and more ChAnGeS
Wow!
As I read about reglobalization (pgs 725-727) and the companies that have expaned around the world it brought back memories of my Mexico (pronounced Mejico) and the transformation it went through.
I remembered spending my summers there as a kid with my sister and staying with my tias (aunties) and great-grandma whom we called Mama Lola. I remembered going out early in the morning to the mercado (outdoor market place) to get our necessities for the day. At the mercado we could get fresh produce, live chickens(I wasn't fond of us getting chicken for dinner), clothing items, herbs, candy, household items and just about everything we could need for daily living. If we needed any special items like sodas or soap then on our way home we would head over to the corner market to get those items. We rarely went there but once in a while we would go there so that my sister and I could pick a toy or other special treat.
As I recall, life was simple in a very comforting, routine way. Then, one summer the big hype in the city was that there would be a McDonald opening within a few days of our arrival. My tias were talking about it one day and they were saying some negative things about the US. They remembered my sister and I were in the room and their attention was then focused on us. They took turns informing us of how awful those fast food chains were, how the food was not fresh, how the restaurants were dirty and how there was no real way of knowing what they were putting in the processed food. My sister and I smiled, shook our heads in agreement without informing them that back in San Francisco we lived half a block from a McDonald and that once in a while we would go there as a reward for good grades.
Needless to say, we didn't go to that McDonald that summer nor any other summer. We continued to travel to Mexico during the summer breaks till about 8th grade in middle. A few years passed and then we returned.
I remember the drive from the airport to my tia's house. I was in shock. That drive home made my jaw drop and my eyes widen. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There were so many US stores there. There weren't just a McDonald on several blocks but I was also seeing Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and along with that came announcements of several other stores opening soon. I just couldn't believe my eyes. The big shock would come the folowing moring.
The next morning I woke up early, thinking that we would go to the mercado to get our necessities for the day. As I questioned why nobody seemed ready to go, my aunties informed me that times had changed. That now, the mercado was only open certain days of the week and not everyday like before. That if I needed anything they could take me to the regular supermarket just down the street. I insisted that I didn't need anything and that I just wanted to follow our daily routine like when I was a kid. They again reminded me that life around them had changed before their eyes, that their friends from the mercado had moved away, that several small business around the neighborhood had also left and that the local family business had been replaced by the bigger (though not better) stores front he US.
I can still recall the sadness in which they informed me of the changes in their neighborrhod and of Mexico. My Mexico and the way I knew it had changed. Lucky for me ( I really nad trully fell blessed and lucky) I at least had the opportunity to know what Mexico was like, even if it was just in the summers.
After pondering through memory lane...
My thoughts then raced around thinking about what the people might of felt. Some like my aunties felt sad, a bit lonely since some of their friends had to move, others felt invaded, while others might of seen it as a means to care for their families as new employment opportunities were available.
I then thought about the lifestyle changes it brought with it. Was their quality of life better, was is worsen. How about the air quality? Mexico is know for their terrible air quality, did all these new businesses worsen it, I don't believe they helped. Were they now asked or required to work more for less pay or did that remain? If it remained, for how long did it last because my understanding now is that they too are over worked and under pay and women have it worst.
I can continue asking the questions ... I'm guessing at this point in the game that the answers are what makes HisTory
As I read about reglobalization (pgs 725-727) and the companies that have expaned around the world it brought back memories of my Mexico (pronounced Mejico) and the transformation it went through.
I remembered spending my summers there as a kid with my sister and staying with my tias (aunties) and great-grandma whom we called Mama Lola. I remembered going out early in the morning to the mercado (outdoor market place) to get our necessities for the day. At the mercado we could get fresh produce, live chickens(I wasn't fond of us getting chicken for dinner), clothing items, herbs, candy, household items and just about everything we could need for daily living. If we needed any special items like sodas or soap then on our way home we would head over to the corner market to get those items. We rarely went there but once in a while we would go there so that my sister and I could pick a toy or other special treat.
As I recall, life was simple in a very comforting, routine way. Then, one summer the big hype in the city was that there would be a McDonald opening within a few days of our arrival. My tias were talking about it one day and they were saying some negative things about the US. They remembered my sister and I were in the room and their attention was then focused on us. They took turns informing us of how awful those fast food chains were, how the food was not fresh, how the restaurants were dirty and how there was no real way of knowing what they were putting in the processed food. My sister and I smiled, shook our heads in agreement without informing them that back in San Francisco we lived half a block from a McDonald and that once in a while we would go there as a reward for good grades.
