The Scramble for Africa

The Scramble for Africa was when all the European nations began claiming all of Africas territory. Many treaties were made by the Africans themselves giving the Europeans all this power. Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Britain started taking interest in 1881. They started taking interest in Africa for its vast amount of natural resources. Africa contained gold, diamonds, petroleum, and much more. Also some of the countries would claim African land simply for power or to just have it for their own. The European countries had much better technology than the Africans which was the only reason for their easy victory. The Europeans had steam boats and machine guns while the Africans still depended on Spears and sheilds. This had a negative effect on Africa. The Africans were losing their land and culture. Also the Europeans took advantage of the Africans and looked down upon them.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of the Moon"

In the movie Mountains of the Moon two British men went searching for the source of the Nile River. The first time their mission failed because another tribe basically murdered the group of Africans hired to help them and a lieutenant. During their journey some of the bearers helping them out ran away with some of their belongings. Also another problem faced were the harsh conditions of Africa. The ground was rough to walk on and the temperature was extremely hot. Another problem were the animals that lived in Africa. At one point Richard Burton became sick and Speke went on to try to find the source of the Nile. He thought he found it but what he really found was Lake Victoria. He named it himself after the Queen of the United Kingdom at the time. The Europeans had much more tools than the Africans that helped with the directions and health. They had steamboats which helped with their traveling. Also they had weapons such as machine guns. I think these technological advantages were the reason Europeans won so easily.

The Meiji Restoration of Japan

The Meiji Restoration was basically the period where Japan finally modernizes. Before that Japan was hiding from the world and made little contact. All this change when Commodore Matthew Perry visited Japan in 1853. The Japanese were astonished by the American ships. But the point of his visit was to open up Japan to the world and start trade. It was clear that they would've done it by force. The Japanese had no choice but to sign treaties that limited the control Japan had on its on trading and that made crimes against foreigners be tried in American courts. After this other western countries began using Japan for trading which caused anger amongst the Japanese. Their thoughts were proud and nationalistic. After the visit from Commodore Perry everything changed from Japan. Japan adopted ideas from all the other countries to make their own better. By the end of the Meiji period the Japanese gained a better government, a stronger navy and army, better transportation and communication systems, and more educated people. Japan is a archipelago or a chain of islands.

Karl Marx and Communism

Karl Marx believed in a word where the workers ruled over the bosses. He thought the workers should govern over the farms and factories. This whole idea is basically what Communism is. Communism comes from the word common. He loved the idea of financial equality. He thought that the people would share their wealth with each other and only get what they deserved or needed. Marx considered capitalist as the "bad guy" and the workers as the good guys". He refered to the capitalist and bosses as the bourgeoisie and the working class as the proletariat. To him capitalism would only bring destruction and chaos. He thought that with communism society would be a peaceful and classless society.

Karl Marx and the Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution was the starting point to capitalism. The industrial revolution meant workers slaving for low wages and land owners just enjoying their easily made money. The capitalist were gaining alot of power. Those terrible circumstances are what made Karl Marx change his way of thinking and the ways of people lives. Karl Marx hated the indurtial revolution and all it brought. He thought of capitalism as a catastophe. What Marx wanted to see was the workers gaining the power instead of capitalists. He thought that the workers sold themselves out. He urged the people to take a stand and over rule the government to his ideas. The unfair treatment of everything made him come up with communism. With communism his dreams would come true of a better and equal sociey.

Nationalism and the Creation of Italy

Nationalism is basically a devotion or pride to your own country not a king or queen. They cared about there people since they had similar language, culture, religion. In a way were all nationalistic to America by just saying the pledge of alligience. Some people have flags on their homes. Those are some types of things that show your pride for you country.

Before Italy became Italy, Austia and the Spanish owned the territories that made up Italy. After time the soon to be Italians were getting sick of their current rulers.

Simon Bolivar: Latin American Revolutions

For years Latin America were being treated unfairly by the Europeans. Only the men who were born in Spain were allowed to control the government. And that angered the creoles and lesser classes who were born in the country. Napoleans brother was controlling Spain at the time and the citizens felt that they shouldnt be loyal to a king who wasnt even Spanish. To stop this it took alot of work from the people and a man named Simon Bolivar. He is also know as liberator of South America. He won independence for Venezuela and helped Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Bolivia and Peru to win their independence. He started with research. Before he started fighting he became informed. He went to France and the United states and studied there research.