This publication was originally written in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The first chapter is titled, "Bourgeois and Proletarians". Both terms indicate socio-economic classes. The bourgeois was the wealthy middle class. The proletarians were lower class or the working class.
The authors report that there are rising tensions between the two classes. They criticize the bourgeois for valuing money over family after experiencing a large influx of funds. Reading this, it feels like the authors are trying to make more of a comment about human social behavior in the sense that humans are fundamentally selfish and will take all that is given to them. Also, the majority of the paragraphs begin with, "The Bourgeoisie.." and goes onto criticizing them. They criticize the bourgeoisie for exploiting the proletarians through capitalism. Perhaps the capitalism that Marx and Engels is different than the US capitalism I'm thinking of. Perhaps their view would be different if government helped regulate private business (laws on human rights and such).
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sweet Nexus: Sugar and the Origins of the Modern World"
Although the necessity of commodities are unchanged, the way we use them is different. Before, people used to value their things more because they weren't as readily available now. In an age of capitalism and extreme consumerism, almost everything is incredibly accessible and in large amounts. Sugar is so readily available that many people are fat; before, sugar was more accessible to richer people, so fatness was a sign of being well fed and wealthy.
Sugar was connected to slavery until the 1800s because of the Haitian Revolution (which influenced neighboring islands/countries) and the revolutions of the Americas.
I believe that many people haven't tasted sugar cane by itself today. Processed sugar is common in everyday foods, but not the plant. Vietnamese have what's called, "nuoc mia". It's a cold beverage squeezed from sugar canes. They have the sugar compressor (?) viewable in the nuoc mia shops so you can watch the employees push the sugar canes into the machines. I think about 4 or more sugarcanes are used to make a 16oz beverage. The shops serve nuoc mia as is, or with different fruits infused. I personally enjoy strawberry nuoc mia and I think I'll get some later this week! People need to understand that the sugarcane crop is different than processed sugar. Although both are sweet, each is broken down differently in human bodies.
Sugar was connected to slavery until the 1800s because of the Haitian Revolution (which influenced neighboring islands/countries) and the revolutions of the Americas.
I believe that many people haven't tasted sugar cane by itself today. Processed sugar is common in everyday foods, but not the plant. Vietnamese have what's called, "nuoc mia". It's a cold beverage squeezed from sugar canes. They have the sugar compressor (?) viewable in the nuoc mia shops so you can watch the employees push the sugar canes into the machines. I think about 4 or more sugarcanes are used to make a 16oz beverage. The shops serve nuoc mia as is, or with different fruits infused. I personally enjoy strawberry nuoc mia and I think I'll get some later this week! People need to understand that the sugarcane crop is different than processed sugar. Although both are sweet, each is broken down differently in human bodies.
Chapter 17
Since I'm catching up on my blog entries, I'll write my reaction to the whole Chapter of our assigned readings.
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The revolutions of North America, Europe, Haiti, and Latin America shared common ideas, grew from the Enlightenment, and the need of popular sovereignty (except in Haiti).
"Many Americans thought they were creating a new world order." The root of American exceptionalism! I think in this situation, it's rightfully deserved. I didn't know that the U.S. Constitution directly came from the Enlightenment. Actually, I think I knew but I didn't remember until now.
I haven't studied the French Revolution so much, so whenever I think about it, I always picture the movie Marie Antoinette, which starred Kristen Dunst. I hated that movie, but the visuals were stunning. The Palace of Versailles is amazing (at least from pictures).. no wonder why the government was going bankrupt. I know they also spent the state's money on soldiers in America and colonial efforts. The monarch raised taxes to help the deficit, but the people violently revolted. I wonder if the French government thought about the French Revolution when trying to figure out today's economic troubles. .
THe Haitian Revolution was successful; the only slave revolt successful in history. I didn't know that the purchase of the Louisiana territory directly correlates with this revolution. Originally, it was $15 million dollars, but with today's inflation, the Louisiana Purchase was worth $233 million. Although $233 million is an incredible amount of money, it sounds like a normal day on the finance page in a newspaper nowadays. I think the latest business merger I can think of is Office Max and Office Depot. Office Depot bought Office Max for $1 billion within the last few weeks.