Needless to say, we didn't go to that McDonald that summer nor any other summer. We continued to travel to Mexico during the summer breaks till about 8th grade in middle. A few years passed and then we returned.
I remember the drive from the airport to my tia's house. I was in shock. That drive home made my jaw drop and my eyes widen. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There were so many US stores there. There weren't just a McDonald on several blocks but I was also seeing Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC and along with that came announcements of several other stores opening soon. I just couldn't believe my eyes. The big shock would come the folowing moring.
The next morning I woke up early, thinking that we would go to the mercado to get our necessities for the day. As I questioned why nobody seemed ready to go, my aunties informed me that times had changed. That now, the mercado was only open certain days of the week and not everyday like before. That if I needed anything they could take me to the regular supermarket just down the street. I insisted that I didn't need anything and that I just wanted to follow our daily routine like when I was a kid. They again reminded me that life around them had changed before their eyes, that their friends from the mercado had moved away, that several small business around the neighborhood had also left and that the local family business had been replaced by the bigger (though not better) stores front he US.
I can still recall the sadness in which they informed me of the changes in their neighborrhod and of Mexico. My Mexico and the way I knew it had changed. Lucky for me ( I really nad trully fell blessed and lucky) I at least had the opportunity to know what Mexico was like, even if it was just in the summers.
After pondering through memory lane...
My thoughts then raced around thinking about what the people might of felt. Some like my aunties felt sad, a bit lonely since some of their friends had to move, others felt invaded, while others might of seen it as a means to care for their families as new employment opportunities were available.
I then thought about the lifestyle changes it brought with it. Was their quality of life better, was is worsen. How about the air quality? Mexico is know for their terrible air quality, did all these new businesses worsen it, I don't believe they helped. Were they now asked or required to work more for less pay or did that remain? If it remained, for how long did it last because my understanding now is that they too are over worked and under pay and women have it worst.
I can continue asking the questions ... I'm guessing at this point in the game that the answers are what makes HisTory
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Kule Loklo Village
As you are about to enter the walkway to the village you see this sign.
The view of the village.
These are an example of what their homes would of look like.
This is where nuts were stored for later use.
Artifacts from the Miwoks people found at various village cites that have helped put the Kule Loklo Village together.
Snoqualmie Falls
I went on my search to learn more about the Native Americans that lived in the area of the fall. I started by looking up the official website of the fall. On the website (like at the waterfall) there was minimal information.
What stood out to me is that Native Americans were known as the Moon people who roamed the area. It gave a couple paragraphs and then it goes on to share about the white settlers, the father and uncle of the area.
Seriously! After all these years they couldn't give enough respect to add more about the native people of the land? At the waterfall there was minimal information but I was thinking that at least on their web page they could add more, I mean their tab does say History.
I'm sure you can tell I'm a bit frustrated that there's not a lot of information on the native people of the area. Seem disrespectful to me but I guess it could also mean that information on the native people might be around. Maybe like in Point Reyes, there isn't much information on the native people because not much was recorded, I hope this is the reason why.
Below is the history info I found on their cite in case anyone is interested.
The pictures on here were taken by me when on my trip.
Well, off I go in search for more.
http://www.snoqualmiefalls.com/history.htm
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
In piece and war ...
After reading the chapters this week I had to take a few minutes, several actually and reflect on both the reading and my personal "field trip" experiences.
For the past week and a half I have visited several sites and like in the chapters, they share how one group was taken over by another. A part of me felt sad to hear and read that to get a piece of good land there had to be wars and many lives lost. We all seek prosperity and a piece of the pie of the "good" life but I wonder if it can happen without hindering others or even nature for that matter.
These past weeks I visited Snoqualmie Falls in Washington, took a tour of the underground of Seattle and lastly, visited Point Reyes where I learned about the Kule Loklo People.
At Snoqualmie Falls I was expecting to learn about the formation of the falls, the origin of the name and through which means was the fall being kept up. I have often enjoyed being surrounded by nature and was very much looking forward to going there. As we drove out of Seattle to the falls, nature embraced us. There were trees all around us, I lowered the window and got a great big gulp of fresh air. As we arrived to the falls I notice an over path and some kind of resort which I later learn it's the Salish Lodge. We parked, got out the car and I took a few moments to take the scenery in. I noticed a few big signs and I headed over to see what they were about.
