Chapter 2 The Rise of the Atlantic world

When I think about Africa, I think of how less civilized, and the challenges they face with having a lack of resources, basically being poor. It was surprising to read how some parts of Africa were civilized more than certain parts are today, such as how it was dominated by trade and gold. It was interesting to read how in African religion they believe there is another world that their souls go too.

It's discouraging to read how, when Columbus discovered these lands, how he badly affected each one by bringing diseases to the people. To think about how many deaths he caused, or how these diseases could have practically killed a whole community, that unfortunately we do not know about today. Columbus is not known for the bad, the death he brought to the new lands, but instead only he is recognized for power he brought back to the Europeans. During the time Columbus has found these new lands Europe was in its time of the Renaissance. The Renaissance sparks my attention, and is very enlightening to me. It was a start of bringing knowledge to society and knowledge that we need to know today, and it had a big impact to today’s society. Since it introduced major and important subjects such as medicine, science, and philosophy, it allows us in today’s society to explore more in depth, and find new discoveries, that may benefit our lives. If I could I would go back in time and relive the Renaissance, to me it was a time of knowledge, beauty in art, and exploring the unknown, taking risks, it was an exciting time. 

I understand that many things changed from now since the 1620, but I found it a bit insulting how women we supposed to act to their husband. I believe there should not be any dominance in a relationship, both the husband and wife should have equal power. The gender schema the Europeans follows in the 1620 I think arose for the Native Americans because the Native America had set roles for genders as well. I think the set roles that were established in the past have influenced the way we see how men and women should act. I do agree how husbands should treat their wives with consideration, but I do not agree with how the wives should give all the authority to their husbands. The gender schema the Europeans establish I find very gender bias, for instances why the male role has to represent God's rule of creation. I find it as a woman and with my religion very insulting. I do understand during that time why these roles were given, and how it was acceptable at that time. I feel because of the gender schema that was determined it has affect the way men have treated woman over time. It has impacted women more and more as time has evolved by taking away their rights, and how they were discriminated. Since Europeans colonized North America, their gender schema has affected women’s future in America. It is interesting to know how male and female roles where first established and to think about how it impacted how we think now of gender schemas.