History Portfolio

Michael Sperry
8:00-9:00AM
 IOTH: History of History
1. This podcast is, essentially, a brief overview of the history of historical study. The discussion
touches upon the works and methodologies of various historians from different time periods. A
great deal of time is dedicated to discussing ancient Greek historians such as Herodotus and
Thucydides, as well as various Ancient Roman historians, including Livy. The discussion also
covers the proliferation of Christianity during Late Antiquity and throughout the Middle Ages
and how this affected the content of historical writing. Writings by Christian historians like St.
Augustine are cited when discussing this time period. The discussion is then concluded with a
brief discussion of the Renaissance, as it marked another shift in historical writing. Specifically,
the historians in the podcast bring up topics such as the emergence of feminist writings during
the period, as well as the effects of the reformation, which resulted in a divergence of historical
perspective as the role of the Catholic Church was challenged.
2. Personally, I found this particular discussion to be rather difficult to follow given how the
speakers would very quickly vacillate from one topic to another. This can be challenging to
follow when considering the wide range of topics discussed within a fairly short span of time.
However, with this being said, I also found it to be quite useful in building a mental image of
how the study of history began. Early historians like Herodotus tended to be fairly narrow in
focus, only covering certain topics that were typically very close to them. In the case of
Herodotus, he was mostly dedicated to the study of the Persian Empire and its failed conquest of
Greece. When Christianity emerged, historical writings were heavily influenced by it. Christian
writers like Saint Augustine depicted history as having a sort of linear progression in which
humanity continuously improves. The writings during this time were far more wide ranging,
even covering topics such as the creation of Earth itself. While I found the discussion on
Renaissance historians to be less substantive, the overall podcast was still invaluable in aiding
my understanding of early historical writings.
3. Regarding the podcast’s pertinence to the accompanying class lecture, it is fair to say that the
podcast delves into topics that the lecture did not make much note of. Specifically, the lecture
heavily discusses the contributions of figures like Leopold von Ranke and Karl Marx to
historical writing while the podcast makes no mention of them. While the lecture tended to focus
on more modern historical writing, the podcast focused on Ancient and Medieval history.
However, while the content was quite different, the lecture and podcast to articulate one
important overarching theme. They both note how the practice of studying and reconstructing the
past is ultimately colored by the modern historian’s own contemporary ideals. This was
discussed in class, and was also detailed very well in the podcast. One of the speakers actually
noted that the French word for history can also translate into “story”, which reinforces how
historical writing can never be completely accurate because it is concerning a topic that has
already long since taken place. In this sense, historical writing is akin to storytelling, as it
requires some degree of imagination and interpretation alongside objective facts.
4. Discussing the present-day connections to this podcast is somewhat difficult considering that
the topic mostly covers ancient and medieval historical writers. However, it can be said that there
are present day connections in the sense that the podcast delves into the roots of modern day
historical writing. The methods used by individuals like Herodotus or St. Augustine, while
lacking the scientific approach to history favored by Leopold von Ranke, did involve rigorous
study aimed at understanding the past. Modern day historians also do this, albeit in a more
refined manner that emphasizes the importance of primary sources and a clinical objectivity
towards the topic in question. While St. Augustine and Herodotus would have been less
interested in this, given that they were not specialized historians, they did still play an essential
role in initiating the practice of historical writing. So, in this sense, it can be quite valuable to
learn about these individuals and study the writings they left behind to gain insight into the roots
of the historical method.
IOTH: History and Understanding the Past
1. This podcast explores the notion of learning from history in order to avoid the mistakes made
in the past. The speakers spend a fair amount of time discussing the extent to which human
beings have managed to learn from the mistakes of the past. Multiple historical examples are
used to discuss this topic. For instance, the tactic of appeasement, which was used by the League
of Nations to deter further German aggression before the outbreak of World War 2, is cited as an
unsuccessful attempt to learn from the past by mitigating the punitive actions imposed by the
Treaty of Versailles. A more successful example that was cited came in the form of the modern
German constitution, which was designed in such a way as to prevent fringe political parties like
the Nazis from gaining power again. The discussion then gravitates towards the topic of
globalization and how it has radically altered the world in such a way that it alters the way in
which the past is understood by allowing for information to become more available more quickly
and by perpetuating a global economy that many nations are now a part of.
2. I feel that this podcast provides some interesting content to mull over, particularly with
regards to the effects of globalization. It certainly is interesting to contemplate how our
perception of the past will change as the world becomes more interconnected and our culture
changes accordingly, causing us to become further removed from the past. I suspect that this may
be part of the reason why history tends to be less popular when compared to other subjects, at
least in my experience. It is easy for a young college student to see the value in a subject like
engineering or medicine, but history may be more difficult to articulate the value of, seeing as
how it deals with subjects that occurred long ago. Our culture today is wildly different from our
culture 100 years prior. It does pose an interesting challenge for someone like myself, who
studies history; to show others why the study of history is still important, even in the globalized
world of today.
