Growing Up In The Age Of Exploration

If I were living in Europe during the Age of Exploration I probably would have been very exciting about all the discoveries occurring around me.  Children are always interested in adventure and new things so growing up during that time period would intrigue me and make me want to be an explorer like the role models exploring for and representing the country I currently lived in. 

If the new discoveries influenced me in such a way that I felt like I needed to take part in the adventure, then I would try to set out and do my part to help the explorers the best I could.  Exploring myself as a woman would be difficult but I could still research exploring and educate myself so I could teach men that did want to pursue the dream.  

The Age Of Exploration

            The Age Of Exploration was a time of innovation and discovery.  It lasted from 1418 to 1620 and was filled with risks, races, and daring voyages into unknown territory that brought people all over the world.  The purpose for the start of the Age of Exploration was because people wanted to find alternate sea routes to Asia.  Demands for foreign goods were increasing and Asia had many spices that were highly valued in Europe.  Spices could preserve food longer, added flavor, and could be used to make fragrances.  New knowledge could also be learned from exploring the world and many explorers knew that if it were them who discovered something of value they would acquire fame and wealth.  One final reason for exploring was so people could spread the beliefs of Christianity to all the places they traveled.            

            The first countries to send out explorers were Portugal and Spain.  Portugal started the trend and Spain followed suit.  Soon after those countries began conquering new lands and discovering many things the race for success began.  Countries took part in a silent battle against each other.  After Spain and Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands followed suit.  All wanted new land and the benefits in which that land came with.

            After the Age of Exploration was well under way, the economy started to change in the European countries.  It became a Capitalist Economy.  This occurred because as merchants began trading a lot, they gained wealth.  As they gained wealth they were able to pay for more voyages and over time, eventually were able to open up trading companies.  As more and more people did this, the merchants got richer and richer and more companies were being opened. 

            The two explorers that I think are the most important are Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci.  They both go together and have very similar historical goal.  Christopher Columbus was the man who discovered the new world, but Amerigo Vespucci was the man who realized that is was a new world.   

Europe Transformed

An artist's depiction of Rome's decline.

Many different things contributed to decline of Rome.  Although historians know Rome fell, no one is one hundred percent certain on the reason why.  In Rome’s prime their empire was seen as the ‘Queen of the Earth”.  They flourished but when they started to slowly spiral downwards the reasons were unclear.  The reasoning for Rome’s decline is to date one of the biggest mysteries of the Roman Empire.  One of the primary theories for the decline is that taxes became to high and prices became unsteady.  When taxes rose people were not able to pay up and residents were thrown in jail or they lost everything.  Emperors tried to fix the destroyed economy by making prices stable.  Merchants were becoming unfair and charging ridiculously high prices for small things due to the difficult times.  A way to fix this was to make a maximum price for each good but these rules were ignored.  Another theory for the decline of Rome was the conversion to Christianity. Historians believe that when Constantine converted to a Christian it created an unstable element in the lives of the Roman people.  When people are uncomfortable things to get done to their highest possible potential.  Epidemics were another possibility that led to the downfall of Rome.  Sickness was able to spread easily because Rome was a highly populated city.  There were also no treatments for diseases and no known way to prevent them.  When the Roman military started failing this was another reason for Rome’s decline.  Without a strong military Rome could not expand, fight, or protect themselves from enemies trying to take their land, people, and resources.  Another opinion is an extremely unique one-that Rome didn’t fall at all.  Instead it merged into the Medieval Times. 

Roman's conversion to Christianity. 

Roman legions.

            The people after the fall of Rome had a difficult time adjusting.  Although they tried to learn from Rome’s mistakes the time after Rome’s decline was gloomy, unsettled, and chaotic.  Small tribes tried to succeed on their own and no one banded together to create a bigger group of people.  Another thing that fell with Rome was the trade.  Since Rome essentially wasn’t there, there was no gathering place for all the traveling merchant…and no big city to trade in.  In the end, after Rome fell, the Dark Ages began.  Many things were lost including religion.  While the church was with Rome it became extremely urbanized so when Rome was lost, the church didn’t know what to do.  

A Merchant...

This astrolabe would have helped a merchant.

Merchants use and used many things that the Muslims discovered in the areas of geography and navigation.  Muslim geographers and scientists helped by calculating the circumference of the earth, dividing the earth into climate zones, accurate maps, atlases, and books of maps.  Travelers would use these for many different purposes at many different times.  A merchant in particular would use these navigation skills frequently because traveling makes up their jobs.  If they can't travel they can't work, make money, and provide for their families.  These navigation techniques were clearly very important then considering they are very important now.  We would be far behind if we didn't have the help of Muslims in navigation and geography. 

A Doctor...

In this picture a doctor tends to a sick man.