In those signs I learn about the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, whom are native to the land. I learn that it was such a lushes and desirable land that when Samuel Hancock canoed up the river in 1851 he shares that the land would be great for agriculture and timber. In seeing the benefits of the land, the "war" in this area begins. There were people in this area but then another group comes along who wants a piece of the pie and sees an opportunity in this area. Not much is said about the struggles between them expect that in 1855 a treaty is agreed upon with 82 chiefs and headmen of tribes agree to relocate as long as certain rights were respected. The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe was never given any land and the money guaranteed to them was used for the war instead. Since the tribe was never given given any land, in the 1950's they were dropped from the list of US tribes in Washington for lack of land base. They remained landless until October 6, 1999 when the Snoqualmie Tribe finally became recognized.
I continued to read and find out that the fall is part of the tribe's creation story, that they cultivated the land as they saw need for it but not in excess. That since they had given up the land surrounding the waterfall but had not been given any land to relocate to, that they then turned to farmers to help them out. This breaks my heart. To think that the tribe had their land taken away and now have to turn to these people who took their land and ask them for help to feed their families. The farmers helped them by giving them work, the poster states that they made a dollar a day as they filled baskets with the crops. Some have gained, some have lost as they each seek a piece of the pie of the good life.
My history journey then takes me to Pioneer Square for Bill Speidel's Underground Tour. In this "field trip" I wanted to know who Bill Speidel was, how the underground tour came to be and whether we were really going to go underground Seattle. For this field trip my expectations were low and I was hoping things would be a bit more up beat since I had recently learned about the Snoqualmie Tribe and what they went through.
As the the tour began we quickly learn that Bill Speidel worked as a reported and then opened his public relations business in the Pioneer District. I learn that he is one of the key people who helped save Pioneer Square by convincing the city to make Pioneer Square a historic site. As part of that the project to save the square, he then stared his business of the Underground Tour because of the interest he creates.
As we were given the run down of the tour, I was happy to hear that we were going to be heading underground (creepy yet exciting). As the tour begins they share a little bit about the history of Seattle, how they had build a city using sawdust, how the tides would come in and flood the city. That then there was the Great Seattle fire and that with this, new plans for the city came about. The plan was to rebuild the city up by one story so that when the tides came it wouldn't flood them. As they slowly build the new city, some business in the lower part were still operating. Some businesses moved up and others decided to remain where they were and in return the city was build above them through various passage ways. These passage ways now create the Underground Tour. It was a bit spooky as we walked through the passage ways, I saw an old lounge chair, some Windows, doors, what is trough to be a bath house, some skylights, several signs, mattresses, and the separation between the old wall and the new wall.
It was an interesting experience. At the end of the tour we arrive to the Souvenir Store. In the store besides various nick-knacks, they also have some historical information. They show pictures of what the area used to look like, pictures of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and how it begun with some glue left unattended, pictures and information on the timber work that happened there and some pictures and information on type writers. It was a fun and interesting experience.
Lastly, I travelled back to the Bay Area to Point Reyes. There I went to the visitor center to get some information on the history of the area. I had gone there several years ago and remember hearing about a native tribe living there. I walked through the visitor center looking at the various exhibits until I reached the one I was looking for. The Native people of the area were the Kule Loklo poeple. They were the people that the conquistadors saw and met with. The center shares that not much was recorded of them except people's perception and that much is left unknow about them. What they do know has been from some of their decentants and the few writings. The center shares that with the help of volunteers, they have recontructed part of their village. I talked to a volunteer there, got direcftions and then headed to the village.
At the entrance of the village I saw the special cave looking structure. There was a note saying that photography was not acceted because spiritual ceremonies still happen there and that it's a sacred place. I walked in, took a few minutes to look around and noticed the building was made of rocks and had a distinks smell. I;m guessing it's some kind of herbs but couldn't pin point what the smell was. I continued on the path where there was, for lack of a better word, a small teepee looking structure. The sign said that this structure was used for storing grains and fruit. I continued on the path to see a few homes and then a garden. Lastly, I walked in to a sweat lodge. The place was cool and provided a relief from the sun that was now in full swing. This building was made of rocks and seemed to be underground. You could easily pass it by had it not been by the sign or the door being open. This place seemed very peaceful to me. I walked around, observed the area and thought what it might of looked like back in the days with the families living in the area.
