Berlin Conference Analysis

I think that our group did well with what we had to choose from. We were fourth I think so all the ports and resources we wanted were already taken by other countries. I think that Britain and Portugal and France won, they all had a little different motives so they all got a  lot of land and what they wanted. I think that either Spain lost because they only got a very small amount of land with few resources. The Berlin Conference had a very negative affect on Africa. When all these countries come into Africa's homeland and take over, it will cause different African tribes to be split up. Also many will be forced to come together under new rule that they don't want. The Berlin Conference started many of Africa's issues that still affect them today like poverty, Dar-Fur, blood diamonds, bad agriculture, etc.

do now

I think the scramble for Africa is talking about when imperialism was going on and every country was trying to get parts of Africa. All the countries were scrambling to get the most of Africa under their control.

Do Now

I think that the Europeans became interested in Africa because they provided cheap work and were easy to take over ad control because they didn't have a strong army. I think that slavery will ruin African culture because the Britian will push their culture on the Africans. I think that slavery is a large part of the reason that Africa is in such bad poverty today. When slavery started Africa lost a large population as well as control of those areas. And Britain treated them so cheaply so they lost all their money. 

Roots Reaction

One thing that stood out to me was that animals were very important in their culture. When the goat was killed it seemed like it was a big mistake. For us that is very different because we kill animals to be eaten. Another thing that stood out to me was the fact that men were much more important, they were the leaders of the family and had to be trained that way. I thought it was very interesting that boys had to go to a boot camp like thing to become men. Also they were very religious, they made a lot of references to God, and saying how it was up to him how their child would turn out. I thought this was interesting because the parents only job is to bring life to a child not necessarily to raise their child the right way, thats God's job in their culture.

The Hare and The Catepillar

The folk story was about a hare that went home to his house and found the door locked. The hare never locked his door and didn't have a key because he was well liked around town. He knocked and asked who was in his house. A scary voice answered saying,"I who is big and can crush elephants and rule lions." The hare was scared and asked for help but the only one who would help him was the frog. The frog heard this voice and said, "It is I who can jump high and catch anybird in the sky. Then the inside vioce wimpered and they felt better and knocked the door down. Nobody was inside, so they looked outside and saw a catepillar inching away. This myth incorporated animals from the african myths. The myth was entertaining because there was a bit of mystery to it, because you wanted to know what was inside the hare's house. The myth taught you that you should not be scared of something you don't know. I could apply this to my life by saying I shouldn't be scared of something that sounds sacary without giving it a chance. 

Wonders of Africa

The pyrimids in Gaza seem very cool. They are a lot bigger then I thought they were and they seem to have very precise architecture. The temples of Abu Simbel are also very intricate architecture. They are beautiful carvings into stone of goddesses and gods. I think both these places woul be cool to visit and see these masterpieces. Zanzibar Island is a large trade place where a lot of influence from other countries has affected it. It is now struggling with the changing economy but still is a pretty island!

Africa

I think about it being a third world coutry. I think about slavery and it being a poor country. I also think of the pirates that have been in the new, taking over ships on the coasts of Africa. I think of these things because the pirates are a new issue that is always talked about in the news. I think of slavery and it being a poor country because that is what I was taught about Africa when I was little. I also think of aids because of that concert LiveAid I think is was called that helped raise money for people in Africa. I am pretty sure that their is a lot of peole with Aids in Africa and other deadly diseases because of their bad living condition. I also think of Africa as being poor because the school WMS built in Malawi (im pretty sure thats in Africa)