Since Latin American societies were torn by class, race, and regional divisions, I could see why a revolution would begin. This revolution was longer than the American one since its people were different. The independent leaders were on the side of the natives.
"Echoes of Revolution" refer to events that happened because of the revolutions like smaller European revolutions, abolition of slavery, slave rebellions in the West Indies, resistance to abolition of slavery, nationalism, and feminism.
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The revolutions of North America, Europe, Haiti, and Latin America shared common ideas, grew from the Enlightenment, and the need of popular sovereignty (except in Haiti).
"Many Americans thought they were creating a new world order." The root of American exceptionalism! I think in this situation, it's rightfully deserved. I didn't know that the U.S. Constitution directly came from the Enlightenment. Actually, I think I knew but I didn't remember until now.
I haven't studied the French Revolution so much, so whenever I think about it, I always picture the movie Marie Antoinette, which starred Kristen Dunst. I hated that movie, but the visuals were stunning. The Palace of Versailles is amazing (at least from pictures).. no wonder why the government was going bankrupt. I know they also spent the state's money on soldiers in America and colonial efforts. The monarch raised taxes to help the deficit, but the people violently revolted. I wonder if the French government thought about the French Revolution when trying to figure out today's economic troubles. .
THe Haitian Revolution was successful; the only slave revolt successful in history. I didn't know that the purchase of the Louisiana territory directly correlates with this revolution. Originally, it was $15 million dollars, but with today's inflation, the Louisiana Purchase was worth $233 million. Although $233 million is an incredible amount of money, it sounds like a normal day on the finance page in a newspaper nowadays. I think the latest business merger I can think of is Office Max and Office Depot. Office Depot bought Office Max for $1 billion within the last few weeks.
Since Latin American societies were torn by class, race, and regional divisions, I could see why a revolution would begin. This revolution was longer than the American one since its people were different. The independent leaders were on the side of the natives.
"Echoes of Revolution" refer to events that happened because of the revolutions like smaller European revolutions, abolition of slavery, slave rebellions in the West Indies, resistance to abolition of slavery, nationalism, and feminism.
Chapter 16
Since I'm catching up on my blog entries, I'll write my reaction to the whole Chapter of our assigned readings.
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Egypt was the first country converted to Christianity. Because of the entire region becoming Islamic, Egypt did eventually also. Therefore by the 1500, Christianity was mostly in Europe and fighting Islamic forces. The Protestant reformation began in 1517 with Martin Luther's 95 Theses. He also questioned the clergy's authority. I find it funny that I'm writing this entry late because I'm rereading about the Catholic authority and the pope made his last public appearance as pope yesterday! I believe the Catholic clergy is somewhat still corrupt (as all large institutions can be), but a lot less corrupt than in the days of Martin Luther. Because of Luther's ideas, the large religious schism touched upon other things that weren't religious like social, economical, and political tensions. Being Catholic seems to have been the lives of these people.
It's interesting how the book points out that Protestantism "ended veneration of Mary and other female saints" so that Jesus could be the one and dominant male figure. There is so much evidence about religion that men have used to their own advantage to gain more power. I continually learn more and more! Not only did Christians do it, Muslims too! In both cases, women were more equal to men in the beginning of the religions but as time passed and the religion became more powerful, women had less power.
Because religion had so much precedence in European lives, it makes sense that the schism caused many more revolutions and wars like the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years' War. The Reformation helped to encourage citizens to think past religion and more with a secular point of view.
The conversion of Spanish America resinates still today since most of Mexico to South America are largely Catholic. Religion has really stuck with colonized lands. Although Christianity reached China, the religion didn't stick as well because it wasn't combined with Chinese culture well and Europeans didn't imperialize China until later.
Wahhabism is a strange word to translate over to English. I want Dr. Ferdowsi to say the founder's name, "Abd al-Wahhab" so I know what it's supposed to sound like. Wahhabism's main goals were "to restore absolute monotheism, end veneration of saints", "to restore absolute monotheism, end veneration of saints", and "to restore strict adherence to the sharia (Islamic law)."
Confucian ideology still resinates in Chinese culture today even though the Qing dynasty ended 101 years ago. I see the difference between Confucian ideology and American ideology because American ideology is very individualistic, whereas Confucian isn't. Confucius was a traditionalist and he saw the family unit as the unit to honor the most. I believe it's wonderful to value family, but at the same time, each person is an individual. I like to see the middle ground to combine both ideologies.