Over all these experiences were educational and a bit emotional. To think that so much movement happened, that people and their stories were lost to some extend and that some have survived is ... amazing. Strayer writes on page 617,"We cannot be sure what will prove of lasting significance and what will later seem of only passing importance" I thought of this as I learned about the various locations I went through.
For the past week and a half I have visited several sites and like in the chapters, they share how one group was taken over by another. A part of me felt sad to hear and read that to get a piece of good land there had to be wars and many lives lost. We all seek prosperity and a piece of the pie of the "good" life but I wonder if it can happen without hindering others or even nature for that matter.
These past weeks I visited Snoqualmie Falls in Washington, took a tour of the underground of Seattle and lastly, visited Point Reyes where I learned about the Kule Loklo People.
At Snoqualmie Falls I was expecting to learn about the formation of the falls, the origin of the name and through which means was the fall being kept up. I have often enjoyed being surrounded by nature and was very much looking forward to going there. As we drove out of Seattle to the falls, nature embraced us. There were trees all around us, I lowered the window and got a great big gulp of fresh air. As we arrived to the falls I notice an over path and some kind of resort which I later learn it's the Salish Lodge. We parked, got out the car and I took a few moments to take the scenery in. I noticed a few big signs and I headed over to see what they were about.
In those signs I learn about the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, whom are native to the land. I learn that it was such a lushes and desirable land that when Samuel Hancock canoed up the river in 1851 he shares that the land would be great for agriculture and timber. In seeing the benefits of the land, the "war" in this area begins. There were people in this area but then another group comes along who wants a piece of the pie and sees an opportunity in this area. Not much is said about the struggles between them expect that in 1855 a treaty is agreed upon with 82 chiefs and headmen of tribes agree to relocate as long as certain rights were respected. The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe was never given any land and the money guaranteed to them was used for the war instead. Since the tribe was never given given any land, in the 1950's they were dropped from the list of US tribes in Washington for lack of land base. They remained landless until October 6, 1999 when the Snoqualmie Tribe finally became recognized.
I continued to read and find out that the fall is part of the tribe's creation story, that they cultivated the land as they saw need for it but not in excess. That since they had given up the land surrounding the waterfall but had not been given any land to relocate to, that they then turned to farmers to help them out. This breaks my heart. To think that the tribe had their land taken away and now have to turn to these people who took their land and ask them for help to feed their families. The farmers helped them by giving them work, the poster states that they made a dollar a day as they filled baskets with the crops. Some have gained, some have lost as they each seek a piece of the pie of the good life.
My history journey then takes me to Pioneer Square for Bill Speidel's Underground Tour. In this "field trip" I wanted to know who Bill Speidel was, how the underground tour came to be and whether we were really going to go underground Seattle. For this field trip my expectations were low and I was hoping things would be a bit more up beat since I had recently learned about the Snoqualmie Tribe and what they went through.
As the the tour began we quickly learn that Bill Speidel worked as a reported and then opened his public relations business in the Pioneer District. I learn that he is one of the key people who helped save Pioneer Square by convincing the city to make Pioneer Square a historic site. As part of that the project to save the square, he then stared his business of the Underground Tour because of the interest he creates.
As we were given the run down of the tour, I was happy to hear that we were going to be heading underground (creepy yet exciting). As the tour begins they share a little bit about the history of Seattle, how they had build a city using sawdust, how the tides would come in and flood the city. That then there was the Great Seattle fire and that with this, new plans for the city came about. The plan was to rebuild the city up by one story so that when the tides came it wouldn't flood them. As they slowly build the new city, some business in the lower part were still operating. Some businesses moved up and others decided to remain where they were and in return the city was build above them through various passage ways. These passage ways now create the Underground Tour. It was a bit spooky as we walked through the passage ways, I saw an old lounge chair, some Windows, doors, what is trough to be a bath house, some skylights, several signs, mattresses, and the separation between the old wall and the new wall.
It was an interesting experience. At the end of the tour we arrive to the Souvenir Store. In the store besides various nick-knacks, they also have some historical information. They show pictures of what the area used to look like, pictures of the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and how it begun with some glue left unattended, pictures and information on the timber work that happened there and some pictures and information on type writers. It was a fun and interesting experience.
Lastly, I travelled back to the Bay Area to Point Reyes. There I went to the visitor center to get some information on the history of the area. I had gone there several years ago and remember hearing about a native tribe living there. I walked through the visitor center looking at the various exhibits until I reached the one I was looking for. The Native people of the area were the Kule Loklo poeple. They were the people that the conquistadors saw and met with. The center shares that not much was recorded of them except people's perception and that much is left unknow about them. What they do know has been from some of their decentants and the few writings. The center shares that with the help of volunteers, they have recontructed part of their village. I talked to a volunteer there, got direcftions and then headed to the village.
