Chinese have had many influential inventions that most people don't even think of as being Chinese in origin, including the crossbow, iron plow, suspension bridge, and blast furnace used to melt metals. The Chinese discovered the Earth was round in the mid 1000's, many years before Europeans and hundreds before the European church accepted it as true, allowing people to not be burned when they thought it was round. The Chinese also first recorded the existence of the supernova.
The Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu literally wrote the book on battle strategy called the Art of War. It contains thirteen chapters that outline the plan a military planner should take to win an almost sure victory. This book is the still the basis of warfare today.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
About India
The Indian subcontinent ranges from Afghanistan to Burma (Myanmar). It has troubles with Pakistan over the region of Kashmir. Both countries have tested with nuclear arms. The Caste System still gives India problems even though discrimination based on caste is illegal. India's most populated city is Mumbai which as recently as 2008 has been attacked by what were believed to be Pakistani militants. Present leaders include the President, Pratibha Patil, and the Prime Minister, Manhohan Singh. India has at least 18 official languages including Hindi and English. Religions include Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1154019.stm
Freewrite on India
When I think of India, I have to go to the source I know the best: movies. Movies about India include Gunga Din, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and that movie about Gandhi (possibly called Gandhi). They're religion, as far as I know, is still Hinduism, though Islam may have gotten more of a foothold relatively recently. It is a country of extremes in wealth and poverty. In the past they were controlled by Great Britain.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Misconceptions
I have a problem with Misconception 1. I can't think of anyone I know who thinks Islam is a peaceful religion. This also contradicts Misconception 7 that says "Islam tollerates the killing of inoccents". I have never heard of two contradicting misconception. I think this is rather suspicious. Maybe my views are warped since I am an American. Isn't it a good thing to be thought of as a peaceful religion?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Middle East Background
http://amaz95.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/noble_quran1.jpgSince a lot of the Middle East practices Islam, I looked into the study of Allah. Allah is more like the Old Testament God, cruel and vengeful, though he is also not. Since Allah is indescribable, he is everything: evil and good, violent and peaceful, creator and destroyer. It is impossible to understand Allah. This is basically stated in the phrase "Allah akbar" meaning, "Allah is greater". This says that Allah is greater than anything ever made or will be made. When someone understands something of Allah, it changes. (http://www.light-of-life.com/eng/gospel/g4105efm.htm)
Middle East Freewrite
When a person from the United States thinks of the Middle East, they usually think of a turban wearing guy with belts of dynamite strapped to him screaming "Allah akbar!" into a crowded market. This is perceived to be normal because this is what the media focuses on. The Middle East in general is a dangerous place, between little water, terrorists, and smugglers, but it is also a place of great history. The Holy Land is centralized in the Middle East for three of the biggest religions in the world: Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. Allah ascended to heaven there, Christ was born and crucified there, and Moses along with other important Jewish figures lived there.
The thing I think I might be surprised to learn about the Middle East is: actual borders.
The thing I think I might be surprised to learn about the Middle East is: actual borders.
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