Notes #1

THE COLUMBIAN ENCOUNTER AND LAND-USE CHANGE
by B.L. Turner II and Karl W. Butzer

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- immediate and long term effects

- millions of dollars (modern day amounts) of gold melted down

- Aztecs nearly killed off by the invasion

= a lot killed off by diseases brought by the Europeans

- "The destruction of Amerindian populations changed the character of land occupancy in the Americas and ultimately created the "wilderness" awaiting the arrival of the late European settlers." (Turner)

- "An estimated 76 percent of the population of the Americas south of the present-day United States was eliminated between 1492 and 1650." (Turner)

- "The scale of depopulation in the Americas far exceeded the number of Europeans settling there in the 16th century. One hundred years after the encounter, in fact, only 175,000 Spaniards had colonized the Americas in the wake of the precipitous decline in the Amerindian population." (Turner)

-agricultural lands left empty: not used
= no one there to use them

- "These changes in the rudiments of the system of cultivation in the highlands had two broad implications for land use and land cover. First, the changes concentrated settlement in the highlands and, thus, reduced the relative importance of the occupation of the tropical lowlands. Secondly, use of the plow allowed vast areas to be cultivated in the highlands with a small labor force and, along with irrigation of winter wheat crops, shifted the balance of cultivated lands to the well-drained soils of highland valleys and basins. This shift stood in contrast to the Amerindians' use of high slopes and bottom wetlands, which did not handicap their less discriminating horticultural tools. Furthermore, Spanish preference for highlands favored the drainage of valley bottom wetlands and contributed to the demise of many wetland agricultural systems." (Turner)

- "Livestock production, of course, was the pastoral complement to wheat production among the Spaniards in the highlands. Initially, the uncontrolled cattle grazing wreaked havoc on agriculture because of the large numbers involved, and it may have led to the deteriorating of pastures in Mexico." (Turner)

- "Changes in the political economy of the Americas following the Columbian encounter also played an integrative role with technological and biotic changes to affect land use and land cover." (Turner)

- "The Amerindians were not completely eradicated, however, particularly in the highlands, where the impact of European diseases may not have been as harsh as they were in the lowlands. Amerindian agriculture not only survived the initial encounter, but it also became a source of exchange between Amerindian and Spanish farmers. Each borrowed from and experimented with the other's practices and, over time, a new set of hybrid landscapes emerged that integrated many of the crops and cultivation techniques of both systems. In this process, however, many Amerindian cultigens were lost or forgotten, as was expertise in certain systems of production, such as the construction of wetland fields." (Turner)

Imperialism

I read a poem written on imperialism. It talked about some of the major reasons for imperialism. It said that natural resources and economic factors were the biggest reasons for imperialism. It also talked about how the people didn't necessarily want to be colonized. Another thing that the poem expressed was that even if the people who were colonizing thought it was a good thing it didn't necessarily mean that the people living there felt the same way. The poem also questioned why other countries didn't help prevent smaller countries from being colonized.

Global Issue

I read an article on global warming. The article was published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The article talked about some of the causes of global warming. It said that the average temperature has increased by one degree. Also, some other effects will be that the sea level rises because the glaciers are melting, and that ecological systems may suffer. Though scientists do not know exactly what will happen, they believe that it won't overall be good. One positive effect that was noted was that places that are too cold to currently grow crops may have the chance to in the future.

Holidays

I read a poem about how someone perceives the holidays. It talked about the excitements and the events and adventures that he and his family go on each year. The author talks about how this situation is his holiday (for all we know, his holiday might just be a summer trip to a beach house).

I love the cheery bustle
Of children round the house,
The tidy maids a-hustle,
The chatter of my spouse;
The laughter and the singing,
The joy on every face:
With frequent laughter ringing,
O, Home's a happy place!

I really liked this stanza from the poem. I think that it is really descriptive and that it shows that the holidays don't have to be "perfect" to be perfect.

I think that the poem shows that holidays mean different things to different people. It is important to remember that the world is cultural diverse and that everyone has different views on holidays.

Bollywood

I found a webpage that talked about Bollywood. It described what it was, including songs and dances, cultural traditions, and the actors and actresses. The article talked about how they preform many songs and dances throughout the movie. Also it addresses the fact that the movies are very cheesey and unrealistic. It reminded me of the movie we watched in class, Bride and Prejudic. The movie had many, if not all of these qualities. Also the movie has to be filmed in Mumbai.

Culture

I read an article from the Star Tribune about a woman was arrested in Iran. She was a journalist from the United States that was in Iran for a story. She was arrested for alleged illegal activities. The Iran officials are saying that she was arrested because her press card, which allows her to report on what is going on over there, was revoked but that she continued to report. Her father said that after she was detained, she called him saying that she was arrested for buying alcohol. It is believed that she was told to tell people that she was arrested for buying alcohol because it is against their culture. I think that this is probably true- she was probably told to tell people that that's why she was arrested because they don't want the real reason to get out.

Change

I read an article in the Us Weekly Magazine about Nadya Suleman, the mother of 14 and the recently born octuplets. The article talked about how her life was going to change drastically once the, eight premature, babies come home. It also talked about how her six other children, all under the age of seven, don't yet realize how different their lives are going to be. Suleman's story is similar, yet very different from Nectar in a Sieve. It is similar in the way that Ira get's harassed for having an albino baby. Suleman is getting harassed for having the octuplets when she doesn't have a job and already had six children at home. It is different in the way that Ira only has one child. She was impregnated through prostitution. Suleman now has fourteen children. She was impregnated through in vitro fertilization.