3. The podcast relates to the theme of the accompanying lecture in the sense that it deals with
change on a global level that is underwent by many different nations. While it is not directly
mentioned in the podcast, this change does correlate with the subject of a shift towards a more
cultural history that many historians have undertaken, which is touched upon in the lecture. The
shift away from “great-man history” in which massive changes are attributed to the actions of
specific individuals, towards cultural history in which change is seen from the bottom-up, on a
societal level, is alluded to by the podcast when the speakers discussed globalization.
Globalization is not the result of a few individuals that worked towards this eventuality, it is the
result of a broad cultural and economic shift towards the moving of people and ideas across
greater spaces more quickly.
4. There are many present-day connections within the podcast, seeing as how much of it deals
with the rise of Globalization. The historians speaking in the podcast make note of how
globalization has already altered western society and predict how it may affect the future. One
particularly interesting point that was made pertains to how the English language has become so
ubiquitous that the study of foreign languages had begun to decline, as many thought that it was
no longer needed. However, the exact truth of this is difficult to gauge. It is certainly true that
English has become ubiquitous in many years as a result of globalization. Businesses all over the
world are required to understand it in order to better conduct business in the United States or
Britain. But this is not to say that the study of foreign languages is obsolete, in fact the opposite
is more true. While English has become quite widespread through globalization, the same is true
for many other languages. Spanish is also very common, particularly in the United States, due to
the influx of Hispanic immigrants. Mandarin Chinese is also important to make note of, given
the economic gains that China has made in recent years. When considering this information, it is
fair to say that the assertion that studying foreign languages is obsolete is incorrect.
IOTC: Capitalism
1.This podcast is essentially a brief overview of the topic of capitalism and the role it plays in the
current global economy. The discussion begins with a conversation on Karl Marx and his own
critiques of the capitalist system in his book known as The Communist Manifesto. Marx
described capitalism as inherently unstable and would eventually lead to an inevitable downward
spiral of economic ruin as a result of its boom and bust cycles. The commentators in the podcast,
however, do contradict this point somewhat by noting how Keynesian-style economics employed
by various governments have mitigated the severity of these cycles through a degree of
government regulation. Further into the podcast, the discussion gravitates towards more recent
history, much time is dedicated to discussing the deregulation of various industries in the United
States in the 1980’s. The commentators debate the efficacy of this tactic, as it resulted in less
government oversight and more traditional laisses faire capitalism, which is a divisive topic.
They then close out the podcast with a discussion on the fall of the Soviet Union and to what
extent this represented a triumph of capitalist ideal; and ultimately, it is debated what the overall
future of capitalism may be.
2. Overall, this was a fairly interesting discussion on a topic that can be quite difficult for many
people to understand. Capitalism is a very obtuse topic that is often oversimplified to simply
being synonymous with greed. The commentators make note of this notion, and while they
certainly do not contradict it, they also point out how it is a manifestation of the innately human
desire to trade and to accumulate resources. The great degree of versatility with regards to
consumer choice is also mentioned, although this is counterbalanced by the high degree of
uncertainty perpetuated by capitalism; job security is described as being quite low. When
analyzing this information, I am reminded of the complex nature of discussing capitalism. It is an
extremely delicate matter to discuss and has many components to take into account.
3. The content of the podcast does pertain to the accompanying lecture in that they both do
briefly discuss the history of capitalism, although they mention different individuals that were
tied to capitalism. In the lecture, which is primarily focused on the French Revolution and how it
was influenced by ideals espoused during the enlightenment, there is a small passage mentioning
Adam Smith, the author of The Wealth of Nations. Smith was a fairly prominent Enlightenment
philosopher who could arguably be considered the “father” of modern day capitalism. By
contrast, the podcast focuses on Karl Marx and his criticisms of the capitalist system in 19th
century Britain, although it is pointed out that Marx himself never used the term “capitalism” in
his writings. In short, while the lecture and the podcast both touch on the roots of capitalism, the
podcast details it far more while the lecture only discussed it in the context of the enlightenment,
which, in turn, was discussed in the context of the French Revolution.
4. The podcast certainly does have very resonant present-day connections, seeing as how much
of the discussion deals in fairly recent history. Capitalism is still very much a force that affects
the lives of many people across the globe, and the commentators in the podcast certainly
addressed this. One of them even compared the current power of capitalism to that of the atomic
bomb, further reinforcing the importance of this economic system. For better or worse,
capitalism is a system that will likely continue for a long period of time. The commentators in
the podcast only had a faint idea of what a potential successor to capitalism would be, though
they did note that it would have to incorporate some level of free competition, as this is a natural
human impulse that needs to be satisfied.

IOTH: Napoleon and Wellington

1. This podcast details the parallels between the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte
and the legacies left behind by the two men. Their military accomplishments are noted, as they
were both prolific military generals. But perhaps most interestingly, their more personal
similarities are also touched on. Apparently, they both shared the same mistress and they both
heavily admired the ancient Carthaginian general, Hannibal Barca. The commentators spend
much of the podcast detailing what these two individuals were doing during the period of
Napoleon’s rulership over France, culminating in the famous Battle of Waterloo, where
Wellington finally met Napoleon in the field and defeated him. The podcast in then ended with a
discussion of the legacy of the two men. Napoleon is noted for having a particularly notable
legacy despite his defeat, as his conquest of Europe resulted in the more democratic ideals of the
French revolution being brought to the rest of Europe.
