History

Migration is a significant feature of ancient and medieval life. Using examples from the medieval world, consider how the name we give to these movements of peoples shapes our view of their cultures. How do we define migration vs. invasion? Which term is most appropriate to the more fluid pre-modern political entities of this period? Were migration and invasion more harmful or more beneficial in the early medieval period? Explain.

Discussion #3    In a book about rituals in ancient civilizations, one author makes this point: “The modern world…has generally lost the concept of sacredness and the deep meaning of the ritual. Few of us believe our rituals can change anything. In the past, people believed that the world could be coped with and changed through ritual. Today, we try to master it with technology alone”.Do you agree?  Why or why not? Links for discussion:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rituals_b_3294412https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-rituals-work/ For more information read this:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_history

The Effect of Industrialization on Urban Workers. Describe the plight of farmers during the late nineteenth century. What were the sources of their misery? Why was their reaction to these conditions so slow to take form? What farm did organizations emerge to address the farmers’ complaints? Why did they fail to bring real improvement? What group, proposing what policies, finally emerged? Why did this last group fail?

Over the past few weeks, we have studied the role of the judiciary in the separation of powers. In Federalist no. 78, you’ll recall, Publius argued that the judiciary would be the least dangerous branch of government because it would be institutionally weakest. Write a short essay answering the following question: Is the judiciary the least dangerous branch of government? Your answer to this question will be your thesis. For example, you might argue, “Yes, it is the weakest branch, and therefore least dangerous, and here is why”; or “The judiciary is actually very strong and here is what Federalist 78 missed”; or “The judiciary is weak in some ways but not in others.” Introduce your thesis early in the essay, and then provide evidence for your thesis in the remainder of the essay. Evidence should be drawn from our course readings and lectures, although you are also welcome to cite additional evidence. Your essay should demonstrate your understanding of the argument in Federalist no. 78, what Article III says about the federal courts, how the modern federal courts operate in practice, and how the concepts of judicial review and judicial supremacy have developed over time. Grading Criteria Mechanics Requirements: Calibri font, 12-point type size, 1” margins on all sides, double spaced Name, date, course, and instructor are included in the top left-hand corner (single-spaced) Paper is properly titled 5 pages in length, not including the Works Cited page Paper provides proper citations using MLA or Chicago Style footnote citations and a full Works Cited/Bibliography page Content Requirements: Essay is clearly written and well-organized with proper grammar and punctuation Essay advances a clear thesis Essay provides evidence to support the thesis and demonstrates an understanding of the key concepts discussed in the prompt above Essay demonstrates student’s own independent analysis in argument and conclusions Essay fairly summarizes and persuasively addresses key counter-arguments Essay is well-supported with citations to materials from the class

1. Write an Original Post (OP)Write a thoughtful answer to ONE of the two questions I pose. Make sure to address all parts of the question.  2 paragraphs or at least 10 sentences is a safe barometer. (Due Thursday at 3 pm) (10 points) 1.  Analytical: What do you think Las Casas was trying to accomplish by writing this book about the Spanish treatment of the Indians? Who is his audience?  (Meaning, who was he trying to convince)?  Non-analytical: What struck you most about this document and why? 2. Analytical: What does this short document from 1609 tell us about the relationship between the Powhatan Indians and the English colonists in Virginia.  What was Powhatan trying to accomplish and why?  Non-analytical: What struck you most about this document and why?

How did you come to understand American Indians as an American Indian or non-Indian? What were your original thoughts and what are your thoughts now and how have they changed?

Here is your (short answer) quiz on the Epic of Gilgamesh. There are five questions that will be graded (6 and 7 are to satisfy my curiosity and will only be graded if you do not answer in a thoughtful, well-written way).  It is due by noon on Wednesday, September 9.  If it is late you will lose points.  The information must come from the Epic of Gilgamesh.  Name three characters and briefly describe. Why do the people of Erech pray to the gods? Do the gods answer their prayers?  Briefly explain. Why does Gilgamesh dive into the sea? What is the main point of the story? Does this story/myth remind you of any other ancient stories/myths? What did you think about the Epic?

