John+M

Hello all, welcome to my page. Hindu architecture was based on the Shilpa Shastras. These were texts on all things hindu, including how architecture should be. Although the Shilpa Shastras were "rules", they allowed for much artistic freedom, making Indian temples distinctly beautiful and intricate. Being a religion, Hindu based their architecture on religious structures, specifically temples for worship. Temples varied in style from region to region in India, but the fundamentals went back to the Shilpa Shastras. The typical small temple had a womb-chamber (garbha graha) dedicated to an idol, a hall for congregation, and even a porch sometimes. Here is a picture of the Shiva temple in Indonesia. Other parts of a temple to be mentioned are the Jagati or raised platform on which the temple is built, the Antarala which serves as a foyer between the womb-chamber and mandapa (hall), the Vimanam, the Amalaka or stone disk on top of the Vimanam, Gopurams found in South Indian temples, and the Urushinga (sub-Vimanam). Here are diagrams showing said parts Different styles in India included the Nagara, Dravidian, Badami Chalukya, Gadag, Kalinga, and Maru-Gurjara. While it might seem confusing, no style is radically different, we see the same fundamental parts in each. The parts are either included, excluded or arranged differently, but they are recurring. The most abundant temples are either in the Nagara or Dravida (Dravidian) styles. Nagara was considered a northern style and Dravida southern. Notice the similarities between this Kalinga temple and the Nagara temple above. Sources Cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture http://www.templenet.com/temparc.html Primary source: This painting of a Pompeii couple can perhaps reveal racial tolerance in marriage. The two appear to be of different ethnicities, the woman representing a more European or caucasian type while the man on the right, who is believed to be a baker, seems to be more dark skinned. This difference seems subtle, this might have been an issue in other places. They are also in nearly identical poses, each holding an item related to literature to their chin, the woman holding a pen and a book and the man holding a parchment, though the contents of the parchment are unknown. They could be assumed to be wealthy by demonstrating this pose and if they did pay for a painting to be made of them, that can also be evidence to wealth.

Primary source document: **"You must know that for three months of the year, December, January, and February, the Great Khan resides in the capital city of Cathay (China), which is called Cambaluc (Beijing), and which is at the north-eastern extremity of the country. In that city stands his great palace, and now I will tell you what it is like.** **It is enclosed all round by a great wall forming a square, each side of which is a mile in length. It is also very thick, and a good ten paces in height, whitewashed and loop-holed all round. At each angle of the wall there is a very fine and rich palace in which the war-harness of the Emperor is kept, such as bows and arrows, saddles and bridles, and bowstrings, and everything necessary for an army. Also midway between every two of these corner palaces there is another of the like' so that in the whole enclosure you find eight vast palaces where the Great Lord's harness of war are stored. Only one kind of article is assigned to each palace; thus, one is stored with bows, a second with saddles, a third with bridles, and so on."** - Marco Polo, //The Book of Ser Marco Polo: The Venetian Concerning Kingdoms and Marvels of the East// 

 Marco Polo is a commonly known historical figure today, though many of us have yelled "Marco! Polo!" before we knew what the man did. Aside from inventing pool games, Ser Marco Polo of Venice was a well-respected and highly active merchant. Much development in world history is seen through his eyes, and in this case, we have a specific example of Mongol influence. Kubilai Khan had in a sense hired Marco and his brother to bring back 100 Christians who were familiar with what were called the "Seven Arts"(grammar, rhetoric, logic, geometry, arithmetic, music, and astronomy). Because of his task, Marco was allowed to live among the Mongol elite and gained sight of the noble organization and architecture of "Cambaluc" or Beijing. As can be seen by his use of words, Polo was highly impressed by the power and beauty of the area. The nature of his writings could be questioned, though, considering that he would certainly not want to upset his employer during such a great opportunity. They could simply be an assurance of the duration of his employment. Nevertheless, his depictions are not over-exaggerated and also show firsthand the Mongol appreciation for improvements to themselves, although military is still of utmost importance "At each angle of the wall there is a very fine and rich palace in which the war-harness of the Emperor is kept, such as bows and arrows, saddles and bridles, and bowstrings, and everything necessary for an army". Overall, this shows just how powerful and impressive the Mongols were, and also shows how merchants can be great participants of history. Agreed, good review of his importance. -SW

School of Athens character: Heraclitus I chose this character because he seems to stand out in the painting and also looks separated from the activities of the other characters. Heraclitus was a philosopher in the time before Socrates. He appears to be looking down at something and writing his thoughts and observations, he is in a pose that suggests deep thinking, with his cheek resting on his hand. The renaissance, being a rebirth of classical culture would hold a figure like Heraclitus in significance. Socrates and his disciples, like Plato are some of the best known Greek philosophers, but there are probably valuable ideas from philosophers before their time, like Heraclitus. An interesting fact about this particular character in the painting is that he is modeled after the artist Michelangelo, and this is perhaps proof that artists in the Renaissance period had respect for each other as "The School of Athens" was painted by Raphael. What were his ideas? -SW

An additional character that I would suggest is Genghis Khan. While certainly not a philosopher, Genghis Khan demonstrated a high appreciation for culture and certain qualities such as bravery. It is not impossible to imagine him, under allowing circumstances, to converse genuinely with a philosopher such as Plato or even Heraclitus. Genghis also brought peoples and cultures under the same roof of his conquered area, and while not a "rebirth" of ancient cultures such as Greece and Rome, the Pax Mongolia was a unique time for world history in that separate cultures acted more peacefully to each other.

