China Project

Dear Genghis Khan,

I am an ambassador from the country of England. King Edward II has read Marco Polo’s writings. He is impressed and feels that Europe is behind the times and needs to advance in terms of technology, society, philosophy, and religion. It is his opinion that by emulating the last few hundred years of Chinese history, starting with the rebirth of Confucian ideas, we would be able to improve the societies of Europe and stabilize the governments throughout the continent. As an ambassador, the King would like me to come to China and learn how your empire has expanded and advanced so greatly.

The government of England is interested in learning more about how your great country got to where it is today. We are impressed by your civil service system. We are looking forward to learning more about how Confucian ideas led to equality of opportunity, hope, respect, and participation. We appreciate, and would like to learn more about, your civil service system: how it leads to a fairer government, how it increased the number of applicants for better jobs, and how it led to educated people replacing the founding elite. We are fascinated about how the reinvented civil service system resulted in less rebellion and, in turn, a more stable government.

I understand that prior to the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism was the dominant philosophy and influenced the government for many years. At first, only merchants and intellectuals were interested in the new ideas. Over time, it became more attractive to many people. It gained support among the ruling classes. Buddhists became advisers at the imperial court. However, in the end, Buddhism lost favor in court and was increasingly vulnerable to attack.

During the Tang Dynasty, people of China began to reject Buddhist rule and the Buddhist way of life. Buddhism was criticized for being a foreign religion. Buddhist monasteries had acquired thousands of acres of land and serfs. With land came corruption. The government reacted strongly and no longer supported it. Instead they gave their support to a revived version of the Confucian philosophy.

`Also during the Tang dynasty, a re-birthed form of Confucianism became more prominent. This new form was known as Neo-Confucianism. This form of the philosophy was a response to Buddhism. Neo-Confucianism says that the world is real, not an illusion. It also says that fulfillment comes from participation in life, not withdrawal. The goal of individuals is to move beyond the material world to reach union with the Supreme Ultimate. This is accomplished by a careful examination of the moral principles that rule the universe. Because of this rebirth of Confucian ideas, there was an infusion of hope throughout China.

This infusion of hope occurred because Neo-Confucianism was focused on the here and now. It was also focused on the pursuit of happiness. In response, the people of China wanted a better life. They worked harder, which led to an economic explosion. Some believe there was a one thousand percent increase in agricultural production. Because of the agricultural and economic explosion, people turned to the system of specialization and the country became more advanced.

The excess food generated by the agricultural explosion permitted the Chinese to build an agricultural trade, and in turn to trade other products. Four very important goods led to the rebirth of the Silk Road: the compass, paper, the printing press, and gunpowder. Gunpowder led to a more powerful empire and a more protected one as well. Paper led to more precise documentation. Together with the printing press, paper spread new ideas and religions all over the Eastern World. The advent of widespread printing helped to circulate Confucian teachings and educate more and more eligible candidates for the civil service exam. The compass made navigation much more efficient, and led to the expansion of the empire because it could conquer faraway places.

As I mentioned before, the English government much admires your civil service system. When the civil service exam was recreated based on Confucian ideas, there was an incredible increase of applicants for good government jobs. The number of exam takers for the low-level prefectural exams rose from 30,000 annual candidates in the early eleventh century to 400,000 candidates by the late thirteenth century. Education replaced birthright. This led to a better government, because educated people were in office -- as opposed to people who had powerful families.

By the late eleventh century, the founding elite class had been replaced by the scholar-gentry class. This signaled the beginning of a new imperial bureaucracy that brought a stabilizing influence on the politics of China. The government was fair and not corrupt, so there was less rebellion and protesting. All of this led to a more powerful, stable, and prosperous country. Education replacing birthright was also the chief avenue to social mobility and life of pleasure in Hangchow, which we have all heard and read about form Marco Polo.

The Civil Service Exam was the chief vehicle for the descendants of former serfs to participate in the good life that resulted in increased output, prosperity, and happiness. The Confucian ideas it was based on caused the people who were given government jobs to be able to work together and be more tolerant of one another. The respect and participation that the ideas taught made people more accepting of diversity and gave way to new ideas and methods, which benefited the government. Your civil service exam was the perfect way for the descendants of former serfs to be able to live the life of a middle or upper class citizens of China. With increased social mobility, cities such as Hangchow flourished, as Marco Polo has written.