Much of early American history revolves around trade, and this trade took a very specific form for British North America: what is commonly known as the Triangle Trade. Research the Triangle Trade, using scholarly Internet sources; please do not use history.com, Wikipedia, or the like. You can use the citations at the end of a Wikipedia article to find other sources, but you should not use Wikipedia as a source itself. Then, create a timeline of the Triangle Trade, including the years (or specific dates, if applicable) of at least five important events in its story. Be sure to briefly (a few sentences) describe the event, and why it was important. —————————————— Additional info: When you complete the assignment, you will encounter the terms “primary source” and “secondary source”. What do these terms mean? First, it does NOT refer to how important the source is to your work. The main source you’re using is not your “primary source”, and supporting sources are not your “secondary sources”. That’s not what it means. A primary source is usually from the time you’re studying and often is intended to serve a purpose other than being a historical source. Often, they are created by eyewitnesses, and generally don’t derive from other sources. For example Newspaper articles from the time. They are intended to give the news to people that day. Pop culture (music, novels, poetry, artwork, movies and TV shows, comic books, etc.) from the time. They are intended to inspire/entertain/affect the people at the time. Diaries, journals, and memoirs, written by witnesses or people who had personal experience. These may be intended as historical sources, but often they are written first just for the person who wrote them. Letters, telegrams, etc. Their purpose is to communicate between people at the time. An interview would also be a primary source if the person was a witness or was personally affected by what you’re writing about (for example if you interview a relative who was in the Vietnam War). A secondary source is more recent, and it is generally derived from other (often primary) sources. It compiles other sources and draws conclusions from them. For example Encyclopedia articles. Books or journal articles by historians. The text on museum displays (unless it’s a direct quote from someone at the time). Web sites (unless they are the digitized text of a primary source). ——————————————- ** will need to use Chicago Style to cite references- can use this link to generate citations: https://www.citationmachine.net/chicago

Traditional Culture in the Modern World: The Elders RoleThis week there are two topics to discuss – please post about each discussion in a separate thread. (One should thread should be labeled Elders, the other Languages). Both are equally important. First, read what the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) Elders say about traditional roles today click here. (pdf)Listen to the following story -Sage Girls- about the role this Elder played in young women’s lives. (mp3 Why do you think elder McKenna accomplished what she did? How does what she accomplished establish an argument for a return to Indigenous teachings in conjunction with Western teaching in schools throughout Canada?LanguagesListen to the following story and watch the following video:Language camp – Piapot reserve (mp3)Language Camp video (MP4 2m)How can this camp help young Aboriginal People regain a sense of culture and identity through language? Is it the responsibility of Canadians, as a whole, to ensure opportunities like this are afforded to young people to retain their language? Learning From Elders – Elder Rose RichardsonPlease answer all three questions in one post! You have listened to Elder Rose Richardson talk about different plants. Listen to why she wants all people – not just First Nations or Métis people – but all people to understand. (mp3)What do you think about the need to save this knowledge? How could all of society benefit from this knowledge? If we share this knowledge – how can it also be protected from those who may want to exploit it?

2. Write a Secondary Response (SP) Respond thoughtfully to a fellow student’s original post on the OPPOSITE document or question your did your OP on.  Simply writing “I agree” without any discussion will get you no points on this part. Please do not respond to an original post that has more than 2 secondary responses already. If you respond to the OP that addresses the same document or question from you wrote your original post on you will only receive half credit at most.  About one robust paragraph.  (5 points) This is a free post.  You can thoughtfully respond to one of the SPs on your own or any other OP or write a TP on any post in the forum. (5 points)2. Bartolome de Las Casas documented the cruelties waged upon the Native Americans in the New World. Originally,  de Las Casas was a land seeking Spaniard and a slave owner. However, he grew to detest the encomienda system which justified the cruelties waged upon the Native Americans. Eventually, he earned the title “Protector of the Indians.” His writings, which sought to expose the violent enslavement of the natives by the conquistadors, were aimed at the Spanish Crown. His objective was to persuade the monarch of Spain to abolish slavery and to emancipate the natives. The greed-driven Spaniards overworked the enslaved Natives to death to satisfy their lust for gold. In de Las Casas documentation, Indians’ life was described as “totally deprived of freedom” and that they were treated as “perpetual slaves.” The most striking account of de Las Casas was how he compared the lives of the Indians to that of the animals: “even beasts enjoy more freedom when they are allowed to graze in the fields.” Indigenous people being looked down upon and treated as less-evolved humans is a disturbing but constant subject in history. Even Takaki in his book revealed how the English colonizers would equate Indians with the devil and the Irish as savages. These groups were not considered civilized because they did not identify with the Eurocentric definition of civilized- monotheistic religion, clothing, writing3. I totally agree with you. I was also struck by the humbleness of the Powhatan Indians. I was surprised that Powhatan was looking for a peaceful solution with patience. English colonists destroyed peace. People want to give up something when they experience despair. But they were not. Seeking a peaceful solution is not an easy way. Moreover, they do those things during the colonial time. Can we do the same at that time? Extra Credit: National Geographics Reckons with its Past (NPR, 3-12-18)  (Links to an external site.)National Geographic November Cover falls back on a Racist Cliche’ (VOX, 1-1-18)  (Links to an external site.)Please read the NPRs discussion of the article that National Geographics posted in early 2018  as well as the later VOX article.  Then answer the questions I post in a robust paragraph. (I can’t post the NG article because it’s behind a paywall).  What is the argument about how National Geographics covered “exotic” places and cultures in its past? What role did race play in their coverage? In what ways does their reckoning connect to Ronald Takaki’s argument in chapter two about how “civilization” and savagery” were depicted by the English colonists (and in Shakespeare!)?  Please give an example or two. Do you agree with the VOX article’s argument?  Why or why not?