At the entrance of the village I saw the special cave looking structure. There was a note saying that photography was not acceted because spiritual ceremonies still happen there and that it's a sacred place. I walked in, took a few minutes to look around and noticed the building was made of rocks and had a distinks smell. I;m guessing it's some kind of herbs but couldn't pin point what the smell was. I continued on the path where there was, for lack of a better word, a small teepee looking structure. The sign said that this structure was used for storing grains and fruit. I continued on the path to see a few homes and then a garden. Lastly, I walked in to a sweat lodge. The place was cool and provided a relief from the sun that was now in full swing. This building was made of rocks and seemed to be underground. You could easily pass it by had it not been by the sign or the door being open. This place seemed very peaceful to me. I walked around, observed the area and thought what it might of looked like back in the days with the families living in the area.
Over all these experiences were educational and a bit emotional. To think that so much movement happened, that people and their stories were lost to some extend and that some have survived is ... amazing. Strayer writes on page 617,"We cannot be sure what will prove of lasting significance and what will later seem of only passing importance" I thought of this as I learned about the various locations I went through.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
"Socially, the last had become first."
Wow!!! As I read about the Haitian Revolution from 1791 - 1804 I wondered where I had been all this time since I had never heard of it before. After reading a few chapters I went to page 511 to look it up in the map, couldn't believe it was so small. I felt so proud of what they had done and the movement they had started.
I was impressed to read that Haiti, then known as Saint Domingue, produced 40% of world's sugar and half of world's coffee. As I read on I was saddened to read that although the previous sounded great, the labor was done by the native people who had become slaves. The numbers are unbelievable, yet true, there were 500,000 slave, 40,000 whites and only 30,000 free people of color, wow!
I was impressed to read that Haiti, then known as Saint Domingue, produced 40% of world's sugar and half of world's coffee. As I read on I was saddened to read that although the previous sounded great, the labor was done by the native people who had become slaves. The numbers are unbelievable, yet true, there were 500,000 slave, 40,000 whites and only 30,000 free people of color, wow!
As I continued to read I found out that they;
"were only completely successful slave revolt in world history ...
second independent republic in Americas and
the first non-European state to emerge from Western colonialism.
( Ways of the World by Strayer page 509)"
After some reflection, of what a great victory these people had and being in awe of they achievement I continued my reading waiting to know more. I again felt saddened to hear that although they had become independent and although they were at once leaders in making sugar and coffee that it no longer was so. The book goes on to share that people were so afraid of another take over by slaves or the oppressed that they tightened up the rains because they didn't want to see that happen again.
I read this I was also thinking that since Europeans were in charge of goods and trade, that they wouldn't want to trade with Haiti. Then I was thinking that after the war, the land was destroyed so badly that they couldn't even produce as much. My thoughts went on to think about how they were psychologically, emotionally and physically. Then I went off to have many questions;
*Could these people just get up and start working the land like before?
*Would they relive their trauma as they worked the land and could they surpass it?
*What were their believes of the land?
*Did they want to continue to exploit the land and resource?
*What resources did they have to rebuild their lives?
* and my list of questions can go on
I went on to finish the chapter but kept thinking about Haiti. Before the reading, I had mainly heard about the country through the news when they were hit with the quake and then through a news report on missionaries helping out. I wanted to learn more but couldn't remember if I had watched the news report on Newsline, 20/20 or PBS. I decided to do a search to learn more.
For once, this book has truly gotten my attention and it has even gotten me look up more info :)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Chapters 14-16
Through this reading three things stood out to me. The rise in trade, the rise in production of goods or trade and the way this impacted their world.
As I was reading through the "Colombian exchange". I felt sad for the many people that lost their lives because another group of people came to their area. These people didn't have the immunity they needed to over come these new diseases this other group of people brought with them. This exchange brought with it many goods, crops, animals and along with that diseases. The book shares that during that time the most number of people died, that some died because of the diseases and that some died because they were too fragile to get up and look for food. Although not as severe, it made me think about my job as a teacher and how I get sick along with the kiddos. Just recently, there were a couple of kiddos that had a runny nose and a cough. One teacher caught the bug, then another kiddo, then me, then so on it went. Before we could get better, another kiddo got sick with a different strand of the cold and cough. Most of us went through it again, finally a couple of weeks ago a few kiddos got the flu and then again some of us caught it too. For us in that classroom, we caught the various bugs that went around but we were able to make it through because of our immunity, unfortunately for the people in those days, they didn't have that immunity because they had not been exposed to any of these new diseases, animals, and foods.
