From The Dutie of a King in His Royal Office

The Theme of the reading is that the kings such as Sir Walter Raleigh, 1599 were considered to be Gods. They had believed that they had the same powers that God has now. Some of the powers that would be included is that if they can create some one and destroy them, another power is that the subjects  they  will have affection and service of his subjects, and the last power is that the people should praise and follow what ever he says. It is to believed that they have power on Earth just like God has on us. In this time frame Kings or even fathers were called Gods.
Additional background that I have found was about Sir Walter Raleigh. What I have found is that when he was younger he had served as a volunteer of the army in France in 1569. In 1577 he became an undergraduate at Oxford. He also served In Ireland in 1580, he also became an author of many political essays. He had ended up creating many bodies of poetry and in the 1600 he was governor of Jersey, but his fortunes had ended up declining when he had apart from his own ally who was know as Robert Cecil.
The part that stood out to me was the kings were considered to be  a God, but I really did not think about that the father or even husbands were actually also considered to be a God. No sooner then I read this it actually kinda refreshed my memory, because I sort of knew that this was true through out this history. Even though the fathers have had heirs to pass down any inheritance that he had  considered to give it to the eldest and not the youngest. I thought it was strange how they would favor over the young just by seeing if they like them. While keeping this in mind I thought about that this idea have led into conflict with several different families such conflict that I would expect would be that if the youngest child ever got the inheritance then the older brother would be jealous. This made me think that just maybe in this time there were times when brothers would fight or even kill each other over such inheritance that their father has left after he passes.
Ideas that really generated made me ask questions such as, is there still conflict over inheritance between family members today, and if so is it resolved in a civil matter or is solved by fighting who gets what? This made me think about family issues today and family issues back then, but in that history the father had ideas or even willing to kill off a son in order to keep his inheritance or even have the eldest get the inheritance. This was another idea that I thought was some what strange, I got the idea that some people back then were greedy or even selfish. It just surprised me that people back then killed off their own child line over their own fortunes to be taken care of.
Parallels would be comparing the lives of families back then and families today. Today some families share out their fortunes through out the family equally through wills to where no body is left out, but back in this time frame it was the youngest who would get the inheritance of some kind instead of a different person. It was continued to be more complex conflict for them, because they were afraid who they can trust with such fortunate and they preferred the youngest of them all. We have some families who are close to each other that want to make sure people are well taken care within the family, but in this time of history it just seemed like it was important for the fortunate was safe among the person who gets the inheritance.
Related to the text, would be that in Chapter 14 it actually discuss that the father's discipline matters, and this relates by the fathers of the household who believe have absolute power as God to run things his way just like God would. It had seemed that from the textbook and context of the reading it seemed that it was really controlling both ways between the different types of families back in history. The idea seemed to have been around I would say since the 1550-1618, this relates to how men or fathers have the power over households and the Royal family.

