Erin+R

=__** Unit 3 Primary Source: **__= = = = = The above image is a deck plan for the slave ship Brookes. Brookes was a British slave ship built in 1781. In nearly 23 years, the Brookes made ten voyages to Africa, shuttling more than 5,000 slaves to their imprisonment in the New World.
 * The slave decks of the ship //Brookes//, 1788 **

The above image is the most famous image of the Brookes and slave ships on a whole. This image, published in 1788, complies with the Regulation of the Slave Trade Act, passed by parliament in the same year. The Act regulates the number of slaves a ship could carry, and allowed the Brookes to stow only 454 African slaves. The Act also enforces that each ship must give a space of 6 feet by 1 foot 4 inches to each man; 5 feet 10 inches by 1 foot 4 inches to each women, and 5 feet by 1 foot 2 inches to each child.

It seems almost paradoxical that there were regulations on the detestable business of slave trade, but I suppose because slavery was such a common practice in the 18th century, it had to be regulated. But even with the regulations, which were meant to make the middle passage "easier", the slaves were still in unlivable conditions. As seen in the above image, slaves were crammed into almost every space on the ship. This made disease and infection spread easier, leading to a 12% fatality rate. Of course, because the slave trade was such a lucrative business, there have been reports the the Brookes broke the regulation and carried up to 700 people (compared to their allotted 454). This mentality of skirting around regulations in order to make more profit further emphasizes how slaves were objectified as possessions and not treated as real people.

I completely agree with you when you say that the regulations on a slave ship seem paradoxical! I normally don't equate regulations with an act so dehumanizing such as the transportation of slaves. I also agree with you on the objectification on slaves as possessions. These regulations (and breaking of them) all seem to correspond with saving more money by transporting more slaves. It would be the same if they were transporting agricultural items- people would try and fit more of that item on the ship so they could save money. It's completely horrifying. -AK

It's interesting to think of the regulations that were set on slavery. When slavery is such a disgusting thing, it goes against any human rights regulations. I would actually have expected there to be a higher fatality rate on such a small, dinky boat completely overcrowded with exhausted people. It's also insane to think of how this is just one boat out of many repulsive boats that transported African people to be sold as slaves in the Americas. Mojan = = = = = = = = = = =__** Anitsthenes **__= Antisthenes was an Athenian philosopher. He became very close with Socrates, and together they made great advances in Greek philosophy. For instance, Anisthenes believed heavily in virtue, saying that virtue alone could bring a person's happiness, and a person should base their sense of right and wrong not off the social code, but on their personal sense of right and wrong. He was also the original founder of the Cynic School of Athens and wrote ten volumes of his beliefs that were rediscovered during the Renaissance. However, perhaps his most notable accomplishment was being Socrates's only companion that was described as being "clever". Personally, the reason I like him is because of his priceless facial expression. Quite true! -SW

Another person that should have been pictured in the School of Athens is Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism. The ideas that Taoism is based on are radically different than any other belief system and deserve recognition. (Plus, if Lao Tzu hadn't founded Taoism, there would be no Star Wars!) Of course! -SW __ Unit 2 Primary Source: Analects for Women __



The Analects for Women is a text, written in the Tang Dynasty, describing the proper way women should behave. It very descriptively outlines what a woman should not do in public. For Instance, one excerpt reads

//"When  walking, don’t  turn  your  head; when  talking, don’t  open  your  mouth  wide; when  sitting, don’t  move  your  knees; when  standing, don’t rustle  your  skirts; when  happy, don’t  exult  with  loud  laughter;  when angry, don’t  raise  your  voice. The  inner  and  outer  quarters  are distinct; the  sexes  should  be  segregated. Don’t  peer  over  the  outer  wall  or  go  beyond  the  outer  courtyard. If  you  have  to  go  outside,  cover  your  face; if  you  peep  outside,  conceal  yourself  as  much  as  possible.  Do  not  be  on  familiar  terms  with  men  outside  the  family; have  nothing  to  do  with  women  of  bad  character. Establish  your  proper  self  so  as  to  become  a  true human  being. //

Obviously, the //Analects for Women// implied that women were inferior to men, a common theme throughout history. However, interestingly enough, the Analects were not written by a man. Instead, they were written by a female scholar Song Ruo Zhao for her daughter, describing how to be a proper and worthy woman and quickly became one of the most popular texts in China. This implies, contrary to modern, western beliefs, not all women felt resentful for their debilitation. Though it seems abominable that women would encourage highly restricting lessons on her daughter, the beliefs about the decorum for women, as seen in the //Analects for Women//, provided a tradition for Chinese women, giving them a sense of importance. It became the mother's job to teach her daughter the proper ways of the world. This can also be seen in the tradition of foot-binding. The mother would bind her daughter's feet, then the daughter would grow up and bind her daughter's feet, creating a strong connection between the mothers and daughters. This could perhaps one of the reasons the Analects for Women stayed a very important part of Chinese culture.

This is such an interesting topic, Erin. I realize that there has been a divide between the roles of men and women throughout Chinese history and the history of the world, I wonder if there were any texts like this found in other societies? It is also interesting that these Analects and foot binding were established during the same dynasty. Great primary source! - AK

Quite interesting! What would happen if a woman, for example, did not follow the Analects for Women? What if a woman did exactly the opposite of all of the "rules"?- sg

I think the question you pose about the reasoning behind women enforcing their own discrimination is very interesting. Do you think it could be that women were //raised// to believe that their role in society was more ornamental and maternal than political, and they are (should I say it) honored to accept that role? I know even in the present day that Chinese women feel as if their maternal presence and strict lifestyle is necessary for the success of their child, do you think this is still an issue or rather a more cultural idea? DL

__ Class Starter: The Hippodrome __ The name "hippodrome", meaning horse course in Greek, perfectly sums up what the hippodrome actually is- a horse racing arena in the Byzantine Empire.