2. I found this to be an especially enjoyable discussion, even if it dabbled in military terminology
that I am not particularly familiar with. The dynamic between Napoleon and Wellington was not
unknown to me before, but I know do have a greater understanding of how these two individuals
gained power. Also, I find it quite fascinating that one of the commentators mentioned how both
men admired Hannibal Barca, because the relationship between the two mirrors the relationship
Hannibal had to his own nemesis, the Roman general Scipio Africanus. Hannibal, like Napoleon,
was a very accomplished general, but he was also eventually outmatched in a similarly climatic
battle known as the Battle of Zama. It seems that history does indeed have an occasional sense of
irony.
3. The podcast is only tangentially related to the lecture in that both do cover the subject of
Napoleon’s rise to power, although the lecture does not detail the dynamic between Wellington
and Napoleon. However, the lecture does make note of the changes made to French law under
Napoleon via the Napoleonic code, which was also briefly detailed in the podcast. This aspect of
Napoleon’s legacy is especially important because these legal reforms, which, among other
things, allowed for a greater degree of individual rights, ultimately formed the basic template for
modern European democratic states to follow. So, while the lecture and podcast do not directly
pertain to one another, they do both touch upon this rather important theme.
4. It is difficult to directly extract a present-day connection from this podcast, as there hasn’t
been a military rivalry in modern times that quite matches the enmity between Wellington and
Napoleon. However, it is also very important to consider the results of the clash between these
two figures. Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon prevented the ascendency of the French Empire,
which had come quite close to achieving permanent dominance over much of Europe. Had
Napoleon won the Battle of Waterloo, the modern world may have become very different from
the state it is in today. Therefore, it could be argued that Wellington’s triumph over Napoleon
was a defining moment that helped to define the modern world that we currently reside in.

IOTH: The British Empire

1. The subject of this podcast is the rise of the British Empire in the 19th century and its treatment
of subjugated peoples in Africa and Asia. The commentators first describe the beginnings of
British imperialism through the growth of the British East India Company, which gained a great
deal of power in Asia and, in particular, India before the crown formally assumed control of the
colonies in the 1800s. Much of the podcast is then dedicated to debating precisely the further
expansion of the British Empire into Africa as well as the consolidation of power in India.
Economic and political factors are brought up, although much of this debate becomes centered
on the extent to which racism played a role in British Imperialism.
2. This is a very fascinating discussion on what motivated the rise of the British Empire. The
debate on the role race played in the expansion was particularly interesting. One of the speakers
mentioned a quote by a well-known British politician named William Gladstone in which he
stated that people from Asia or Africa possessed intellects that were on par with Europeans,
however they were also technologically inferior. The various commentators in the podcast had a
rather terse exchange over this quote, given its connotations. One of the speakers used this notion
from Gladstone to argue that British Imperialism was motivated by cultural aversion, as much as
by racial theory. The British saw themselves as bringing the benefits of industrialization and the
enlightenment to less advanced people. This sort of thinking is not new to me, I have learned
about this before. What is fascinating is the discussion on how racism operated during this time
period. One of the speakers noted that many British citizens actually believed that Indians were
superior to them in many respects, and this helped fuel racist attitudes amongst the public. This is
quite different from how I have typically understood racism.
3. The podcast and the accompanying lecture do share many underlying themes, given how they
both focus on imperialism during the 19th century. In the lecture, many factors are cited as being
important contributors to imperialism, including economic, geopolitical and racial factors. The
podcast echoes these themes, it does discuss the role the American Revolution and the revolts in
Jamaica played in precipitating further British expansion into Africa. Racism is also discussed,
although the podcast does not detail Social Darwinism like the lecture does. In any case, the
podcast does manage to act as a useful extension of the topics introduced in the lecture.
4. The present-day connections of this podcast can be considered as far-ranging. British
imperialism, and European imperialism by extension, resulted in massive populations being
subjugated and forced to rapidly adopt ways of life that were quite different from what they had
before. While this era of imperialism has since ended, the effects are still quite prominent. Many
parts of Africa and the Middle East are still struggling with internecine conflict which, arguably,
can be attributed to the centuries of European domination and the subsequent, abrupt, acquisition
of independence during the late 20th century. Building new nations, especially after gaining
independence from a foreign power, is an exceedingly difficult process, and few nations have
been truly successful in achieving it.
Frederick Nietzsche: Parable of the Madman
1. The reading, which was authored by Frederick Nietzsche, depicts a man who is presented to
be somewhat insane, continuously rambling to various people around him about how God has
died and they are responsible. He uses a series of metaphors to illustrate this point, comparing
the death of God to the blotting out of the horizon for example. The short story eventually ends
with this madman breaking into several churches and inscribing the Latin phrase “requiem
aeternam deo”, which roughly translates to “eternal rest to God” in English. This is, judging by
the information provided by the abstract accompanying the reading, meant to represent how God
has departed from the world due to the faithlessness of its inhabitants; the churches now act as
tombs for God.
2. This passage is quite interesting to me, namely because it helped me to understand what is
meant by the phrase “god is dead”. It is not an expression of atheism, as I once was led to
believe, but an observation that society has moved away from faith and towards secularism.