Overall, I believe you can tell from my writing that we in England are highly impressed by your successful country. We would very much like to try to use your methods to make our country more efficient and prosperous. We hope that using the Civil Service System and infusing Confucian thought throughout our country will help us to be a more powerful, prosperous, and stable country. Your country is a great example for the world. We hope that one day England will also be a great example.

As I have stated, my King requests that you permit me to travel to China to learn more about your systems. In addition, he asks that you permit me, on my return home, to bring several civil servants back to England. We would like them to share their “rags to riches” stories to infuse hope and desire of a better life throughout our country and overall make it a better one. We hope that the stories will inspire our people to work harder and make England a better country. If you are willing to let us travel to your country and return home with people to inspire our own success, I can assure you that we will be your ally if any trouble comes your way. We will help you defend your country, as you are helping us become a more advanced country.

Sincerely, Ambassador Strauss

Jihad v. Mcworld

Africa in the Middle Ages was similar to what it is now: a mix of traditional and modern. Early in the middle ages, Africa was mostly traditional rural life that gave way to learning and trade centers, such as Timbuktu. This caused Africa to be more prominent in the modern world.

In the early middle ages, the separation between king and subject was far less than in most Asian societies. Most people lived in rural villages that were based on families. They lived in small, round dwellings made of mud and straw. Lineage was based on the mother rather than the father. The mother taught the children until they were six and then, based on gender, they were taught separately. Mothers taught history and language through songs.

Trading centers like Timbuktu created a more progressive world in Africa. They educated people and spread new goods and ideas. They also spread new religions. As people were educated, towns became more efficient and grew. As this happened, kingdoms expanded. Trading was now happening everywhere. The rulers were strong and wealthy. Kingdoms had armies of thousands of men to protect citizens. Gold and salt were the main exports. Kings made pilgrimages with thousands of people and camels and spread the glory of Africa everywhere.

I think trade and cultural exchange destroys family and tribal based cultures. I think that as trade and cultural exchange become more prominent, culture weakens and is no longer as important. I think this is because people are more interested in their modern world than their traditional one. Also, I think cultural exchange would bring in new religions and replace old ones. In addition, I think it destroys societies and families when family members are traveling and learning and not part of the village. I also think that cultural exchange may cause societies to modify their cultures, and not always for the better. Lastly, I think that when societies become more modern, they tend to reject their traditions in favor of new ones. I think they might try to commercialize farmland or village land and put people on “reservations,” like what happened to the Native Americans. This often causes disputes between tribes that are put too near each other. They fight over land and break up families and societies.

Overall, Africa is a mix of traditional and modern. There were villages and cities, huts and palaces. There were king and peasants. The empires rose and fell and gave way to stronger leaders and more prosperous towns. But this all made Africa what it is today: a continent rich in culture, diverse peoples, and history.

Mansa Musa Extra Credit Essay

Three prominent civilizations of West Africa were the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They wee all near the Niger River, which was related to their success. They took advantage of it by using it for trade, traveling, and as a water source.

The Niger River was very important to the development and prosperity of West Africa. The riverbeds were fertile for crops and it provided an efficient was of traveling. It connected West Africa to the rest of the world. It was also used for irrigation, which increased food supply. It helped West Africa to trade as well, because it was easy to transport goods by river.

The civilizations of West Africa grew as a result of strong leaders conquering other lands and expanding their empires. They also became more powerful because of the trade of gold, salt, slaves, and food. They became connected to Europe because of the slave trade. They began to trade with many other countries. The Niger River helped them grow food and trade goods.

The pilgrimage of Mansa Musa in all his glory announced to the world the brilliance of West Africa. He took one thousand men and three hundred camels carrying gold with him. He gave out gold everywhere he went. It spread the message that West Africa was so rich that it had enough gold to spare for everyone. It also said that West Africa was very powerful and could let its leader travel without worry.

Over all, the kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai were very rich and powerful kingdoms. They dominated trade and conquered many other states. During the glory of West Africa, they are seen as three of the greatest empires of the time.

Civil Service Essay

Katrina Strauss
November 17, 2008

The civil service system in China was based on proving your merit and your capability of being a leader and an official. Candidates were given the civil service examination, which was based on Confucian ideas and by the Song dynasty it became just about the only means of drafting officials into the government. Neo-Confucianism said that the world was real and participation led to fulfillment. It also included the five levels of respect, which were extremely important. Another of its fundamentals was equality of opportunity. This also went into the civil service exam, because it let anyone take the exam, not just the rich and powerful. This meant that anyone had a fair chance of becoming an official. It meant that the capable, educated people would become officials as opposed the rich and powerful who got what they wanted because of who they knew. The rebirthing of this ancient philosophy had a stabilizing effect on the political system of China in the middle ages. When the qualified people were put in government, the government was fair and not prejudiced. This led to a fewer number of rebellions and protests, which led to a more stable and peaceful government which, in turn, led to a more peaceful and stable China.