"The Scientific Revolution was an intellectual and cultural transformation that occurred between the mid-sixteenth century and the early eighteenth century."
I think the term "Scientific Revolution" is synonymous with "modernization". Science has helped people understand concepts with hard evidence; it's a way of thinking we still have today. It challenged religious institutions, social/political systems, and inequality among people.
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Egypt was the first country converted to Christianity. Because of the entire region becoming Islamic, Egypt did eventually also. Therefore by the 1500, Christianity was mostly in Europe and fighting Islamic forces. The Protestant reformation began in 1517 with Martin Luther's 95 Theses. He also questioned the clergy's authority. I find it funny that I'm writing this entry late because I'm rereading about the Catholic authority and the pope made his last public appearance as pope yesterday! I believe the Catholic clergy is somewhat still corrupt (as all large institutions can be), but a lot less corrupt than in the days of Martin Luther. Because of Luther's ideas, the large religious schism touched upon other things that weren't religious like social, economical, and political tensions. Being Catholic seems to have been the lives of these people.
It's interesting how the book points out that Protestantism "ended veneration of Mary and other female saints" so that Jesus could be the one and dominant male figure. There is so much evidence about religion that men have used to their own advantage to gain more power. I continually learn more and more! Not only did Christians do it, Muslims too! In both cases, women were more equal to men in the beginning of the religions but as time passed and the religion became more powerful, women had less power.
Because religion had so much precedence in European lives, it makes sense that the schism caused many more revolutions and wars like the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years' War. The Reformation helped to encourage citizens to think past religion and more with a secular point of view.
The conversion of Spanish America resinates still today since most of Mexico to South America are largely Catholic. Religion has really stuck with colonized lands. Although Christianity reached China, the religion didn't stick as well because it wasn't combined with Chinese culture well and Europeans didn't imperialize China until later.
Wahhabism is a strange word to translate over to English. I want Dr. Ferdowsi to say the founder's name, "Abd al-Wahhab" so I know what it's supposed to sound like. Wahhabism's main goals were "to restore absolute monotheism, end veneration of saints", "to restore absolute monotheism, end veneration of saints", and "to restore strict adherence to the sharia (Islamic law)."
Confucian ideology still resinates in Chinese culture today even though the Qing dynasty ended 101 years ago. I see the difference between Confucian ideology and American ideology because American ideology is very individualistic, whereas Confucian isn't. Confucius was a traditionalist and he saw the family unit as the unit to honor the most. I believe it's wonderful to value family, but at the same time, each person is an individual. I like to see the middle ground to combine both ideologies.
"The Scientific Revolution was an intellectual and cultural transformation that occurred between the mid-sixteenth century and the early eighteenth century."
I think the term "Scientific Revolution" is synonymous with "modernization". Science has helped people understand concepts with hard evidence; it's a way of thinking we still have today. It challenged religious institutions, social/political systems, and inequality among people.
Chapter 15
Since I'm catching up on my blog entries, I'll write my reaction to the whole Chapter of our assigned readings.
--------
During this period, the world seems to be coming of age... like a "teenager" if you will: slave trade; globalization (commerce and imperialism). Going into "adulthood!" I mean, if you consider the time now adulthood.
Dr. Ferdowsi talked about how the Middle East was the "center" of the world and it became a very diverse place exposed to many cultures from Europe and Asia. Since his viewpoint understands more of the Middle Eastern cultures, this reading is probably more Eurocentric than his.
Europe was recovering from the Black Plague and its societies were rising. Since the continent was well again, Europe was able to pursue whatever it wanted. The motivation for the Europeans trading with the Asians were spices? I could understand that since food would be so tasteless without it. Meat I'm guessing these societies were less meat based than we are now and had more vegetable consumption. I'm not sure if eating meat versus eating vegetables have any difference in seasoning (I don't eat meat). Even life without paprika would be so difficult for me. Okay, I definitely can understand the European's desire for spices.