Obviously, Nietzsche’s vision is somewhat hyperbolic, religion, even today, is a central
component of many people’s lives. However, it does underscore how religion does not hold the
same power in western society that it did in, for example, the 16th century. Secularism is more
prevalent now than it was before. This was true even during Nietzsche’s time, judging by this
reading.
3. The reading in question ties into the lecture in that they both seem to pertain to the
overarching theme of irrationalism. Nietzsche is presented in the lecture as being a proponent of
irrationalism; he decried the enlightenment notion that human beings were inherently capable of
being rational. He instead emphasized the more irrational side of human nature, which is a
significant departure from enlightenment thought. The reading seems to reinforce this idea,
seeing as how its main protagonist is shown to be exasperatedly raving to those around them
about how they have murdered God through their own lack of faith. This extremely cynical
writing style likely would not have been utilized by enlightenment philosophers.
4. The themes espoused by this short story are still very relevant today. Even the phrase “God is
dead” has entered the lexicon of popular culture, so it is rather difficult to deny Nietzsche’s
enduring influence. But more importantly, the issue of religion, and its place in modern society,
is still being considered. It could be argued that secularism has only continued to gain
prominence over the years and that eventually there will be no place for organized religion in
western society. However, it is also possible that there will be a sort of religious revival at some
point in the future, similar to the Great Awakening that took place in the United States in the 19th
century. There is simply no way to know for certain.
 John Ruskin, THE STORM-CLOUD OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
1. This passage by the Victorian author, John Ruskin, describes the recurring presence of an
ominous, dark “plague cloud” that has beset England. The author notes very strongly throughout
the writing that this cloud is a recent phenomenon that had not been documented in earlier
historical time periods. Ruskin connects the presence of this cloud to the smoke produced by
nearby factories, which cements this passage as a commentary on the effects of industrialization
on the local environment, and the weather in particular. He uses very colorful imagery to
describe how this noxious cloud disrupts the world around it; at one point he vividly describes
how the nearby trees violently shuddered as this poisonous cloud blew through a particular area.
The author concludes this passage on a poignantly doleful note by suggesting that there may be
no true way to resolve this problem and that the populace should return to a life of “piety and
rectitude”.
2. The passage was an intriguing one, even if it was difficult to interpret the full meaning. I
believe that it is easier when attempting to examine the text from more of a literary perspective
rather than a historical one. I believe that the noxious cloud Ruskin repeatedly refers to may be a
symbol for the rapidly changing times that the author lived through. He equates the cloud
specifically with a factory, which seems to indicate industrialization, which produced great
change to the world upon its inception. It is entirely possible that the bizarre conditions created
by this cloud are, at least in part, an allegory for the unfamiliarity of this new world created by
Britain’s industrialization.
3. The passage coincides with the themes of the lecture in that it conveys a general feeling of
anxiety with regards to the historical time period in question, which is a major component of the
lecture. The lecture touches on the effects of urbanization and industrialization, and how these
factors undermined the comparatively optimistic viewpoint of the enlightenment philosophes.
This feeling of unease created by industrialization is manifested in the passage through the
implementation of the toxic cloud. While the author of the passage focuses more on the
naturalistic side of this topic by detailing how this cloud is unlike any previously documented
weather phenomena, he still touches on the theme of industrialization by briefly referencing how
this cloud is tied to smoke emitted by the smokestacks of a factory.
4. There is an interesting modern-day parallel that could be drawn from this document. When
this passage was written, there was clearly a prevailing fear about how the growth of industry
would affect society. This particular passage details some of the environmental effects, but
industrialization also radically altered the way in which economies worked. Agriculture became
less widespread with the advent of new technologies and assembly lines in factories became
more commonplace. Naturally, this sort of shift would have instilled great anxiety in the people
living through this time as they found themselves having to adapt to this new paradigm. A
similar fear can be seen today with the apparent rise of automation. The ability of machines to
completely replace human labor is a very frightening prospect for some as it would result in the
extinction of many long-held occupations, including, quite ironically, many factory jobs that
were once the subject of great consternation in the 19th century.
The Sadler Committee Report
1. This report transcribes interviews conducted with multiple factory workers who were active in
the early 1800’s. All of these interviewees give their perspectives on the conditions of these
factories, and thus shed light on the horrific conditions the workers often had to endure. For
example, one of the workers described how he would be beaten if he arrived late. Another
described the lack of nourishment among the workers, as they were allowed very little time to
eat. A particularly sobering account was given by one Peter Smart, who detailed the manner in
which child laborers were treated. If any of them attempted to escape, they could be violently
whipped into submission. Taken as a whole, this account presents a very grim image of what life
in the factories of Victorian Britain was like; and it certainly explains the passage of labor laws
later in the 19th century. These sorts of stories would likely compel many individuals within
government to address the issue, particularly if this information became widely known to the
public.
2. The content of this report can be difficult to stomach, considering that it describes children
being beaten for poor behavior. However, it also does provide insight into the beginnings of
industrialization and the steep human cost associated with it. It is fair to say that many modern
amenities that can be easily enjoyed today, such as plentiful clothing or electricity, can be traced
back to the industrial revolution that took place during this time period. But it is also true that
gaining the ability to easily mass produce commodities like clothing or automobiles was not
easily achieved, and the horrific working conditions described by these interviews can attest to
this. While these problems were eventually resolved by government regulations that outlawed
child labor and lightened the work day, it is also true that these laws did not become effective
immediately. I have noticed that this seems to be a recurring theme in history; the pursuit of
progress is an arduous process that often takes a very long period of time to fully achieve.