In 203 CE, Roman Emperor Septimus Severus first introduced the sport of chariot racing to the Byzantine Empire and began building a horse-racing venue. However, Emperor Constantine reconstructed the stadium in 324 CE into what we recognize as the Hippodrome today. The Hippodrome is a u-shaped sand track that held horse races. The track itself was 1/3 of a mile long (1,476 ft) and more than a football field wide (427 ft). The stadium surrounding the track could hold up to 100,000 spectators compared with the Roman coliseum which held around 50,000-80,000 spectators. It was lavishly decorated with bronze and gold statues, including the famous statue of Hercules. It was thought that there many other statues of gods, goddesses, and famous horses and chariot drivers.However, in the Fourth Crusade, around the year 1204 CE, many of the statues were either stolen or ruined. Some monuments, including the Serpent Column, the walled Obelisk, and the Statue of Porphyios, still remain intact. Sadly, the invasion of the Turks destroyed most of the Hippodrome, and only the spinal structures remain today.
 * Description**

Chariot races were an important part if the Byzantine Empire.In these races, four teams competed: The Blues, the Greens, the Reds, and the Whites. The four teams, each supported by a different political group, had two different chariots, for total of eight chariots. There was heavy betting involved in each race, and because the races involved a political aspect, riots and civil wars sometimes erupted. For instance, the largest of these civil wars, the Nika Riots in 532 CE, killed approximately 30,000 people.
 * Uses-Chariot racing**

The Hippodrome was a central part of the Byzantine Empire. Besides chariot races, the Hippodrome was used as venues for large celebrations and ceremonies.
 * Other Uses**

The Hippodrome often represents the "glory days", or the peak of the Byzantine Empire. It was also a unifying factor. Chariot races were one of the few times common citizens and the emperor were able to gather together, albeit the emperor sat in a separate box. The Hippodrome also reflects the significance of Hellenistic and Roman ideas throughout the Empire. The design of the Hippodrome was based off of the Greek Circus Maximus.. Also, the ingenuity of building such a structure is similar to that of the Greeks and Romans. []
 * Significance**

Sources [] =__Unit One Primary Source - Boudicca__= //I was whipped by the Romans when they tried to take our lands — and now I am fighting for my freedom. Think how many of us are fighting and why. We must win this battle or die. Let the men live as slaves if they want. I will not. // — Boudicca's last speech, as recorded by Dio Cassius


 * Background**

Around the year 44 CE, Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain, building stations and incorporating it under British rule. At this time, Britain was not unified under a central government as we know it today. Instead, Britain was separated into multiple tribes that each ruled individually.

Boudicca was born around the year 25 CE into an unknown tribal noble family. At a young age, she attended a warrior school that taught her how to use a sword and a spear. She became queen of the Icenai Tribe when she married King Prasutagus. King Prasutagus, had made an alliance with Rome, and was allowed to remain Client King of the Iceni Tribe, meaning that the Iceni could observe their personal customs as long as they remained loyal and paid taxes to Rome. This arrangement intended to insure peace between the Iceni Tribe and the Roman Empire, but Rome's high taxes reopened the Iceni's anger towards the Empire.


 * Rebellion**

When Prasutagus died at age 60, he left half of his kingdom to the Roman Empire and the other half to his wife, Boudicca. The Roman Empire believed they were the rightful owners and took possession of the entire kingdom. Roman Officials, who were sent to claim Boudicca's half on the kingdom, 'shamed" (raped) Boudicca and both of her daughters. Around 60 CE, Boudicca, desperate for revenge, began a revolt against the Roman Empire. She lead an army comprised of 20,000 men, children, and elders to loot, burn and destroy the present-day cities of London, St. Albans and Colchester. While these cities were mainly evacuated, Boudicca and here army killed a Roman Legion of 2,000 infantry.


 * Defeat**

After Boudicca defeated the cities, she moved northwest. Her army (around 200,000) met with Roman governor Paulinius and his army of 10,000. The location of the final battle is uncertain-- the battle descriptions don't match the topography of the country. Although The Roman Army was greatly outnumbered, their military training overpowered the rebellion. By the end of the battle, the Roman death toll was only 400 compared to the 80,000 Iceni. Boudicca survived the battle, but died late from poison or shock from a wound received in battle.


 * Legacy**

Although the rebellion ultimately failed, it was the only rebellion led by a women. Boudicca is often thought of as 'England's first feminist" and is often served as an inspiration, especially during Queen Elizabeth I's reign. A statue of this warrior queen can be found at the Westminster Pier in Lond on. 




 * Primary Source**

There are many discrepancies in Boudicca's story due to the fact the only records on Boudicca were written by Roman historians Tactitus 60 years after her death and Dio Cassius 100 years after her death. It is widely believed that Boudicca was a real person and did lead an uprising against the Roman Empire, but the details are not concrete. The recount of the story of the warrior queen is believed to have received a bias twist based the Roman idea that women were inferior and incapable of leading an army. The Annals by Tactitus

Roman History VIII by Dio Cassius

It's great to hear heroic stories of women in history. This is definitely something that I never would've heard of since rebellions lead by women are extremely rare.Your primary source provides a lot of insight on the Roman Empire's opinion on women, which is greatly different from the Spartan's or Ancient Egyptian's. - AK

I love that there were women even this far back in time that were powerful, though we don't hear about them much. Do you know why she attended school and was trained as a warrior? Was it something she really wanted to do from a young age, or was she just sent by her family? Great detail- I can tell you put a lot of work into this. ~EmP

Sources: http://heroinesofhistory.wikispaces.com/Boudicca []