Blog #6 Chapter 15

Science as Cultural Revolution

The Science of Cultural Revolution emerged with the works of Nicholaus Copernicus around 1543 when he published, “On the Revolutions of the heavenly Spheres.”   Many other scientific works continued after his death such as Andreas Versalius with his drawings of “Father of Anatomy,” Galileo Galilei who discovered mountains on the moon and Jupiter moons, Johanne Kepler, who formulated the laws of planetary motion, Isaac Newton, who invented concepts of laws of motion and calculus, and many other scientific thinkers.   Historically, the scientific movers and shakers of the cultural transformation were male, however, a few aristocratic women had the leisure and connections to participate in the scientific networks of these men.

However, I do not find it surprising that women were confined to their social role in society.  The women’s role was concentrated in motherhood and to serve their male partners.  Women who wanted to work or explore science lived in Germany such as Maria Winkelman, who discovered a comet.  However, they were excluded in the scientific world.   Furthermore thereafter, it was not until the Enlightenment, they were able to explore science and be recognized in science.

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Sketch of the Progress of the Human Mind by Marquis De Condorcet

            Condorcet informs us that humans can be sincere, noble-minded, truthful, faithful if inequality did not exist.   The destruction of inequality between individuals and classes develops evilness.  This endless progress of conditioning the human mind prolongs human good. Condorcet’s Nine Grand Epochs of the past identifies the true rights of a man without infringing on common equality.   Condorcet’s Tenth Epoch identifies the future of man has no limits. Finally, Condorcet discusses human life expectancy with refinement of improving oneself while preserving equality and natural rights.  

            As I perceived, Condorcet efforts to illustrate the moral and political science in the Ninth Epoch and in the Tenth Epoch, elaborated his speculations.   Significantly, he tried to reach his ideas of equality, education, reason, science, human rights, democracy, life, liberty, pursuit of happiness by “Sketch of the Progress of the Human Mind.”  However, his ideas remained in structure through his writings; however, his ideas have not been achieved yet.  For example, in a capitalist system, there remains social regression and oppression worldwide.  Condorcet’s objective was to affect people through his educated thoughts in hopes to stimulate peace.  However, many of his ideas are not valid in our human race as long as there remains oppression, power, and authority.    

Blog #5 Chapter 15

The Protestant Reformation

       The Protestant Reformation was started by Martin Luther, a German monk,  who challenged papal authority and questioned the Catholic Church Christian practice.  He introduced the 95 theses by exposing the church’s ideas for what he believed was wrong.    He fought for political redistribution of power into the hands of the Bible instead of the pope and church hierarchy.  Catholic rulers and priest was threatened by Luther’s thesis.   This dispute started wars, and by the reformation’s end, Lutheranism became the state religion throughout Germany, Scandinavia, and the Baltics. The Protestant Reformation altered the course of religion throughout the world.  People were able to leave and choose who they wanted to worship.

            I am convinced that Luther’s courage challenging the corrupt Catholic Church and Pope was deserving and honorable.   Luther instigated necessary change that the Catholic Church was not deserving of respect at that time.  As in past history,  corruption was widespread among the clergy.  The church tortured people they believed to hold non-orthodox beliefs.  However, some may oppose that the Bible itself is full of injustice.   However Luther’s reformation was beneficial because the reformation cleaned up the oppression and coercion of the churches and the states. 

Chapter 14 Voices of Slave Trade

                                                Voices of Slave Trade

The introduction of slave trade and exploitation provoked widespread resolves worldwide.   Many plantation owners felt slavery was justifiable because of profits  from the workforce for the plantations and mines.  Products such as cotton, tobacco, gold, silver, and sugar were traded internationally with Europe and Asia and slave trade was accredit to this production. However, victims felt slavery was unjustifiable.   Slave trade emerged racism and this spiraled other problems for the exploited victims. Inhumanly, goods were exchanged for human beings. 

Finally, I have no doubt that many African societies were hopeful and convinced themselves that they would receive benefits that were promised to them such as eventually receiving property rights. Unfortunately,  I conceive that some of the Africans were convinced that slave trade was necessary for survival.  It is clear to me that racism was rooted through slave trade and then grew throughout the European and Asia continents.   I place confidence this slave-trade system introduced disgusting crimes of the African slavery. I presume true that it was the Africans’ efforts throughout history, not the “white-man’s efforts” that bought humanitarian change. 

Chapter 14- Silver and Global Commerce

Chapter 14

            Silver and Global Commerce

            The expansion of silver production occurred during the 1600s as silver was traded globally.   Silver deposits discovered in Bolivia, or the city of Potosi, flourished throughout the Americas and Europe.   However silver had negative impacts to Spain’s economy.  Miners worked in dangerous conditions  such as toxic gas, explosions, falling rocks, work related diseases and many died. Extensive silver mining lead to severe deforestation, soil, erosion, and flooding in the area of Potosi. Spain’s economy did not prosper with silver due to inflation of prices, monopolies and regulations.   Afterwards, Japan became dominant in silver production.  Tokugawa Leyasu , was the military ruler of Japan.  The Tokugawa shoguns established during the 1600s controlled Japan’s silver production.  

             Finally, it is my opinion, capitalism grew with the introduction of silver mining production and other resources such as gold.  With the increase in money supply, this affected the economy unevenly.  As the Spanish tried to secure their supply of silver for themselves, their economy eventually was failing due to economic affects such as widespread diseases. Japan took over and tried to maintain the silver trade with China to increase circulation of  money and wealth into their country.  Eventually, changes in global commerce, industry, and agriculture influenced continuous growth throughout Europe. 

Chapter 13 Political Transformations (635-649)

Sweet Nexus:  Sugar and the Origins of the Modern World

This article embraces how sugar changed the world.  Sugar involved the different perspectives of slave labor in the sugar production.   Sugar is labor intense and the need for forced labor from African slaves grew since the 16^th century.   Sugar was a lucrative demand that became enormously profitable for the Europeans and the global market.  Since land was essential for sugar plantations, landlords exchange protection and small land grants in exchange for their labor.  However, these land grants seldom came through.  Unfortunately, this was the beginning of racism that was justified for the white Europeans who thought themselves as superior over the “colored people.”  Plantation slavery was profitable and big business, both through farming and factories.  

However, it is my conviction that this inhuman, slave trade also introduced and created tensions between the African slaves and traders.   With compelling historical proof of abuse, the Europeans exploited the slaves by using some political power. However, some whites claimed that these slaves were part of the economic system. It is my belief that this tyranny  lead to wars and more greed. Unfortunately, with the deplorable living and working conditions, many of these slaves died.   Tragically, many of these slaves who sought a better life, found their own death as they were forced to work.  These slaves  who died were replenished with new slaves. It is my sentiment that even today,  human rights advocates still have proof that slave labor still exists in other parts of the world. Finally, some humanitarians claim that sugar was tainted with the blood of the slaves from cutting the sugarcane.  Even though the vast majority of slaves were Africans who were transported to the New World, this cash crop, sugar, created a much volatile political climate later around the 19^th century that eventually led to the Civil War which signifies to me that greed always leads to destruction.

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