Ch: 9, 11,&12

I most enjoyed reading chapter 11 this time around. I can't remember if I have ever formally learned about the Mongol culture, which shows I probably didn't it because I found this reading most intriguing. The history about Chinggis Khan and the Mongal movement was completely different from the impression I had (mostly through movies). I was always under the impression the Mongol's were a barbaric nomadic tribe, that was ruthless and overtook many cities by fear and death. Although they did take over many major cities through fear and death the Mongol's were very united, had great military tactics, and had organized social structure. Their military advancement and strategies mainly came from their horse back riding skills. They were able to steal technology and other advancements from their enemies whited helped them out in the run. 

Women also played a different role in their society versus other women in different cultures at the same time (i.e. chinese women). Mongol women were able to initiate divorce, some were able to be political advisors, and overall did not have a gender hierarchal role among men. 

Although they were seen as a nomadic tribe, the Mongols had a really good system and relied on resources and agriculture based on the seasons. Mongols were really connected to their environment and relied on their resources around them. They lived in elaborate tents and were able to move around using the resources around them. This is probably why their enemies had a hard time defeating them or tracking them down because they did not have a centralized location. Later on, Chinggis Khan established a capitol, which was a cosmopolitan city at the time. 

I found all of this information interesting and enlightening because I feel that Mongol's have somewhat of a stigma about them. It is probably because they did not have a written language and most of their history was passed down orally. Their enemies on the other hand, were able to write down their views/beliefs about them in many different languages. I would assume if you were attacked and defeated you probably wouldn't have anything positive to say about your enemy. Which explains why the Mongols are characterized as nomadic, barbarian like people until you learn about them! 

Chapters 7, 8, & 10

 Chapters 7, 8, & 10

I am only going to focus on a few thought since there is a lot of material to go over. Particularly the silk, sea, and sand roads fascinated me the most. I have studied about the silk roads before (way back in high school) but don’t remember anything about sea or sand roads. Products that were discovered and brought back and discovered were products such as silk, spices, ginger, cotton, jewelry, perfume, and other amazing products. I personally love going to markets especially when traveling and tasting/seeing fruits or vegetables that are not imported to California or the US. I can only imagine what it would have been like to see or be apart of this road and seeing/touching this stuff for the first time.

Unfortunately, with all the transit brought many diseases. It unfortunate that smallpox and measles killed were apart of political downfalls but also many native cultures as well.

Chapter 8

Foot binding… When I was in the 7^th grade I had a really strict teacher from China that taught in the heart of the mission in San Francisco. Looking back on my 7^th grade experience I realize she had a hard time identifying with our demographic and she probably could have been a more successful teacher somewhere else. She would often talk about her foot binding experiences when she was a little girl and how she respected adult figured growing up (we weren’t terrors but we definitely had personality). Anyways, after reading about foot binding and the actual process I cant imagine that my teacher’s feet actual looked this he pictures in the book. I find it horrific and painful to look at. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to forcefully bind your feet for beauty and femininity. I can barely go on a diet or find my way to the gym so I cant imagine the commitment or discipline it took to bind your feet.

Ch 3, 4, 5, & 6

Ch: 3, 4, 5, & 6

A lot of reading to do this week… My ideas and thoughts are everywhere since there was so much material but I will try to focus on what I thought was most interesting.

I really enjoyed reading about the Persian Empire mostly because I have seen a lot of Hollywood movies like The Persian Prince and the 300 hundred series. I have never read too much about the history of Persia and glad I did since most of my “facts” were based on movies. I was not surprised on how elaborate and their empire from their monuments, under ground irrigation systems, and tax systems. Although, I do find it fascinating how much was accomplished during that period of time.  I always find it interesting to read about how much people believe in one person to help establish all of this elaborate work. There was a clear line of hierarchy and wealthy in the Persian Empire which usually results in a lot of poverty. I am sure the poor believed a lot in their God King, which helped establish his power and wealth.

Greeks on the other hand believed in free people, citizens managing laws and affairs, and had a great political system. Although, for sometime men of higher power were only considered to have full citizenship, that seemed to change over time with farmers being granted full citizenship. I loved to hear that there was a strong support that fought for the poorer class that challenges wealthier rulers. If this happened in Persia, if you interrupted the king you be killed so there would be no chance for any of this business