In Indian Ocean commerce, the Portuguese were pirates? I imagine them like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland... except those pirates were Spanish and English (I think). I want to go to Disneyland instead of writing this journal. Disneyland is the best. Sorry. Anyway, the Portugese created a "trading post empire" which means their goal was to control commerce instead of people or territories. They used force to control their empire instead of money. At its height, the Portugese trading post empire controlled half of Europe's commerce of spices. Their decline was in the 1600s.
I love learning about Filipino history. I'm half, but I don't really know much about my heritage. My grandfather's mother was Spanish so that makes me like 1/8 Spanish. My Filipino side is very Americanized so we don't celebrate any Filipino traditions outside of the religious, Catholic ones. That's the part of the culture I know well and it's from the Spanish! Also, my mother's maiden name is Reyes. Clear Spanish indicators. Although, how the Spanish "modernized" the native Filipinos is disheartening to hear. I suppose it's slightly easier to imagine the Spanish taking over the Philippines since I know my ancestors suffered that fate.
So there was the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company. Either of them could've tried thinking of more creative names; the way they're named now makes them sound affiliated. Maybe that's just my 21st century thinking since we have corporations/chain companies and they probably didn't back then.
"Between the mid-fifteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries, the Atlantic slave trade took an estimated 11 million people from Africa to the Americas." The image I have in my mind is a large city, like Hong Kong, with that same population as the number of estimated slaves brought from Africa to the Americas. That's an ENORMOUS amount of people to be in one place unwillingly. The success of the business between the Europeans and the Africans turned out to be highly detrimental to African societies.
I like the phrase, "transregional linkages".
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During this period, the world seems to be coming of age... like a "teenager" if you will: slave trade; globalization (commerce and imperialism). Going into "adulthood!" I mean, if you consider the time now adulthood.
Dr. Ferdowsi talked about how the Middle East was the "center" of the world and it became a very diverse place exposed to many cultures from Europe and Asia. Since his viewpoint understands more of the Middle Eastern cultures, this reading is probably more Eurocentric than his.
Europe was recovering from the Black Plague and its societies were rising. Since the continent was well again, Europe was able to pursue whatever it wanted. The motivation for the Europeans trading with the Asians were spices? I could understand that since food would be so tasteless without it. Meat I'm guessing these societies were less meat based than we are now and had more vegetable consumption. I'm not sure if eating meat versus eating vegetables have any difference in seasoning (I don't eat meat). Even life without paprika would be so difficult for me. Okay, I definitely can understand the European's desire for spices.
In Indian Ocean commerce, the Portuguese were pirates? I imagine them like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland... except those pirates were Spanish and English (I think). I want to go to Disneyland instead of writing this journal. Disneyland is the best. Sorry. Anyway, the Portugese created a "trading post empire" which means their goal was to control commerce instead of people or territories. They used force to control their empire instead of money. At its height, the Portugese trading post empire controlled half of Europe's commerce of spices. Their decline was in the 1600s.
I love learning about Filipino history. I'm half, but I don't really know much about my heritage. My grandfather's mother was Spanish so that makes me like 1/8 Spanish. My Filipino side is very Americanized so we don't celebrate any Filipino traditions outside of the religious, Catholic ones. That's the part of the culture I know well and it's from the Spanish! Also, my mother's maiden name is Reyes. Clear Spanish indicators. Although, how the Spanish "modernized" the native Filipinos is disheartening to hear. I suppose it's slightly easier to imagine the Spanish taking over the Philippines since I know my ancestors suffered that fate.
So there was the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company. Either of them could've tried thinking of more creative names; the way they're named now makes them sound affiliated. Maybe that's just my 21st century thinking since we have corporations/chain companies and they probably didn't back then.
"Between the mid-fifteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries, the Atlantic slave trade took an estimated 11 million people from Africa to the Americas." The image I have in my mind is a large city, like Hong Kong, with that same population as the number of estimated slaves brought from Africa to the Americas. That's an ENORMOUS amount of people to be in one place unwillingly. The success of the business between the Europeans and the Africans turned out to be highly detrimental to African societies.
I like the phrase, "transregional linkages".
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Chapter 14
Since I'm catching up on my blog entries, I'll write my reaction to the whole Chapter of our assigned readings.