The 12 Articles of the German Peasants, 1524

The theme for this weeks reading is about the 12 Articles and it shows of how the German Peasants were actually being treated during 1524. The peasants were being treated unfairly, and when ever they did their jobs as slaves they never received anything back. They did not have peace , living conditions were very harsh for them because of the taxes that were being raised and they wanted to be treated fairly and have peace. They also wanted to have a better life and serve God. During this time they did serve God they followed based on what was meant for them to do based on the what God believed was true. This was also about Martin Luther preaching about what is to come to peasant's and what is going to effect him along with the peasant's reaction towards Martin Luther.
Some background information that I have found based on this reading was that the Peasant's war took place during the 15 century of 1524-1526. The Peasant's were a poorer class towns particularly in Franconia,Swabis, and Thuringia. The peasants had demands they wanted economic and political power than to have religious power. Another research that I have found was about Martin Luther, he was born into the peasant stock on Nov 10,1483 in Eisleben which was a in the Holy Roman Empire. He also had two brothers who had died from the out breaks of the plague, and he had one that have lived up to his adulthood. Martin Luther then started to want to reform the the church and home to be turned into schools, he wanted to establish education for which this came to be his first reformation. His last reformation took place in Eisleben, and it ha was the place where he had died in 1546. After Luther had died Melanchthon, Zwingli, Bucer, Bullinger and Calvin had promoted in writings and their works. They had continue of what Luther had started and now they wanted to continue it.
There was a lot of things that have stood out to me and they were the articles. The articles that stood out were the Third, Fifth, Seventh, and Eighth articles. The third article I thought was interesting because it mentions that slaves were under authority of some kind. It is said that we should be absolutely free under no authority, that it mentions that God does not teach us that we should have an authority, that he teaches us to love him and love others around us. If we have an authority of some kind then we should be humble. I thought about this for just a few minutes and thought this is actually true in life today. We serve God and love one another, but then again we would have authority from bosses of jobs, or even in politics. Weather we like the authority we have to learn to accept and be humble or we choose another job to do. The next article is Fifth this one mentions if a man who is poor and needs wood he should pay to have it. This it led me to think that if the peasants wanted to have wood or any needs to survive on they must pay some kind of tax for it. When this came into mind it led me to think that the more they payed for taxes the poorer they were. The peasants believe that if when getting wood it should be free to all man and not treated unequally to one another. The Seventh article mentions that the peasants shall not be forced to work with out any kind of payments for them to have. They should also have peace and quiet for themselves to a holding place, but they should still help their lord at proper times when they are needed and it should not have no disadvantages for them when doing the work. This was also interesting to me, it made me think of today people work for a living and people also work freely to help those in need. Back then they were not getting the rights that they wanted economically and politically, it became  something that had lasted for a long time for them and they wanted freedom from the horrible things that were happening to them.
Ideas that had generated for me was slavery and it made me really think of how long slavery has been through our history which seems like centuries to me. They were the peasants that were the lower class people who became to be treated unequally on several different levels to working, threatening, or even killed if they did not obey some of the rules. They wanted to be treated fairly and during this time they revolved and went into war to have freedom. While they were serving their masters of some kind they also served God by loving him and those around them. This was interesting because all of the pain that they have suffered through they still believed in God that he will take care of them. This was really something good that they never gave up hope in anything weather it was a good or even bad situations they still have love of God in their lives.
Modern parallels that I made of this would be to compare it to other countries that are being treated today. They were not necessarily slaves, but they had to follow certain kinds of laws. Such countries that I would compare to is some countries in Africa and Iraq. Some of them who live there are treated unfairly, they do not have rights or even peace in their own lives and a lot conflicts is war in their lives. They are being ruled by different authority that control them, and different governments that wants them to things that they do not want to do. They are being controlled constantly, in ways that need to end some how. 
Relation to the context is that it relates to Martin Luther's reformation or even known as his preaching. He had a fear to the lower class because he as afraid of what he would expect from the situation of the peasants. His position was social and the economic issues, with his authority the peasants felt betrayal from him. Martin Luther went on to have support of the upper class or the princes, he ordered for the peasants to be killed in any way. The war went out and the peasants revolved against Martin Luther.

Charter of Homage and Fealty of Bernard Atton, A. D. 1110.