Going on to the next chapter, it made me see how the rise in trade also set off a rise in production of goods and a changed way of life for people. Since more goods needed to be produced and cultivated then more people were needed to do the work. The response for some was to purchase and abuse people so that they could produce a benefit with their goods. The book shares about the men and women that were taken from Africa and used as slaves. What I was surprised with and a bit unbelieving was that the books shares that some parts of the world weren't as cruel to their slaves. As the book shares about slaves in a couple parts of the world it made it seems as if it weren't that bad as it was in the Americas. Certainly all slavery is bad and that should be the stand it takes, not make it seem one is better than the other.
Through world trade peoples lives changed. Some like I mentioned before, became slaves, others worker more, other less, others became wealthier while others became pore. Communities changed, with the introduction of new items peoples diets changed and so did he way they viewed the world. This time brought something like an explosion. There was lots of movement of people and goods. There were lots of lives lost through the exposure of diseases and through the transport of goods. This time brought lot of change, permanent change from those days till now.
As I was reading through the "Colombian exchange". I felt sad for the many people that lost their lives because another group of people came to their area. These people didn't have the immunity they needed to over come these new diseases this other group of people brought with them. This exchange brought with it many goods, crops, animals and along with that diseases. The book shares that during that time the most number of people died, that some died because of the diseases and that some died because they were too fragile to get up and look for food. Although not as severe, it made me think about my job as a teacher and how I get sick along with the kiddos. Just recently, there were a couple of kiddos that had a runny nose and a cough. One teacher caught the bug, then another kiddo, then me, then so on it went. Before we could get better, another kiddo got sick with a different strand of the cold and cough. Most of us went through it again, finally a couple of weeks ago a few kiddos got the flu and then again some of us caught it too. For us in that classroom, we caught the various bugs that went around but we were able to make it through because of our immunity, unfortunately for the people in those days, they didn't have that immunity because they had not been exposed to any of these new diseases, animals, and foods.
Going on to the next chapter, it made me see how the rise in trade also set off a rise in production of goods and a changed way of life for people. Since more goods needed to be produced and cultivated then more people were needed to do the work. The response for some was to purchase and abuse people so that they could produce a benefit with their goods. The book shares about the men and women that were taken from Africa and used as slaves. What I was surprised with and a bit unbelieving was that the books shares that some parts of the world weren't as cruel to their slaves. As the book shares about slaves in a couple parts of the world it made it seems as if it weren't that bad as it was in the Americas. Certainly all slavery is bad and that should be the stand it takes, not make it seem one is better than the other.
Through world trade peoples lives changed. Some like I mentioned before, became slaves, others worker more, other less, others became wealthier while others became pore. Communities changed, with the introduction of new items peoples diets changed and so did he way they viewed the world. This time brought something like an explosion. There was lots of movement of people and goods. There were lots of lives lost through the exposure of diseases and through the transport of goods. This time brought lot of change, permanent change from those days till now.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Then there was 11-13
I went into chapter 13 interested to learn more about the Aztec Empire. I usually start the chapters by reading the headings and then I dive in. This way if I find myself getting bored (it has happened) I have something to look forward to. In this case it was the Aztecs ;)
Last year I had the opportunity to travel to Mexico and see the pyramids. While I was there our group met up with a tour guide whom shared some information about the area and the people. He shared that his family is native of that area and we were able to meet some of the native people there while also participating in a spiritual ceremony. Having gone through this great experience last year, like I mentioned before, I was interested to read what this book shared about the Aztecs.
Our guide like the book shared that these people produced a lot of goods and then were traded and sold in markets places. The book shares that a Spanish conquistador was impressed by not just the amount of goods but also the variety he saw at the market place. The book goes on to share that he was so impressed by it that he wrote it down. Reading this brought me back to a little town we visited. The town seems small, the streets are narrow, not too many cars, people are mainly walk about town, and it was on the quiet side. At this point we had another tour guide and after taking us around town he finished the tour at the town's market place. Well, it was no longer quiet. The market place was buzzing with people, there was music, food cooking, people talking and each stall had a variety of goods to sell. I actually took a picture of various stalls because their goods were so colorful and their produce looked so fresh. One stall had herbs, another clothing, another tiles, another meats & fish and another yarn and ... the list goes on. We didn't make it through the whole market, it was too big but it was great experience. Reading about the goods they produced and how they had big markets brought me back to my own experience.