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I like how the book recognizes that although Europe conquered societies and created entirely new ones, the colonies were different due to the conquered people, resources available, and the type of economy. It's strange to think that Europe created "wholly new societies". That phrase to me sounds like the writers tooting Europe's horn or bragging in some form; the reality is that it's true. The Americas are definitely a testament to that phrase: "wholly new societies". I suppose another form of a new society would be the mixing of a native people with the colonists, since they're interactions that would've never happened and the structure of the native population's society is severely altered, and therefore, new.
Although the Aztecs and Incas were among the most populated and wealthiest societies in the Western Hemisphere, it's pathetic the Europeans were unable the recognize that. Their lack of understanding shows through their establishments of education, economy, and bureaucracy. Those factors most likely contributed to the fall of the Aztecs and Incas. Nice going, Spain. Slavery was the most pitiful part of this period since we know how brutal and demeaning the perpetrators were even if it was a smart business move. No amount of money can make up for the violence and bloodshed. I have always wondered if the Europeans felt what they were doing was wrong or if they understood what sort of impact they were imposing onto people. Did anyone have any remorse?
When I read the word, "parliament," I automatically think of Model Arab League since it's a parliamentary simulation among the countries in the Middle East competition that I'm involved with for school. I was voted Head Delegate of Qatar, since Qatar is the country that we're representing. I'm excited! We're currently working on Robert's Rules. During break, I''m going to try and drill the ins and out of Robert's Rules in my head since our next meeting is a mock trial. We have a month and a half to prepare for the event; we want to beat Berkeley (again).
"by 1776, 90 percent of population of North American colonies was European." Again, this is completely connected to the colonists creating, "wholly new societies." I couldn't imagine such a society since the identity of a society is fluid and always changing. Maybe I live in a bubble, but the Bay Area is such a diverse part of the United States where people of European descent are not the majority since Hispanics and Asians make up a lot of the population.
If Russia became an Asian power as well as a European one, then what continent did it originate from? I always thought they were Asian to begin with... Maybe the text is just suggesting that it became a power in Asia rather than just being part of Asia.
I absolutely love learning about the Qing dynasty. It stems back to me being a little girl and watching old Chinese movies that had historical background with my dad. The most famous movie about the end of the Qing dynasty is Once Upon a Time in China. It depicts the Boxer Revolution, Chinese resentment towards foreigners, and Sun Yat Sen acquiring the paperwork/power/support for the Nationalist movement. The last time I watched this movie was when I was 11. I'm pretty sure I understood the movie the same as how I described it just now at 23. My dad was born in Hong Kong but immigrated to the US at the age of 2, so he's not entirely connected with his country of birth. The US is home. Perhaps that's why Chinese history has always highly interested and was passed down to me. His interest has largely influenced my interest in history, except I'm able to expand my interest into an education and career.
Although our book covers Muslims and the Ottoman Empire, a lot of my knowledge stems from Dr. Ferdowsi's class, Middle Eastern Area Studies, since it's a class I'm currently taking this semester. The first book we read was about the origins and the religion of Islam in general. The next book was about the region of the Middle East in general. The book we're currently reading is about the modernization of Persia, which became Iran. The most difficult thing, for me, about reading this type of history were the names of people and places. It is still hard for me to remember everyone's names and places. Dr. Ferdowsi said those names and places are like English names and place in the US... which he said took him awhile to differentiate too. One of the most interesting pieces of information about the Middle East I've learned is that the first converted Christian country was Egypt, but the region and its power converted Egypt into an Islamic country to what we know it as today.
Eurocentrism is something I've encountered, knowingly or unknowingly, since I was a child. When I studied history when I was younger, I found myself bored to tears because I couldn't connect to European or American history directly yet. When I was 16, I took matters into my own hands and read the book, The Rape of Nanking. It's about Japanese atrocities in Nanking (now Nanjing), China during WWII. I found I could relate to it because my Chinese grandma had experienced something similar in the same time period and it helped explained why some Chinese people held a lot of animosity towards the Japanese. After I found that I could understand history mentally and emotionally, studying history through college became a lot easier and the conception of Eurocentrism was easier for me to grasp. Especially living in the Bay Area, I believe we should have a well-rounded education that emphasizes importance different perceptions of history rather than just the European one.
