Post 5: Sum up what you have learned in Semester 1

Due to Mrs. Lawson's History class I believe I am a more sophisticated, knowledgeable individual. Apon arriving to Lawson's class, on the first day I honestly wasn't excited. In the past I have had less than enjoyable history classes. This past trauma biased my opinion upon entry. However, after the first month I discovered history wasn't that bad and wasn't just memorizing events, such as in the past. History class became ideaology and sociology class that examined civilization and personal thought process. By having group discussions and conversational lectures I now understand why poverty exists. Due to this I can also view situations with eyes that look to the root of a problem aside blaming the individual, such as a homeless man. To my embaressment today, I use to think the poor were in the most common situation poor because they had failed to succeed of there own accord.

Post 4: Unit 4 NATIONALISM: From Concert to Competition

Nationalism is by definition 'a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups'. This idea of nationalism first appeared around the late 18th century in Europe. The impact of this idea was manipulation and war. Manipulation and war don't particularly sound like they could positively impact a nation; however, they can. An example of a positively impacted nation due to nationalism is germany. Under Bismark the many German states were united through nationalistic emotions, war and manipulation.

Coinsidently, the story of the unification of Germany was mine, Elanie's, Payton's, and Samuel's groups' puppet show. In the show we explained Bismark's Realpolitik. Realpolitik is a type of political strategizing that considers power more important that principal. Bismark used this idea of realistic politics based on the needs of the state to united Germany within a decade, around 1872. I believe these points of Bismark's Realpolitik were well expressed in mine, Elanie's, Payton's and Samuel's groups' puppet performance. However, if there could have been room for improvement, it would be the puppet making. To our groups disdain, nobody brought materials. So, upon the class work day our group had to scavenge for supplies.

As it is, nationalism happened similarly and very differently in another corner of the world. This corner was Italy. In 1870, relatively the same time as Germany, Italy became a unified state after a passionate war and surrender lead by Garibaldi and 1,000 red-shirted volunteers. This passionate leader, Garibaldi, was the embodiment of 19th century romantic nationalism, the opposite of Bismark's 'realistic politics'. Also in contrast, Bismark did not believe in nationalism; he only used it to manipulate the German states. Futhermore, Bismark was interested in governing unified Germany; whereas, Garibaldi was focused on Italy as a sigular country no mater the form.

In comparison, Bismark and Garibaldi were also similar in there impacts on Italy and Germany. They both broke industrial barriers existing between states. This as a result increased economic growth, leading Italy and Germany to modern standards.

Nationalism is a powerful idealogy that can be used to motivate and unite many to action. However, this idealogy can also work in inverse by segregating one group from another. If nationalism could be used on a global scale trade barriers and war would end. There would peace for all. However, Humanity would have to recognize that we are all human, and that in its self is our fault.

Post 3: Unit 3, URABANIZATION & INDUSTRIALIZATION

During the Second Industrial revolution there were positive and negative impacts of technology. Some positive impacts were the increase in productivity of industry. The switch to factories from individual homestead work in the Second Industrial revolution was the primary reason for this production increase. By having many workers in the same area working with advanced technology products became available to many more people. Also at this time many cultural entertainments arose, such as bare knuckle boxing, music halls, and librarries. Urban life provided many ideas and products to become available to the masses. However, there were also negative impacts of the Second Industrial revolution, one being workers health. Despite factories being a splendid, well paid job for factory owners; factories were dangerous, places of tedious repedative work for assembly line workers. Due to a combination of the fast pace working lines, lack of safety measures for workers, and long tiring hours workers would often seriously injure themselves. This, of course, would put the worker out of a job. Furthermore, without a worker compensation system workers would fall into poverty. As well as positive impacts, urban life provided negative impacts, such as common poverty.

The most interesting city in the world is Rio De janeiro. In Rio every year there is 'The Rio Carnival'. At this carnival there are many dancing women that lead large masses of samba dancers. At this carnival it is expected to dance and sing, to have fun and party. Also, Rio is central to brazilian cuisine. This cuisine varies from Brigadero to Pao de Queijo, or chocalately caramel to cheese balls. However, Rio like other cities has negative points. Rio is publically know to have a corrupt police force. In the slums, or low income housing, police forces have been incriminated of beating/ killing civilians in mob suppressions. In even bolder accusations, the Rio police force has been said to deal under the table with gangs and drug rings. Rio De janeiro is a city full of life and crime.