Moving along with the reading, I was surprised to read that the Aztecs had slaves and that the people they conquered weren't killed immediately. I some how thought that once they conquered an area and its people that they would kill them since they had such a big population themselves, but according to the reading, these people were instead used. They were used to make goods, certain areas had to produce a certain good and a certain amount. The reading goes to share that these conquered people were also used as sacrifice to their gods. Wow, would hate to of been them. Can you imagine, not only do they make you work hard by making goods for them but at some point, you might be the one chosen to die for their gods.
This was an interesting read. My experience with a tour guide at the pyramids gave it more of a romanticised feel to history of the Aztecs, although he did mention the human sacrifices. The book on the other had gave it more of a gruesome feel to it in regards to sacrifices and the way conquered people were treated.
Last year I had the opportunity to travel to Mexico and see the pyramids. While I was there our group met up with a tour guide whom shared some information about the area and the people. He shared that his family is native of that area and we were able to meet some of the native people there while also participating in a spiritual ceremony. Having gone through this great experience last year, like I mentioned before, I was interested to read what this book shared about the Aztecs.
Our guide like the book shared that these people produced a lot of goods and then were traded and sold in markets places. The book shares that a Spanish conquistador was impressed by not just the amount of goods but also the variety he saw at the market place. The book goes on to share that he was so impressed by it that he wrote it down. Reading this brought me back to a little town we visited. The town seems small, the streets are narrow, not too many cars, people are mainly walk about town, and it was on the quiet side. At this point we had another tour guide and after taking us around town he finished the tour at the town's market place. Well, it was no longer quiet. The market place was buzzing with people, there was music, food cooking, people talking and each stall had a variety of goods to sell. I actually took a picture of various stalls because their goods were so colorful and their produce looked so fresh. One stall had herbs, another clothing, another tiles, another meats & fish and another yarn and ... the list goes on. We didn't make it through the whole market, it was too big but it was great experience. Reading about the goods they produced and how they had big markets brought me back to my own experience.
Moving along with the reading, I was surprised to read that the Aztecs had slaves and that the people they conquered weren't killed immediately. I some how thought that once they conquered an area and its people that they would kill them since they had such a big population themselves, but according to the reading, these people were instead used. They were used to make goods, certain areas had to produce a certain good and a certain amount. The reading goes to share that these conquered people were also used as sacrifice to their gods. Wow, would hate to of been them. Can you imagine, not only do they make you work hard by making goods for them but at some point, you might be the one chosen to die for their gods.
This was an interesting read. My experience with a tour guide at the pyramids gave it more of a romanticised feel to history of the Aztecs, although he did mention the human sacrifices. The book on the other had gave it more of a gruesome feel to it in regards to sacrifices and the way conquered people were treated.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
HAPTER 5: Eurasian Cultural Traditions, 500 b.c.e.–500 c.e.
· The Legalist Answer -They believed that the answer was in rule and laws that were strictly enforced. -They believed humans were in a way stupid except for the rulers of course. -They promoted farmers and soldiers but the rest of the populations were thought of as useless. · The Confucian Answer -Here the focus was on morals. -Confucius believed that to restore order, they needed to focus on their morals. -To do that was to have a liberal arts education, have rituals and ceremonies, have personal reflection times and be willing to perfect their personal moral character. -Confucianism was accepted and became part of their culture, so much so that it was part of the political and education system along with test taking. · The Daoist Answer They believed that the answer was in aligning yourself to nature. -That there was a set order in nature and if we were to align with it there would be order. -They were not focused on education or materials, instead they only had they needed for everyday survival, their life was simple. -Daoist perspective was thought to be complementing to Confucian, like yin and yang. -You would go to work and be more like the Confusion way and then return home to have a Daoist perspective.