--------
I like how the book recognizes that although Europe conquered societies and created entirely new ones, the colonies were different due to the conquered people, resources available, and the type of economy. It's strange to think that Europe created "wholly new societies". That phrase to me sounds like the writers tooting Europe's horn or bragging in some form; the reality is that it's true. The Americas are definitely a testament to that phrase: "wholly new societies". I suppose another form of a new society would be the mixing of a native people with the colonists, since they're interactions that would've never happened and the structure of the native population's society is severely altered, and therefore, new.
Although the Aztecs and Incas were among the most populated and wealthiest societies in the Western Hemisphere, it's pathetic the Europeans were unable the recognize that. Their lack of understanding shows through their establishments of education, economy, and bureaucracy. Those factors most likely contributed to the fall of the Aztecs and Incas. Nice going, Spain. Slavery was the most pitiful part of this period since we know how brutal and demeaning the perpetrators were even if it was a smart business move. No amount of money can make up for the violence and bloodshed. I have always wondered if the Europeans felt what they were doing was wrong or if they understood what sort of impact they were imposing onto people. Did anyone have any remorse?
When I read the word, "parliament," I automatically think of Model Arab League since it's a parliamentary simulation among the countries in the Middle East competition that I'm involved with for school. I was voted Head Delegate of Qatar, since Qatar is the country that we're representing. I'm excited! We're currently working on Robert's Rules. During break, I''m going to try and drill the ins and out of Robert's Rules in my head since our next meeting is a mock trial. We have a month and a half to prepare for the event; we want to beat Berkeley (again).
"by 1776, 90 percent of population of North American colonies was European." Again, this is completely connected to the colonists creating, "wholly new societies." I couldn't imagine such a society since the identity of a society is fluid and always changing. Maybe I live in a bubble, but the Bay Area is such a diverse part of the United States where people of European descent are not the majority since Hispanics and Asians make up a lot of the population.
If Russia became an Asian power as well as a European one, then what continent did it originate from? I always thought they were Asian to begin with... Maybe the text is just suggesting that it became a power in Asia rather than just being part of Asia.
I absolutely love learning about the Qing dynasty. It stems back to me being a little girl and watching old Chinese movies that had historical background with my dad. The most famous movie about the end of the Qing dynasty is Once Upon a Time in China. It depicts the Boxer Revolution, Chinese resentment towards foreigners, and Sun Yat Sen acquiring the paperwork/power/support for the Nationalist movement. The last time I watched this movie was when I was 11. I'm pretty sure I understood the movie the same as how I described it just now at 23. My dad was born in Hong Kong but immigrated to the US at the age of 2, so he's not entirely connected with his country of birth. The US is home. Perhaps that's why Chinese history has always highly interested and was passed down to me. His interest has largely influenced my interest in history, except I'm able to expand my interest into an education and career.
Although our book covers Muslims and the Ottoman Empire, a lot of my knowledge stems from Dr. Ferdowsi's class, Middle Eastern Area Studies, since it's a class I'm currently taking this semester. The first book we read was about the origins and the religion of Islam in general. The next book was about the region of the Middle East in general. The book we're currently reading is about the modernization of Persia, which became Iran. The most difficult thing, for me, about reading this type of history were the names of people and places. It is still hard for me to remember everyone's names and places. Dr. Ferdowsi said those names and places are like English names and place in the US... which he said took him awhile to differentiate too. One of the most interesting pieces of information about the Middle East I've learned is that the first converted Christian country was Egypt, but the region and its power converted Egypt into an Islamic country to what we know it as today.
Eurocentrism is something I've encountered, knowingly or unknowingly, since I was a child. When I studied history when I was younger, I found myself bored to tears because I couldn't connect to European or American history directly yet. When I was 16, I took matters into my own hands and read the book, The Rape of Nanking. It's about Japanese atrocities in Nanking (now Nanjing), China during WWII. I found I could relate to it because my Chinese grandma had experienced something similar in the same time period and it helped explained why some Chinese people held a lot of animosity towards the Japanese. After I found that I could understand history mentally and emotionally, studying history through college became a lot easier and the conception of Eurocentrism was easier for me to grasp. Especially living in the Bay Area, I believe we should have a well-rounded education that emphasizes importance different perceptions of history rather than just the European one.
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