Part Two, Chapter 16 Religion and Science

Part two of the chapter starts off by talking about the scientific revolution of Europe. The European scientific revolution occurred between the mid-sixteenth and late eighteenth centuries. The generalization of formal laws occurred while the church was being challenged with scientific thought. by this time, Europe had developed a legal system that claimed to give independence, but still separated religion and law.

Part One: Religion and Science, 1450-1750

In reading the first part of chapter sixteen, "Religion and Science", I realized that religion was a huge part society and determined who you were in this world. During the 1500's, Europe was pretty much the only area that was involved in Christianity, besides other small areas such as Egypt, Central Asia, Ethiopia , and Southern India, who were plagued. The spread of Christianity caused the forcing of a religion to different areas of the world. I personally do not agree with this. No one should be forced into a religion, regardless of who they are or their social class in their community. Being that everyone doesn't share the same religion, i'm sure one who is not a christian today, would disapprove the forcing of it. Although Christianity was the most well-known religion, there were many other religions that people were practicing, and it was wrong of Europeans to just force it upon them. It was like christianity was the only way and no one could have their own personal ways of thinking and their own practices involved in their daily lives, because it wasn't acceptable. People who tried to go against the church such as Martin Luther, who thought that was having a lot of problems, and that faith was all you needed in order to get to heaven. Although Martin Luther was excommunicated from the church, I agree with him. It isn't about being apart of one unique religion, it is about having a relationship with God and having faith. Science was also becoming prevalent among the people, being that it became something much of a religion to them. People started turning to science for answers, because unlike religion, it had answers that could be proven. I think its interesting how people actually felt science was like a religion to them and could replace it so easily.

Chapter 15 : Global Commerce

What is Global Commerce? Global Commerce is the trading, buying, and selling of different objects around the world. While reading Ways of the World, by Strayer, I learned mainly about the history of slave trade. The countries involved in the trade were that of Asia, North America, Siberia, and even Europe. According to the chapter, "motivation above all was the desire for spices (though other Eastern products were also sought)"(Strayer). Spices were really popular and everyone wanted them, therefore they were being traded all over the world. But spices were not the only thing being traded throughout the world. Times have changed as people were now being traded and slaved to death. The chapter also explains how fur was in high demand from many countries. Although these countries could be hunting animals, they dont, and rely on others to trade them for fur. Silver was also another trading item that was very popular, because of its value that it presented among the people. Looking back at how things use to wrk and how people use to have to travel far to get what they needed, I now appreciate the life that we live today , as we can just go to the store for any spices, foods,  or goods that we need. 

Sweet Nexus: Sugar and the Origins of the Modern World

What many of us do not realize is that we live in a materialistic world. Our society has now turned into one which is that of a consumer society. But do we ever stop and think about just where and who makes these materials? The commodities that are involved in our every day lives are made by people who " are very distant from us geographically and culturally" (87). The problem with not knowing where these products come from and who makes them is that we take them for granted. In the global Market, "people produce what they do not consume, and consume what they do not produce"(87). This is very true, and I do not agree with it. 

While the reading is mostly about Sugar and its history, slavery has a huge toll on the conversation topic.  Europeans did not have a big supply on sugar because it was very difficult to produce. The task involved many hours of labor and this is where slavery came in. Black slaves were forced to do the job in many locations, although they did not want to.

Back to the topic of history of sugar, I was surprised to hear that products ingested sniffed, drunk, or smoke, "produce an alternative state of mind have been central for exchange and production". These itens are items such as, "coffee, tea, cocoa, tabacco, and sugar".  it is said that these products are, “A growing taste for rare and stimulating commodities had a transformative effect no the world and its people”. Sugar wasn't made popular until the Restoration of he Stuart line, when it was then spread out and used by merchants, shopkeepers, and artisans. Before this, Sugar was very limited to anyone even the elites. 

Now a day, sugar is in everything that we eat, and I bet that none of us could live a day without it, and even those who could would definitely suffer in one way or the other:). Sugar has become much of a need, and its surprising that it never was before it spread around the world.

Thoughts on Chapter 14

Much like today, the world's people lived on basic facts from traditional principles

Thoughts on Chapter 14

Islam was the faith that spread in Africa and Asia, not Christianity.

Thoughts on Chapter 14

Surprisingly, the Europeans did not have control over the mainland, although they did have power over the world's sea routes.

Thoughts on Chapter 14

Three centuries are talked about in the "Early Modern Era"

Thoughts on Chapter 14

Uighur: A member of a people of northwestern China, particularly the Xinjiang region, and adjoining areas.

Thoughts on Chapter 14

yay i am done.