3. This particular document and the accompanying lecture do both touch on the theme of
working-class life. Both of these sources touch on the harsh working conditions of these early
factories, although the report does go into far greater detail by giving first hand accounts.
Meanwhile, the lecture serves to give a more, broad, overarching image of the effects of
industrialization, particularly with regards to urbanization. The lecture also details the laws that
were passed to crack down on child labor, which was only touched on in the abstract of the
interview.
4. Regarding present-day connections, it is fair to say that this document has a fair number of
them. For instance, while factory conditions have significantly improved in the western world,
there are still many factories in developing countries that have similarly poor working
conditions. China is particularly notorious for this, as it produces trade goods for much of the rest
of the world, including the United States, and thus required many factories to produce these
goods quickly. Many modern conveniences, including smartphones, are produced in factories
such as these, often under poor conditions.
John Locke: Second Treatise on Government
1. The portions of John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government that were provided primarily
deal with Locke’s notion of the social contract and the power that ought to be wielded by the
legislative branch of government. In the first section, where Locke details the social contract,
explains that humans are born in a “state of nature” where they have complete agency over their
own affairs but they willingly surrender some of these freedoms to society and to those who
govern society in the tacit agreement that they and their property will be given adequate
protection in exchange. He further details the extent to which the legislature can exert control
over the populace. Locke argues that, because humans enter into this social contract with
governments primarily to protect their property, government infringement upon property is a
grave transgression. He even goes as far as to say that if the government were to behave in such a
way, then it has effectively placed itself in a state of war with the people. According to Locke, if
any government were to violate the people’s property, or to reduce them to a state of slavery, or
to exercise undue force against them, then they have every right to revolt.
2. The ideas expressed in this document are nothing new to me, I do live in a democratic society
based on these notions after all. However, it is quite fascinating to read the source of these ideas.
Locke’s ideas may be commonplace in the modern day, but they would have been quite
revolutionary in his own time, when monarchies were still the main governing bodies in Europe.
This notion that the relationship between the people and their governments is a voluntary social
contract rather than a divine mandate handed down by God, which validates a King.
Furthermore, Locke’s outlining of the basic, natural human rights of life, liberty, and property
are important to note, as they would have reinforced individual thought and achievement by
giving them a sense of agency. Overall, it is quite illuminating to see the origin of these
important tenants that many modern governments now follow.
3. This treatise ties into the lecture in the sense that the lecture summarizes many of the core
ideological changes brought on by the enlightenment. John Locke was an important figure in the
enlightenment; his writings were widely popular at the time and his ideas were further developed
and discussed by other thinkers of the time, including Voltaire and Montesquieu. Also, it is
worth mentioning that the lecture discusses these enlightenment ideals in the context of sweeping
political revolutions that took place in the late 18th century, including the French Revolution and
the American Revolution. This is interesting to note because Locke described how situations like
this ought to take place if the people believed that their governments were infringing upon their
natural rights, which is precisely what occurred; although the results were less than satisfactory
in the case of the French Revolution.
4. The modern-day connections to this document are quite noteworthy, considering how
widespread Locke’s ideas are today. For example, the current constitution for the United States is
heavily inspired by these same arguments. Many rights that American citizens enjoy, like the
protection of private property from government search and seizure, are guaranteed by the
Constitution and the attached Bill of Rights. While it is true that Locke himself would likely not
have advocated for a republic in the vein of the United States, it is difficult to deny that the ideals
that he espoused helped lead to its foundation.
Declaration of Independence
1. This iconic document, written by Thomas Jefferson, serves to declare the intention of the 13
American colonies to become independent from the control of the British. It begins with a
general, overarching argument in which Jefferson states that every individual is created equal
and has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Jefferson then goes on to argue that
it is the role of the government to protect these rights, and that if they infringe upon them, then
the people reserve the right to overthrow this government. Much of the rest of the document is
dedicated to articulating the many abuses by the British Government, which necessitate the push
for the independence of the American colonies. Jefferson then concludes the document with an
affirmation that, after numerous failed efforts at reconciliation with the British Crown, it is
necessary that the colonies renounce all allegiance to Britain and thus become their own,
independent, states.
2. This is a genuinely well-crafted and interesting document with a great deal of historical
significance. It is a poignant example of ideals expressed by enlightenment philosophers like
John Locke being put to practical action. John Locke made a similar argument to Jefferson when
he opined that the people should revolt if their personal liberties are ever infringed upon, which
is precisely what happens in Jefferson’s time. This document began the violent process by which
the colonies successfully secured independence from Britain and went on to form a republic
partially inspired by Enlightenment thought. It is certainly interesting to view the document in
this context, as it does put into perspective the full effect that The Enlightenment had on modern
history. Entirely new nations were created as a result of the teachings of The Enlightenment.