Ron Paul v. Caliphate

Katrina Strauss D2P1
November 12, 2008
Ron Paul v. Caliphate

There are two main theories pertaining to the attacks on 9/11 and the Muslim world. The first is called the Ron Paul theory. Ron Paul says that the reason for the 9/11 attack was that the Islamic world felt threatened that we were in their lands. The second theory is called the Caliphate theory. This states that the Islamic world intends to expand either by violence of persuasion. The Ron Paul theory and the Caliphate theory are supported by historical examples. I believe that the Ron Paul theory is more correct.

In the 2007 primaries, Ron Paul was asked “What's your strategy to protect our American way of life from the designs of radical Islam?” He answered:
We have to understand the motives of those who come here & kill us. If we don't understand that, we are not going to win this fight. They come here & kill us because we occupy their lands, and they rationally reason [that] we have to do something about it.
Source: 2007 GOP Values Voter Presidential Debate Sep 17, 2007
Available online at http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/2007_GOP_Value_Voters_Ron_Paul.htm

According to the Ron Paul theory, even if the Islamic world is seeking to expand by re-establishing the Caliphate they do not pose an immediate threat to the U.S. They attack us only because they feel threatened that we are in their lands. If we leave them and their lands alone, they will leave us alone. The role of western ideas has had and still has a moderating effect on Islam. In the Umayyad period of Islam, the capital moved from Mecca to Damascus. As it did so, Islam in that region became less strict because of influence from the western world. Today, many Muslims support western ideas of democracy and peace. The United States is allies with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both of which are Islamic countries. As the world becomes more interconnected, different people learn of each other and begin to rely on one another. Globalism contributes to peace.

The Caliphate theory has two versions: caliphate by persuasion and caliphate by force. Supporters of both theories agree that the Islamic world has a history of uniting under a religious and political leader, also known as a Caliph, seeking to expand its influence. One group would say that the Islamic world seeks to expand using dialogue and persuasion. It would not be attempting to start a war, but would seek diplomatic solutions. This is one definition of the word Jihad. Proponents of the caliphate by force theory would say that historically, Islamic leaders used violence to conquer other groups. This Jihad is a Jihad of war and of force. Supporters of this theory would say that the Islamic world is coming to get us, so we need to unite with our European allies and attack the Islamic world first. This group sees the inevitable clash between the Islamic world and the west because of the rise of more extreme forms of Islam.

Historically, Islam was characterized by expansion. Muhammad was the messenger of Allah, and he was told to spread the word of Allah and spread the religion of Islam. The first caliph after Muhammad was Abu Bakr. During Abu Bakr’s reign in the Arabian dynasty, the Muslim empire expanded north to Persia and Iraq and west to Cairo and along the northern coast of Africa. In 661 Mu’awiyah became caliph and established the Umayyad dynasty. He moved the capital of the Arab dynasty from Madinah to Damascus, in Syria. Between 661 and 750, Mu’awiyah and his successors expanded the Muslim Empire further inland from the coast of Africa, and to Spain, Morocco, Tunisia, and to the outskirts of India. When the Abbasid dynasty began in 750, the capital was moved to Baghdad, which helped control the Tigris River and was located on the caravan route from the Mediterranean to central Asia.

Conflict between Islam and the West really began when Islam expanded toward Constantinople (now known as Istanbul) around the second half of the eleventh century. In this time period, the Seljuk Turks put military pressure on the Byzantine Empire. In 1071, the Byzantines challenged the Turks to war, but lost. The Turks took over most of present-day Turkey. The Byzantine emperor asked the Christian European countries for help against the Turks. From the point of view of the Muslims, the Christians opposed every effort to spread the word of Allah. They began the crusades against the Muslims. Between 1095 and 1291 there were eight crusades by the west in an attempt to control the Muslim world. The crusaders committed many atrocities including mass murders and cannibalism. In the end, the crusades left a lasting impression on the Islamic world as an example of western hostility.