A doctor would use many things that Muslims contributed to the world.  Things that the Muslims invented/discovered that a doctor could find useful would be their many hospitals, their medical care systems, ambulances, remedies, and discoveries about surgery and infections.  The Muslims established hospitals in many places-by the tenth century, Baghdad had at least five hospitals.  The government also made sure that there were teaching centers for doctors, patients were separated, and the government paid for everyone's medical expenses.  The Muslims also had caravans that they could drive to sick patients houses.  The remedies they discovered would help doctors everywhere and the learned much information on amputation and the treatment of bacteria in infections. 

8.6

Muhammad asked the Muslims to show respect for the Christians and Jews because all three derived from Abraham and he wanted to respect the ties and bonds of brotherhood that all three different religions shared.

The Qur'an

The Qur'an was the first thing to be written down that really outlined the way Muslims were told to practice their faith.  The Qur'an is the guide to Islam like the bible is he guide to Christianity.  Both serve similar purposes and each religion could not exist without these two very important things leading the way.  The Qur'an is necessary for the survival of this religion and it also holds the most information on the religion itself.

8.3-Muhammad's Life

-He sent to live with nomads in the desert.  Then he came back to the city and herded sheep and goats and then began trading.
-He became a merchant when he met Khadijah and married her at age 25.  he continued to be a merchant for the next 15 years after she started him off with simple trading and selling.
-In 610 C.E., Muhammad went to pray in a cave and that is where he received a visit from the angel Gabriel.

-In 613 C.E. he began trying to preach and spread his teachings, or the religion of Islam.  people called him a liar and tortured his followers and later started a boycott against him.

8.2-Before Muhammad

-Most peoples' religions were polytheistic and consisted of them believing in many gods.
-Makkah was a prosperous city due to trade with Yemen, Syria, and Africa.
-Many people (Arabs) lived in the desert in small tribes.  Tribes had a tendency to launch fights on one another.
-Although they lived in various places throughout the peninsula, they connected through Arab poetry and singing about the beauty of their land.

Mountains (Adaptations)

Houses are most commonly built out of mud bricks because it is one of the most easily accessible materials on the mountains.

Mountains (Adaptations)

The people that live in the mountains farm by building terraces on the ledges to create flat surfaces to plant crops.

Mountains

The mountains on the Arabian Peninsula range in heights from 1,200 feet to 12,000 feet.  Temperatures can get very cool at the summit and sometimes this causes frosty to form.

Mountains

The mountains trap rain that can't pass over them and that leaves the land on one side of the mountains fertile and land on the other side very dry.

Coastal Plains (Adaptations)

Frankincense and myrrh are made by collecting the tree sap from the few trees located on coastal plains.

Coastal Plains (Adaptations)

When crops are grown on coastal plains dams are usually built in order to help create irrigation systems to evenly distribute the water among the plants.

Coastal Plains

Some coastal plains around the Arabian Peninsula have natural harbors that form just like this one.

Coastal Plain

Most coastal plains are found five to forty miles inland and some end with jagged cliffs like this one.

Oases (Adaptations)

Thatched roofs cover the homes of those living in oases.  This man here is seen installing one on his house.

Oases (Adaptations)

This specific oasis in the desert grows crops such as grains, dates, and peaches to sustain a stable lifestyle and community.

Oases

Small shrubs, bushes, and patches of grass are able to grow around the oasis.

Oases

Oases form from trapped water underground that finds its way to the surface.

Desert (Adaptations)

People travel through the desert on camels, animals specially adapted to the harsh climate.  Camels can go days without water and have large hoofs so their feet do not sink into the sand.

Desert (Adaptations)

Nomads sit in their houses that can be packed up and taken with them to their next destination.

Desert

After a flash flood water cannot be contained by the loose sand and flows freely.  Flash floods can sometimes result in small shrubs and patches of grass growing.

Desert

A powerful sandstorm surges through the desert.

Current Events-India

The article I read was on the changes India will make in their health care over the next few years.  Thoughts on this change are that it will influence other countries to do the same.  India will be looking to build more hospitals and clinics throughout the country.  That means health care expanding in urban areas and health care being provided in rural areas where it was never provided before.  It is also thought that over the next two years, about one thousand people will be employed as engineers.  Therefore, more manufacturing will take place and India will create bigger and better things. 

Article Link-http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703818204576206182325804192.html

Indian Presentation Wrap-Up Sentences

Engineering Feats-Throughout the ages, people in India have been creating miraculous buildings in huge sizes from the Taj Mahal and the Anicut Dam, to the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid.

Languages Of India-English, Sandscript, and Hindi are all used in India to this day whether they are being spoken or not, all have helped the people of that country to communicate and interact with eachother.

Indian Climate And Geography-India has a diverse climate and geography.  The country has various landforms and the the seasons and land, for example-the rain-plays a large part in the lives of the people living there.

Indian Sculptures-The precise qualities and intricate designs of Indian sculptures have enabled them to show their feelings through their artwork and has given them a way to preach their beliefs.

Today's Presentation

I gave my presentation today and I hope you enjoyed it :)

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