Post 2: Unit 2 GUNS, GERMS, and STEEL

The uneven distribution of resources has over many thousands of years effected human equality. From studying Jared Diamond's 'Guns Germs and Steel' ideology I have come to believe that civilization advancement is due to 'geographic luck'. Geographic luck applies to the natural resources of the land a civlization lives on. Some natural resources are domesticatable animals and high calorie, harvestable crops. These animals and crops provide food and tools to advance, furthermore a surplus. During a civilizations surplus, the civilization has the energy and time to form specailized jobs, therefore developing advancements.

A current country struggling to advance is Kenya, Africa. Kenya is severely stricken by HIVS. Due to its energy expended fighting the deases it struggles with, Kenya does not have the time or energy to produce surpluses and advance further. Kenya does however have hope for a clean future with a decrease from 14 percent to 4 percent of infected populants. This means that there has been a 10 percent overall decrease in people infected with HIVS. This decrease could be in affect to volunteer work and support groups giving Kenya the resources it needs to advance, a solution to AIDS.

All of Kenya's struggles can be in fault to British colonizers. Before Europeans arrived in Kenya, Kenya was poorly developed; however, Kenya was not so severely stricken with germs as it is today either. Native Kenyans knew of the dangers of Malaria and the many deadly germs near the still waters of the tropics. Therefore they lived in the high dry lands, where the bugs that carried germs were few. However, after the first European encounters, Britain, the 'owner' of Kenya under the consensus of the conference in Berlin decided to make Kenya a colony. Britain then furthered there conquest by building a railway and exporting Kenyan goods.
The current situation in Kenya can be explained through the impact the Europeans had on it.

I do believe 'geographic luck' exists and global inequalities result from this luck. Take Kenya for example. Kenya was slowed in advancements in inverse to Europe due to its lack of domesticateable animals, horse and lack of high calorie crops. Aside that, Kenya would have advanced with time. However was debilitated by the European colonization and introduction of native germs, domination by European technology such as guns and steel. These debilitators have caused expenses to support groups and natives since then. These expenses range from human life to monitary resources.

Post 1: Unit 1, AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan



While researching Afghanistan I learned very much about the geological composition of the landscape. Did you know that unlike many of Afghanistan's neighbors; Afghanistan actually doesn't have a thriving oil industry. Yes, Afghanistan is poor in oil. In 2007 Afghanistan was surveyed by the USGS for potential oil. Their initial findings were hopeful; however, oil production has not increased drastically by any means. If I were to do over my Afghanistan project I would have tried harder to find research on the current political stand point of the United States' interest in Afghaninstan oil.

In new my new findings, I have discovered that Afghanistan has plentiful resources of coal. However, their oil resources are not being taped because they are too expensive to recover. Due to the mountainous terrain in Afghanistan, different methods are being explored to recover the oil cost effectively. Thus, econimically uplifting Afghanistan and posibly removing the Taliban from their thrown on natural and heroin resources. These surveys are in thanks to the high tech epuipment, airborne geopysical survey, provided by the USGS open file report on Afghanistan.

Going into the Afghanistan project, I believed Afghanistan was mostly Taliban and that by studing Afghanistan I would basically be studing a radcal sect. So, I was actually very surprised when I discovered we were going to study nationalism through Afghanistan! It was a plesant surprise when I discovered that Afghanistan was a nation of great charity, and that it was the radical sect, the Taliban, that were blood driven. This confession is not to say that I thought the entirety of Afghanistan was evil, but that I was surprised that so many Afghan's were charitable. This by my research and fact-based knowledge was due to there deeply rooted religion, Islam. However, Islam is one of the only common nationalhoods of Afghanistan because Afghanistan is actually composed of very nomadic tribes that have traveled between Pakistan and Afghanistan throught the ages. Overall, through studing Afghanistan I have learned that Afghanistan is a country of charity, little nationalism and people aside the Taliban.