3. The Declaration of Independence intersects with the themes of the lecture in that they both
deal with The Enlightenment. As previously stated, the Declaration of Independence is rooted in
Enlightenment thought. In particular, it seems to have been derived from the writings of John
Locke. Jefferson’s argument about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness mirrors Locke’s
argument on life, liberty, and property. The notion of revolting against an unjust government also
appears to be shared by the two authors. More broadly, the document pertains to the overall
subject of the lecture, that of revolutionary changes. The Enlightenment introduced ideas, like
the concept of a more limited government that operates by the consent of the governed, that were
quite different from the established norm that dominated Europe in which monarchies ruled by
divine right. The Declaration of Independence is a representation of these ideas taking form and
resulting in the creation of new nations with a more republican form of government.
4. The modern-day connections to this document cannot be understated. This document not only
resulted in the creation of the first truly democratic nation since the days of Ancient Rome, but it
also permanently altered the global balance of power in both the short and long-term. Britain’s
defeat in the Americas motivated it to further expand into Africa and Asia, which allowed for the
emergence of the British Empire of the 19th century. In the long term however, the successful
American revolution, which was started by the signing of this document, enabled the creation of
what eventually became the United States of America. Today, the United States is a global
superpower, supplanting even the British in terms of economic and geopolitical influence.
Montezuma
1. This documentary, narrated by Dan Snow, focuses on the history of the Aztec Empire and
places a particular emphasis on the reign of Montezuma, the last emperor of the Aztec Empire.
The video goes into a great amount of detail on the origins of the Aztecs and how they came to
power. Dan Snow also touches on some of the technological accomplishments of the Aztecs,
particularly with regards to their capital city, Tenochtitlan. However, the main focus of the video
ultimately gravitates towards the Aztecs fateful encounter with the Spanish during the reign of
Montezuma. The documentary traces the route that the Spanish, led by Hernando Cortes, took to
reach Tenochtitlan and details the encounter between Cortes and Montezuma. Finally, the
documentary tells of the swift conquest of the Aztec Empire at the hands of the Spanish, and the
death of Montezuma.
2. The video does an admirable job of giving a brief overview of the Aztecs as a culture, as well
as a victim of the Spanish conquistadors. It is interesting that I am once again reviewing this
particular documentary, as I was once required to analyze this same video for another class, and
compare it to another video on the same subject. This video was the more valuable of the two, as
I believe that it did a better job of portraying the conflict between the Spaniards and the Aztecs
from both sides, with a minimal amount of sensationalism. One detail that I am particularly glad
that this video made note of is the conflicting reports of Montezuma’s death. Spanish sources
reported that Montezuma was killed by his own people with Aztec sources stated that the
Spanish strangled him to death. This detail may seem innocuous but I believe that making note
of it is useful for posterity, which is never useless when studying history.
3. This documentary aligns with the accompanying lecture in the sense that they both explore the
theme of the European conquest of the Americas. The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was
part of a broader trend of European exploration of the newly discovered American continents and
the subsequent subjugation of its native people. However, the lecture is very clearly focused on
the broader context of European exploration and the economic factors in Europe, like the rising
prices of land, that fueled the desire for exploration. The documentary is far less focused on this
and instead simply tells the story of the fall of the Aztec Empire at the hands of Hernando
Cortez.
4. It is fair to say that the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, which was located in present-
day Mexico, had an irreversible effect on the region. The culture of the Aztecs was very nearly
wiped out by the conquistadors; many of the Aztecs were killed during the fighting and many
others were killed by diseases brought to the continent by the Spanish. Today, only the ruins of
the Aztec Empire exist. However, some elements of Aztec culture still remain into the present-
day and have been merged with the culture that the Spanish imposed onto the region following
their conquests. A popular example of this cultural fusion can be found in the form of a popular
Mexican holiday know as Dia de los Muertos, or “day of the dead” in English. This celebration
merges elements of the Roman Catholic tradition imported into the region by the Spanish with
the cultural beliefs of the Aztecs, resulting in the creation of a new holiday that is observed by
millions of people in both Mexico and the United States.
Treasures of Chinese Porcelain
1. This particular video revolves around the trade of Chinese porcelain with Europeans. The
video details the system by which European traders obtain the highly coveted porcelain. They are
required to take up temporary residence in the port city of Canton while they wait for their orders
to be filled. The video then details the process by which the porcelain is manufactured and
ultimately delivered to Canton where it is then shipped off to Europe. First, the porcelain is made
in the city of Jingdezhen, which, at the time, possessed many large kilns specifically for purpose
of manufacturing porcelain products, including plates and vases. Once the products are
completed, they are ferried downriver via barges before being handed off to stick-stick men, who
transport the merchandise to Canton.
2. The documentary was surprisingly interesting, porcelain may seem like a fairly standard
material today, but it was apparently highly sought after back in the 18th century, due to the
durability of porcelain as a material for dinnerware, among other things. It is quite fascinating to
learn about the lengths that European traders would go to obtain this commodity. Obtaining
porcelain was a highly complex process that required a great deal of travel in order to
accomplish; to say nothing of the immense financial expense that would have been required as
well. However, it must have ultimately been quite profitable, seeing as how this was a process
that regularly undertaken by European traders for many years.