The theme for this weeks reading is taken place during the middle ages, and it is when the Feudal System comes and takes place. The Feudal System is based on the hold of lands in fief or fee on the resulting relations between the Lord and the Vassal. The concept of this system started when Benard Atton came to St. Marys,Viscount of Carcassonne, he wanted to serve Lord Leo, so in order to do this he came to festival to show his honor and respect with the traditions that were being held there. He wanted to serve Lord Leo and the lands of Carcassone. In order for this to truly happen was when the Feudal System was coming into place, when Lord Leo hands down the lands down to Beanard Atton. During this process Lord Leo starts to promise that he will be good and loyal to the lands. Atton promised that the farms and villages will go to the monastery which is considered to be the house of monks. Even if the monks were part of that certain house they would still get some of the farms and villages. With knowing this Atton wanted to equal out every thing with monks and it seemed it was done through the Feudal System. The Background that I have found on the Carcassone was that it is rich in history, it had involved many different events with different types of settlements being taken place. It is also bound to the middle ages, and it is often called " The City of the Albigenses" which is the name that comes from the city of Albi. In 3500 years B.C. was when the neolithic settled in the region. In 118 B.C. was when the Foundation of the Roman colony called "Colonia Norbo Martius" today which it is known as Narbonne. The Phrase that stood out to me was " I promise to thee and they heirs and successors,viscounts of Carcassonne,under the religion of my order, that I will be good and faithful lord concerning all those things described above." I think that reason I chose this phrase was that in the time period during the middle ages, the words of a lord seemed to be actually true. They seemed to have better understanding on running their kingdom and actually be concerned on what goes on. They seemed to have hope, happiness, freedom, and have equality. I started to think about how times were back then were they getting better? or were they worst then before? it was just something curious that crossed my mind, and I believed it was a time that was growing and learning about what people truly wanted in order to live their lives and be happy. The best part about reading this was when Lord Leo actually said I will be loyal and good, just saying that seems to be true and he wants his kingdom to be happy not only for him and but for others. Again as I said before the time back then seemed to be more fair then it was ever before with the conflicts of religion. This time I believed was a different view sure they had religion, but it seemed more right at this point. Nobody was being forced to really do anything sure there were some slaves and other things, but the religion seemed freely. I think this time was again different and more growing and learning process for the middle ages, but a lot of them wanted to make a difference in a good way that would help every body. Some of the Lords or Kings actually seemed to kept their word, but again you have to think of some other rulers who were not so much loyal and good in ways. I love learning about this time frame it is one of my favorites, just the theme of it seems so interesting in ways that makes you think what it actually was like in those times. What were hard and good times during this period and what kind of conflicts of religion was occurring, so much in this time frame to learn from. It is very interesting learning about the middle ages. Modern parallels would be to compare our world today with the government and all of the political offices, and conflicts being involved today. It seems hectic and confusing nothing can ever be simple, they either to make some issue good then it ends up to be really horrible. It just seemed that they can not keep their own word that something will work out if they do this specific thing a way that can be better. This is when I started to think that middle ages and some of today issues were similar but being solved in different ways. such issues would be picking somebody to rule. I think today there are times when America is lied to when the government or any political office will keep their word, and they seem to not be loyal to us. In the middle ages the ruler made promises did he keep them possibly, but you do not know for sure till you actually study them. I see both middle ages and today similar and different on some levels Relating to the text I think would be in Chapter 8 when Charlemangne wanted be crowned to be king and the pope was giving the coronation. This does not really relate to Feudal system exactly, but I think it can be an issue when with him being crowned people started questioning if he was going to be the right one or not to rule the kingdom or empire of some kind. But I believe that this could relate to the people getting the right to be equal and Atton wanted the monks and to be honest. I believe that the people wanted Charlemangne to be honest and loyal to rule for the right reasons. Even though they did not want him, they just wanted to have a say who should rule. They did not think he was right may be by his actions, but Atton seemed good and honest just like Lord Leo almost.

The Islamic Conquest of Spain

    The theme for this weeks reading is the Muslims advancing more into the European area, with their conquest of Spain taking over the lands and creating their own civilization.

      Some Sources that I have found on my own was that the Muslim general Tariq Ziyad was the one who was able to carry out the Spanish coast in 710. I also found out the the Islamic of Spain had three great monotheistic religions: Muslims, Christianity and Jews. The Muslims central rule or the heartland that was being conquered was Southern Spain or is known as Andulusia.

      Ideas that stood out to me was when Ilyan had sent his one of his daughters to Roderic, and he ended up getting her pregnant and this showed how women were treated. Some of the women were abused and taken advantage of fairly often back then. Women were becoming slaves or hostages to these men and there was no trust any more between men or woman it had become chaos. The chaos of trust over things such as land had turned out to be war along with other terrible things that were beginning to occur. It did not really surprise me about women being treated unequally towards men, because women did not have any rights what so ever over any thing, and it seemed they were just to be taken advantage to be slaves or hostages nothing really special. They have been controlled by men constantly it became something that they could never escape from. Another part of this reading that stood out for was when it mentioned that Muslims were cannibals when they were only to get attention of Tarik and his army it became a counteract. This just showed me how they were go so far to get the attention from them. It also showed me how they were sort of being judge in some kind of way when they pulled that counteract, they just assumed that the Muslims were cannibals instead of just starting to get to know them better as people or as a culture. Another Idea came to mind that Tarik was able to give the treasury and hand it to Musa, and this showed that he was loyal. I was thinking that in this time frame that people were not really easy to trust because of so much land and treasure that was being taken over. 

      Some ideas that I generated was the exchanging of women and how they were actually being treated between the men. They did not have any rights for themselves and they were constantly being controlled by their fathers, husbands or even their slave owners. It also mentioned the Muslims counteracting about cannibalism I thought it was weird and awkward, it just seemed to me that there are some religions who do awkward things to people who are unfamiliar with their religion or how they treat people within their own religion. Another idea that I generated was that majority of this conquering was over land, how much was being taken over and who was owning the most land it seemed like to me. The land was an issue it was becoming something that everyone wanted to have.