· South Asian Religion: From Ritual Sacrifice to Philosophical Speculation -Hinduism had no original founder but instead grew along with the Indian civilization. -Commonality came through the sacred texts called the Vedas which were passed on through story telling and then around 600 BCE they were written in Sanskrit. - The writings give us glimpses of their civilization. - Another set of text is the Upanishads; these were from around 800 and 400 BCE which tried to bring meaning to sacrifices described in the Vedas. - Upanishads shared the idea of Brahman, the World Soul, and the ultimate reality. - It also shared about atman (individual human soul), moksha (liberation), and samsara (reincarnation). · The Buddhist Challenge -Founder was Siddhartha Gautama but those that followed him called him Buddha (Enlightened one). -He taught that suffering came when people went after their wants and desires but that through a simple life, a moral life and with meditation you could have enlightenment thus no longer have pain. -Buddhism was a simpler version of Hinduism. -After some intervention, women were allowed to join nun order -Women found some form of freedom. -Modern form of Buddhism was formed and was called Mahayana. · Hinduism as a Religion of Duty and Devotion -Buddhism died out a bit and was intertwined into a broader Hindu tradition. -Hinduism provided a path to liberation by following your assigned cast duties. -Mahabharata and Ramayana, poems, came about as a newer Hinduism.
· Zoroastrianism - Came about from the Persian prophet, Zarathustra around the 6th or 7th Century. -They moved from many Gods to one God who ruled. - Ahura Mazda was source of light and goodness if you aligned yourself with Ahura Mazda you would forever live in paradise but if you had instead aligned yourself with evil, Lie, you would then suffer for eternity. - Teachings focused on their free will. -this was never a missionary religion and therefore died out but traces of it can be seen in other religions. · Judaism - From the Middle East, the Hebrews and can be found in the Old Testament. -Their God is Yahweh who asks for complete loyalty, whom you can communicate with, who is more holy than what he created. -Is involved in social justice, brings the people out of the land of slavery, they keep their culture, then they return to their homeland. -Understanding of this God builds a foundation for both Christianity and Islam.
· The Greek Way of Knowing -Way of asking questions. -between 300-600 BCE -Seeking virtue and wisdom, they seek to find an explanation on how and why the world is the way it is without a religion. -Some people from that time are Socrates (philosopher), Plato (ethics & government), Hippocrates (human body), and Aristotle (student of Plato and · The Greek Legacy -Christian theology used terms from Greek philosophical concepts. -Greek texts were preserved -Children attended the school that Plato founded. -Greek works were translated in various languages and therefore influenced them.
· The Lives of the Founders -Gautama was born in luxury and Jesus was from lower-class family. -They were both spiritual seekers, challenged values, focused on the importance of love & compassion, and asked for individuals to change. -They were different in that Jesus believed in 1 deity, performed miracles, he taught for about 3 years, he challenged authority and was crucified as a criminal. -Buddha on the other hand had no miracles, he had public life more than 40years, and he died of natural causes at 80 years. · Establishing New Religions -Neither Jesus nor Buddha meant to start a new religion but it happened. -They both thought themselves to be regular humans but their followers made then gods. -Christianity spread with Saint Paul around10-65 CE. -Since the early message of Christianity was full inclusion it attracted many people to the religion and it spread. -The caring way of each other was another thing that attracted people to the religion. -Growth and spread of the religion usually happened after a miracle of sorts. -Christianity became the official state religion which then made it possible for the spread of the religion and for Europe to be mostly Christian. -Christianity adopted some of the ways of the religion there like including saints and accepting the winter solstice as Jesus birth date. · Creating Institutions -With Christianity, a hierarchical structure was developed in which the bishop of Rome/pope was the leader and then the patriarchs, bishops and priests followed behind. -Women who once were part of the house church ceremonies were now being excluded and thus Christianity became a male dominated religion. -Difference in doctrine and interpretation of teachings brought with it division with both the Buddhist and Christian religion. -The emerging Buddhist religion shifted a bit and it didn’t have such a firm right or wrong idea. -The Buddhist didn’t establish an overall hierarchial structure
Questions 1. What are some differences and similarities between Jesus and Buddha? Similarities They were both spiritual seekers, challenged values, focused on the importance of love & compassion, and asked for individual/personal change.
Differences Gautama was born in luxury and Jesus was from lower-class family. They were different in that Jesus believed in 1 deity, performed miracles, he taught for about 3 years, he challenged authority and was crucified as a criminal. Buddha on the other hand had no miracles, he had public life more than 40years, and he died of natural causes at 80 years
3 .What is thought to be the Greeks’ way of knowing and does it include a particular religion? The focus for them is more about the way you ask the question more than on what the answer will be. They were seeking virtue and wisdom; they seek to find an explanation on how and why the world is the way it is without a religion
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)