3. Both the lecture and the video deal with the theme of global trade during the 18th century,
particularly with regards to China. The Canton system is given a significant amount of detail in
both mediums, the porcelain trade was an example of the Canton system in effect. However, the
lecture does give information on the broader context behind this system. It is explained that the
Canton system was part of a series of reforms undertaken by the Qing Dynasty. The Canton
system was designed to ensure that China maintained full control over all trade in the area by
restricting Europeans to Canton while keeping places like Jingdezhen a secret, thus ensuring that
commodities like porcelain would not be emulated by others. In this way, China could have a
monopoly over various resources, including porcelain.
4. The parallels between the porcelain trade and modern-day globalization are certainly worth
noting. This video describes the exact process by which goods from China found their way to
areas on the other side of the world, including England. It would appear that interactions like this
were part of a larger trends towards globalization, which has only further accelerated today. In
our modern society, many of the commodities that are frequently taken advantage of, including
the clothes that we wear and the ever-popular smartphones, are manufactured in countries on the
other side of the globe. China and India are popular examples of countries where many of these
items are produced, but there are many examples that could be cited. If one were to attempt to
purge every item that is not manufactured in their home country from their lives, they would
likely find this endeavor to be equivalent to a full-time job.
French Revolution
1. This video delves into the French Revolution and places particular emphasis on one of its
most notorious figures, Maximillian de Robespierre. The video mixes commentary from various
historians with dramatic reenactments of various pivotal scenes from the time period. Most of the
focus is directed towards the period where Robespierre and the Jacobins have already seized
power in France and are attempting to hold the country together amidst multiple foreign
invasions and a severe economic crisis. A great deal of time is spent explicating the overall
philosophical worldview of Robespierre and his cohorts, and how this worldview became
corrupted overtime as the Reign of Terror was instigated by Robespierre. Thousands of people
were executed via the guillotine for supposedly being enemies of the revolution. Ultimately, the
video chronicles the fall of Robespierre as his own supporters overthrow him and have him
executed.
2. I was impressed with this documentary, mostly due to how the filmmakers attempted to
somewhat humanize figures like Robespierre despite the horrible deeds he had committed. It is
made clear that the Jacobins did have fairly noble and idealistic aspirations rooted in
Enlightenment thought. Robespierre was determined to create what he referred to as a “republic
of virtue” in which all were governed by a sense of honesty and purity of intent. I suspect that
Robespierre genuinely believed that he could create a utopian society governed by reason rather
than passion. However, when the Jacobins did gain power, it seems that they were intoxicated by
it, and they became more concerned with violently suppressing dissent. During the peak of the
Reign of Terror, the Jacobins, through the Committee of Public Safety, had thousands executed,
often for very miniscule offences. As shown by the film, this new revolutionary government was
far more violent and unstable than the monarchy that they overthrew.
3. The lecture that this video is attached to focuses on The Enlightenment, and how ideals
promulgated during that period influenced various political revolutions during the 18th century,
including the French Revolution. In this regard, the video and the lecture are thematically linked.
Maximilien de Robespierre was heavily inspired by various Enlightenment writers including,
most notably, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Robespierre’s aspirations of creating a “republic of virtue”
were rooted in the writings of Enlightenment philosophes like Rousseau, as well as Montesquieu.
However, this particular revolution was not particularly successful, considering how the
revolutionary French government became a violent totalitarian regime that executed thousands of
its citizens.
4. It is difficult to directly establish modern-day connections when discussing the French
Revolution due to its rather unique nature and the ultimate failure to permanently unseat the
ruling French monarchy, which was restored after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. However, it
cannot be said that the French Revolution did not have a significant effect on western society that
is still visible today. One could argue that the revolution did indirectly contribute to the rise of
more democratic governments in Europe, despite its unsuccessful nature. While the French
Monarchy was restored following the defeat of Napoleon, it was later supplanted by a more
republican government later on in the 19th century. Even today, France remains a constitutional
republic along with much of the rest of Europe. While it is difficult to say for certain, it could be
that the sight of a monarchy being violently overthrown, particularly an absolutist monarchy like
the one in France, was enough to weaken the legitimacy of a monarchy as a form of government
in the eyes of many citizens. Thus, there was a gradual shift towards democracy.
The White Mughal

1. The White Mughal is a documentary on James Kirkpatrick, an officer of the British East India
company during the 18th century, and his wife Khar-un-Nissa, who was an Indian noblewoman.
The film revolves primarily around the couple and the various obstacles that they encountered as
a result of their illicit relationship. Kirkpatrick and Khar-un-Nissa developed an affair despite the
fact Khar had previously been engaged to another, putting both individuals at risk of becoming a
scandal. The situation became all the more precarious as a result of the British Government’s
new policies of restricting intermarriage between Indians and British citizens. Kirkpatrick’s love
affair with an Indian noblewoman nearly cost him his position. Ultimately, both individuals
survived the potential scandal and managed to settle down and have children. However, this was
cut short by Kirkpatrick’s sudden death, resulting in the children being sent to England to be
raised by their grandfather, leaving Khar-un-Nissa alone.