In August 1990, Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait in order to control its oil fields and to gain a major sea port on the Persian Gulf. Kuwait asked for help from a number of countries, including the U.S., and thirty-four countries agreed to help the nation of Kuwait. In January 1991 the United States and other countries landed in Kuwait and drove the Iraqi army back to Iraq. During the Gulf War, Saudi Arabia allowed United States forces into Saudi Arabian territory but not Osama Bin Laden’s troops. This angered Bin Laden because he did not think it was right to allow foreign troops into the “land of the two mosques,” which were Mecca and Medina. Bin Laden was also upset because Israel has control of Jerusalem and other holy Muslim cities.

In 1996, al-Qaeda announced its order to expel foreign troops from what they felt were lands belonging to the Islamic world. Osama bin Laden issued a fatwa (binding religious edict), which said that war was being declared against the United States and any of its allies, and began to focus al-Qaeda's resources towards attacking the United States and its interests. On February 23, 1998, Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, a leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, along with three other Islamist leaders, co-signed and issued a fatwa, which declared:
[T]he ruling to kill the Americans and their allies - civilians and military — is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in order to liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem) and the holy mosque (in Mecca) from their grip, and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeated and unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words of Almighty Allah, 'and fight the pagans all together as they fight you all together,' and 'fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah'.
Wikipedia, Al-Qaeda available online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda
Bin Laden and his followers represent the most extreme part of Islam today. Extreme Islam is wanting to exterminate all “infidels,” meaning non-Muslims. It is forcing your ideas on others. Hitler used the Jihad of force. He began by discriminating, then enslaving, then torturing, and finally exterminating those he did not like. Extreme Muslims are not tolerant of diverse ideas. The reason for the Sunni-Shiite split was because the group that became the Shiites was only willing to accept the descendants of Muhammad as their rulers. The group that became the Sunnis was tolerant of diversity and accepted other people as their rulers. The Shiites tend to be more extreme and the Sunnis tend to be more moderate. The U.S. is not in conflict with all parts of the Muslim world.

I agree with the Ron Paul theory, that the Muslim world is not an immediate threat to us but they attacked because they feel threatened that they are in their lands. There are a very large number of Muslim countries in the world, including Indonesia, and many African countries. We are not in conflict with the majority of these countries. Osama bin Laden attacked the U.S. because he felt threatened that we were in Islamic lands. However, if we leave those lands and stop interfering with the Muslim world, they will leave us alone as well. I don’t think that we should attack them because they are inevitably coming to get us. I think we should try to make peace with them and leave them and their lands alone and see what happens. If they decide to advance and attack anyway, we can always defend ourselves and fight back.

Part of the reason I agree with this theory is that I do not believe that war gets us anywhere. It may lead to conquest, but the glory does not always last long. I think the war in Iraq has collapsed the U.S. economy. We have spent billions of dollars a year on the war. We could have used this money in the U.S. instead. Many of our soldiers have suffered terrible injuries or died. I believe in the Ron Paul theory because this is what I think happened on 9/11: The Islamic world felt threatened that the U.S. was in their lands. Terrorists of al-Qaeda believed something needed to be done about it. They forged a plan and crashed planes into the Pentagon, the Twin Towers, and a field in rural Pennsylvania. The U.S. retaliated by invading Afghanistan and Iraq instead of al-Qaeda. The result was the Iraq war. Another reason why I think the Ron Paul theory is correct is because the western world has a history of conflict with the Islamic World. When the Seljuk Turks were taking over most of Islam, the Byzantines asked for help from the European west, which began the crusades and the conflict between the western world and the Muslim world.

There are many examples in everyday life proving the Ron Paul theory to be correct. One of these is a football analogy. On the football field, if you back off from the opposite team and give them a little room, they may back off as well. Another example is Switzerland. Switzerland has been a neutral country since about 1674. By not taking sides in any wars, they have prevented themselves from being attacked or conquered. I believe that the U.S. can reduce the likelihood of being attacked if it focuses its efforts at home instead of interfering abroad.

Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religion that began with the teachings of the prophet Muhammad in the seventh century. The word Islam means "submission", or the total surrender of oneself to God. A supporter of Islam is known as a Muslim, meaning "one who submits to God". Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity. Muslims regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (words and deeds of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam. The five Pillars of Islam are five practices essential to Sunni Islam. They are the shahadah, the salah, the zakat, the sawm, and the hajj. The Sharia is the Islamic law, and it means “the path leading to the watering place.”