    Parallels that I was able to see was able to see was that women were being controlled in this period and that it still carries on today by arrange marriages in some countries such as India. I believe it is something that has always been around and it is something that has never changed. The second thing was again the cannibalism and that it shows how some cultures tend to awkward disturbing things to people whether it is in their culture or not. Today what I have learned is that there are cultures who torture women if they disobey some how towards their men or their laws that they have to follow. Even with men they are torture if they disobeyed the laws that were given to them. After learning this both men and women get treated unequally if they tortured in some horrible drastic way, some of this takes place in the country such as Iraq. I believe this kind of torture and controlling has been carried on for the longest time in history and it is still carried on today.I believe that it is some what worst today then when it was back in that time period of the Islamic.

      One thing that is related to the text book is that Spain was one of the greatest civilizations that was created by the Muslims, and it was carried on into the tenth century by Umayyad Caliphate.

   

The Early History of Hellenes

The theme that I believed of this would be the Hellenes were really trying to live their own lives. They never stayed in one place they were always moving trying to find a descent place to actually live. While they were trying to live peacefully they actually ended up in the middle of a war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians. The Athenians came to build an army and starting to control, so in a way the Hellenes were in war between them. They seemed to be one of the civilizations to actual struggle through their life. Something that I have researched while reading this is that Thucydides was an Athenian who was a Greek Historian, he was known as the father of "Scientific History". Because he had strict standards of evidence-gathering and analysis with the terms of cause and effect without having the references of mentioning Gods, unlike how Homer believed the references of Gods. While reading this I have realized that there was more conflict and war between the different civilizations. When the Hellenes the Hellenes were having trouble to just survive they were in a place where they were between war, and they seemed to be able not to escape what so ever from the war,and it seemed that there were armies taking over them. They seemed lost and became controlled in a lot of ways by the Athenians and the Peloponnesians. I was thinking a lot about the Hellenes about what they went through just to live their own lives and you start to really think about all of the other civilizations that were forming and their own struggles. You never realize how far they have come to survive from war and other conflicts involved back in Greece rather it is good or bad. At the end of reading this it made think about all of civilizations in the world, and this what came to mind for me. What were some other civilizations struggles? what conflicts did they go through? I had a lot questions about this, but after reading about the Hellenes it was sort of an eye opener for me in many ways. History has a lot to offer to us, but I believe it is up to us to understand it and just learn about the past. With the Hellenes going through their struggles with their life, it made me think about out our own struggles today in life. We have war going on today in Iraq, we had terrorism occur, and other conflicts in life. Think about it we live in a world of conflicts, so we could actually be a civilization trying to live a peaceful life just like how the Hellenes were in Greece. Knowing this we do have conflicts, but there are times we could escape them and there are others we can not. The Hellenes for that matter could not escape, so they were being controlled in a lot of ways. For us today we do have freedom, government, and we have more power then the Hellenes ever did for there own lives. Civilizations went through war to have peace, just like America has to do today in Iraq. The ideas relate to the Hellenes with their conflicts that they had went through to live as a civilization, they were between a war and being controlled. They could not escape from the conflicts, so they had to just go with whatever that was coming at them. This became harder for them to just live a life to survive through, and when the war was going on with them in the middle it became harder for them to be free.

Reading One

The Theme of reading " The Babylonian Epic of Creation" is considered to be the creation of the Earth. It went through a process of creating life on Earth, and the different understandings of creating Earth and life existing before today ever existed. It was something that took a long time to understand of what Earth was going to be like. what I have researched about this creation is that the Enum Elish was officially recited every April on the fourth day of the Babylonian New year festival and it went on for eleven days. When I was reading through this the one thing that sort of stood out to me was that Aspu wanted to kill his own children. That was something that surprised me, and it was a thought to me that, why would any body want to kill their own children? I thought about that when I have finished and it was something that became shocking to me. Ideas that came to mind to me was knowing that when this creation was taking place never did I think that killing or any kind of violence would be taking place. When reading that Aspu wanted to kill his own children you actually think about that God loved his children, and you would think that parents cherished their own children until you start to read about what Aspu wanted. Parallels that I could take from this to our own worlds would be the child abuse that is occurring today and from " The Babylonian epic Creation". It seemed that both of them were similar in some ways, and today you see or hear of how children are being treated by parents. You see this on the news so many times and knowing that this child abuse occurred in the Creation. This was something so surprising to me that this abuse could have lasted since the beginning to now. This relates to text by when Aspu wanting to kill his own children for punishment in some way. He wanted them to have discipline and the only way that he thought could be possible was to kill them. It seemed that he did not really cherish his own children such as his wife did, but again he thought to kill them was the only way possible.