2. This was a very tragic story, to be certain, though it is also a fascinating one. It does elaborate
a great deal on a subject I previously knew little about, that of the British occupation of India. I
was not aware that the concept of interbreeding between the English and Indians was considered
to be such a taboo at the time, though it is hardly surprising. After all, the concept of racism was
well established by this point in history. Having children with individuals that were considered to
be of different races would have been resulted in the parties involved being ostracized. The same
could be said of those that integrated with cultures that were not considered to be their own, as
James Kirkpatrick did. He would have been known as a “white Mughal” in England, as he did
adopt many traditions common to the Mughal Empire in India, he even converted to Islam in
order to marry Khar-un-Nissa.
3. The accompanying lecture and the film are thematically tied in that they both deal with the
effect of British imperialism in Asia, particularly in India. Both also touch on efforts by the
British Government to suppress Indian culture in India and to promote British culture. The film
does this through exploring the difficulties in maintaining a marriage between a British man and
an Indian woman. Meanwhile, the lecture touches on the theme more broadly by noting
programs undertaken by the British, such as the introduction of Christian missionaries to spread
Christianity to India in place of Hinduism or Islam. More broadly speaking, both the lecture and
the film touch on the theme of multiculturalism, and how initiatives liked this often suppressed
it. The lecture notes how individuals like James Kirkpatrick were demonized as “White
Mughals” for conforming more to Indian society than to British society. This threatened
Kirkpatrick’s occupation as an officer of the East India Company multiple times. When
Kirkpatrick died, his children were sent to England and were given more traditional English
names in place of their original Indian names, further reinforcing the difficulties of attempting to
meld British and Indian culture during this time period.
4. When discussing modern day connections to this particular video, it should come to mind that
the world of today is far more multicultural than it was in the 18th century. Today, elements of
American culture can be found in southeast Asia and elements of various Asian cultures can be
found in the United States. Globalization has resulted in cultures becoming more connected than
in any previous historical time period. This is not to say that the sentiment to suppress
multiculturalism has entirely abated. The sentiment does still exist in some capacity even into the
present day, in various parts of the world. One particularly divisive example is the current influx
of refugees entering Europe from the Middle East as a result of the political turmoil in that
region. There are some who fear that these migrants pose a threat to European culture. While the
dynamics are obviously quite different from those in British India, it does seem that the overall
aversion to multiculturalism does still exist to some extent.
The Last Voices of World War 1: Saving the Wounded
1. This particular film is a documentary composed of interviews with various soldiers and nurses
who were active during World War 1. The documentary is part of a miniseries which focuses on
these individuals. This episode focuses on the types of grisly injuries sustained by soldiers during
the war. There are many stories in this film about men suffering horrific injuries that leave them
permanently maimed. One soldier went into graphic detail about his experience of undergoing an
amputation and having to acclimate to living the rest of his life without one of his legs. Some
attention is also given to the psychological injuries soldiers sustained, namely in the form of
post-traumatic stress disorder, or “shellshock”, as it was known at the time. The perspective of
the nurses who tended to these wounded soldiers is also explored in detail. Various accounts are
given of these women having to comfort soldiers on the brink of death and having to bear
witness to, and in some cases aide in performing, an amputation.
2. The documentary was quite difficult to watch at times due to the visceral nature of these
soldiers’ accounts. However, it was also enlightening and it gave some insight as to why these
individuals were willing to risk their lives. The general theme that I gleamed was that these
soldiers possessed a genuine nationalistic pride in their homeland and wanted to defend it. This is
perhaps best reinforced by an anecdote in the beginning of the documentary in which soldiers
departing from England sang mournfully of their homeland and wondered when they would see
it again. A similar statement could be made about the nurses, though I suspect that they were
more interested in caring for the wounded soldiers. But what I am perhaps the most surprised by
is the general, emotional nature of this particular documentary. Most documentaries that I am
required to analyze for a class are very clinical and scholarly in nature, while this one is far more
emotionally charged and very graphic in nature. It is an interesting departure, though it still
provides good first-hand insight into the overall conditions that the soldiers of World War 1
endured.
3. The documentary and the lecture correlate to one another thematically in that they both
mention nationalism as being an important factor in fueling World War 1. Nationalism is cited
by the documentary as a major reason why many young men enlisted into the military. The
lecture, meanwhile, notes how extreme nationalistic fervor in countries like Austria-Hungary
played a role in initially starting the war in the first place. Another factor that both the lecture
and the video seem to touch on is the apparent glorification of violence. Several of the
interviewed soldiers expressed that they had a somewhat idealized notion of what the war would
actually be like, some even looked forward to killing enemy combatants. The lecture echoes
these sentiments by mentioning a general fascination with the irrational and with violence in
general that had become prevalent in the years leading up to World War 1.
4. The present-day connections to this documentary are quite striking considering the subject
matter. Soldiers returning home after war with various physical and psychological injuries is not
an uncommon sight today. It is a reflection of how war still affects our society even into the
modern day. One can see advertisements for various groups attempting to aide these wounded
soldiers simply by turning on a television, they are ubiquitous. It is also worth noting that, while
the methods by which war is waged have changed significantly since the days of the first world
war, the motivations of the soldiers who fight these wars has not changed. A sense of
nationalistic pride and devotion still motivates them today, much like it did for the soldiers of
World War 1.