Primary source document 2/17/14 [September 1709]. . .About one o'clock this morning my wife was happily delivered of a son, thanks be to God Almighty. I was awake in a blink and rose and my cousin Harrison met me on the stairs and told me it was a boy. We drank some French wine and went to bed again and rose at 7 o'clock. I read a chapter in Hebrew and then drank chocolate with the women for breakfast. I returned God humble thanks for so great a blessing and recommended my young son to His divine protection.

[October 1709] I rose at 6 o'clock and said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. Then I proceeded to Williamsburg, where I found all well. I went to the capitol where I sent for the wench to clean my room and when I came I kissed her and felt her, for which God forgive me. The I went to see the President, whom I found indisposed in his ears. I dined with. . . on beef. Then we went to his house and played at piquet where Mr. Clayton came to us. We had much to do to get a bottle of French wine. About 10 o'clock I went to my lodgings. I had good health but wicked thoughts, God forgive me.

[February 1710] I rose at 8 o'clock and read nothing because of my company. I neglected to say my prayers, for which God forgive me. I ate milk for breakfast. Then we took a walk about the plantation till it was time to go to dinner. I ate fish for dinner. In the afternoon we saw a good battle between a stallion and Robin about the mare, but at last the stallion had the advantage and covered the mare three times. The Captain's bitch killed another lamb for which she was beat very much. We took another walk about the plantation. My maid Anaka was very well again, thank God, and so was Moll at the quarters. My wife was out of humor with us for going to see so filthy a sight as the horse to cover the mare. In the evening we drank a bottle of wine and were very merry till 9 o'clock. I neglected to say my prayers but had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God Almighty.

[March 1710] I rose at 7 o'clock and read some Greek in bed. I said my prayers and ate milk for breakfast. The about 8 o'clock we got a-horseback and rode to Mr. Harrison's and found him very ill but sensible. . . In the morning early I returned home and went to bed. It is remarkable that Mrs. Burwell dreamed this night that she saw a person that with money scales weighed time and declared that there was no more than 18 pennies worth of time to come, which seems to be a dream with some significance either concerning the world or a sick person. In my letters from England I learned that the Bishop of Worcester was of opinion that in the year 1715 the city of Rome would be burned to the ground, that before the year 1745 the popish religion would be routed out of the world, that before the year 1790 the Jews and Gentiles would be converted to the Christianity and then would begin the millennium.

These are journal entries of a southern aristocrat named William Byrd. It gives insight into his life and a general idea about the values and lives of southern gentlemen. His entries, as dated above, are in the time before the declaration of independence for the United States, and these events take place in Virginia. We can clearly see his religious values here, as William is constantly asking for God's forgiveness, and accounting for his personal prayer schedule. There is little evidence of industrialization in these entries, which is to be expected both because the Industrial Revolution had yet to start in England and the southern United States would remain largely agricultural even after the Industrial and American Revolutions. In his first entry, William accounts for the birth of a son, for which he is pleased, possibly because it would provide legitimate succession to the aristocracy and ownership of the plantations which he also mentions. It is clear that Byrd was highly educated and enjoyed a wealth of luxurious activities, as he mentions reading Hebrew and Greek, multiple accounts of wine drinking, and playing a game of piquet with the President. Aristocrats could always be assumed to have enjoyed luxurious activities, but this diary provides insight into the values and thoughts of an aristocrat. This journal is especially interesting being before an age filled with revolution and change.

Primary source Unit 4: Japanese America n internment camps This document was given out during World War II. It shows a drastic and forced policy that evacuated the Japanese in California to internment camps, with rules that seem in the likeness of nazi policies. This was a government-approved act that gave a deadline to the way of life of many Japanese, all for the purpose of "protection", which seems very superstitious when considering the reality of the average Japanese citizen, that they were not all adherents of the bushido code. This same superstition could be said to be partially responsible for the atomic bombings as many US officials believed that the peasants and average populous would be waiting to fight US forces. Interestingly, the pamphlet says that it applies to all people of Japanese ancestry alien or not, and this begs the question of the ability of Japanese who couldn't speak english to comply with the regulations presented to them. The pamphlet also initially states the information that will be provided to the people affected and how they will be affected, such as instructions for the evacuation, which seems to emphasize the absolutism of the policy, the Japanese were truly powerless in this position. The sale of property was also mandated which seems and unfair and idiotic policy as it would only infuriate them further.