The Amazing Eva Peron and "Her Amazing Dead Body"

                    When Eva Peron's corpse became first taken, its journey began. It was said that wherever it went, flowers and lighted candles would appear. In 1957, it ended up in Italy--a Milan cemetery, under a pseudonym. Ironically enough, her absence, physically, resulted in the growth of her "power" as a symbol of resistance. When Eva's body was seen again, it had various imperfections, such as a missing finger, a dented nose, and blows to the face and chest, as well as marks to the back. It was suspected that the corpse had been stuffed into a too-small coffin.

                    The restoration of the body was difficult. Her feet were really messed up, and there were damages everywhere. However, the internal conservation was very nice, and the original embalming work persisted through the test of time. She was displayed again to the public after restoration, and the man who restored her received many threats. Soon after, the government was, again, overthrown, and the remains of Eva Peron were finally put to rest in a fortified, underground crypt.

World War II Maps (there weren't definitely not enough maps)

Map 1: This map shows where the allegiances of the Eastern Hemisphere of the world lay, on a timeline.

Map 2: This map shows that the Allied powers had larger economies than the Axis powers.

Map 3: This map shows what territory the Allied powers took away from Germany and which empires collapsed.

Map 4: This map shows Japanese infiltration into China.

Map 5: This map shows which areas of Czechoslovakia had the most German-speakers.

Map 6: This map shows how territorial changes did not go as planned due to invasions and annexations.

Map 7: This map shows how Russia invaded Finland during the "winter war" and how they did not infiltrate too deeply due to stiff resistance and the freezing climate.

Map 8: This map shows that France's heavy defense, known as the Maginot Line, stopped a handful of invasions coming in from the East.

Map 9: This map shows that the British, being surrounded on three sides, escaped towards the sea.

Map 10: This map shows Germany's failed air invasion of Britain and how there were only a few paratroopers landed on the coast.

Map 11: This map shows Hitler's brutality and how many areas were targeted, as well as how spirited the British were to continue fighting after this abundance of bombing.

Map 12: This map shows who controlled what areas of France during the war.

Map 13: This map shows the gradual, and successful, overtaking of Belorussia by Nazi forces.

Map 14: This map shows forces from all directions coming in on Leningrad, as well as an attack on a supply route.

Map 15: This map shows the statistics of sunken ships and such from the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor.

Map 16: This map shows Japanese plans to dominate the Pacific, targeting all the islands.

Map 17: This map shows the Japanese march on Bataan Island, which trapped a lot of people.

Map 18: This map shows Nazi forces slowly infiltrating Russia, but getting halted at Stalingrad.

Map 19: This map shows the struggle between Rommel and Wavell on the North African coastline.

Map 20: This map shows a chronological, color-coded timeline of France's conquests in Africa.

Map 21: This map shows the invasion of Italy by the Allies, centered mostly around the southwestern coastline.

Map 22: This map shows which countries and what division of military attacked the Normandy beaches, with assault coming in from most directions.

Map 23: This map shows advancements in the troops of the Allied forces in Europe.

Map 24: This map shows that the Soviet Union suffered the most deaths, with Germany second.

Map 25: This map shows massive aircraft carriers in World War II, demonstrating the vast technological power of the countries.

Map 26: This map shows the power of radar in the war, and how it served great purpose in defense lines.

Map 27: This map shows all the sites relevant to the development of atomic bombs, such as research centers and facilities.

Map 28: This map shows the layout of Bletchley Park, a center for code-breaking.

Map 29: This map shows the blueprint for a German V-2 rocket.

Map 30: This map shows how American ships overpowered the Japanese fleet in the Battle of Midway.

Map 31: This map shows the Japanese defeat at Leyte Gulf, as American aircraft and ships completely overpowered and outnumbered them.

Map 32: This map shows the range of affected Japanese land from the atomic bombs.

Map 33: This map shows how much of the city was on fire and how far the damage spread.

Map 34: This map shows the percentage of Jews in each country that were killed.

Map 35: This map shows the birth of an actual country for Israeli people, and how they became strong enough to beat back invading armies.

Map 36: This map shows the four zones of influence that Germany was split up into, as well as the airlift that spared West Berlin from Communist domination.

Map 37: This map shows the four phases of the Korean War and how the territory each side owned grew and shrank.

Map 38: This map shows the entire continent of Africa gradually getting their freedom from European colonialism, from 1950-2011.

Map 39: This map shows the amount of U.S. military bases in Germany and how they are now useful to Germany's defense and economy.

Map 40: This map shows the U.S. military bases in Japan, which causes tensions.

Map 41: This map shows the growth of the members of the European Union, strengthening the relations between the major powers of the continent.

Map 42: This map shows the gradual increase of members in the United Nations, which soon had the participation of more or less the whole world.

OMG AP History is Bad for America!!!!

               An Oklahoma state legislator wrote a bill, trying to ban AP US History, and this started a major national controversy. He is now rewriting it, but there is a high probability that it won't be the last word on this issue. Many critics of this AP class complain that it focuses too much on the negative side in America's history, and school boards want the class to promote American patriotism, instead of what they call "civil disorder." Besides those problems, there was also a major issue with "editing" history--in the new framework for the class, major events and historical figures, such as the Holocaust and George Washington, aren't mentioned at all. People have fired words such as "biased" and "inaccurate" about the new framework, regarding as to whether or not high schoolers should be given this curriculum of history.

               However, despite all of this negativity, there are still supporters of the new framework. Historians have risen to its defense, arguing that it better reflects America's "complex, unsettling, provocative and compelling" history--history in its most honest form. People also argue that the curriculum does not promote disobedience to the law, as it would be detrimental to the actual teaching of subjects such as the American Revolution. and the Civil Rights Movement. I think that the AP US History class should be taught accurately to history, and that it doesn't matter if the U.S. is painted in a good or bad light. After all, history is history, and if that's how history made a certain issue, nation, or person look, then that's how it should be.

THE AN INDUSTRAL RIVOLUSHUN

Europe:

1. What was the impact of European population growth on industry?
European population growth caused industry to expand rapidly because a large amount of creative inventors appeared, and the agricultural system became extremely productive and wealthy.

2. What were the results of the first organization of workers?
The first organization of workers achieved higher wages and shorter work days--from a demand of 12 hour work days to one of 10 hour work days.
            
3. Why did industry reach the Netherlands so relatively late?
Industry reached the Netherlands late because it was covered in a large number of waterways and lacked a sufficient amount of natural resources. These problems made it difficult to build up heavy industry and to construct railroads.
                  
Belgium:

4. How did Napoleon impact the development of industry in Belgium?
Napoleon affected Belgium's industry development in a positive way. He abolished old guilds and introduced freedom of trade.

5. Which industries developed in Belgium?  Why did those develop?
The textile industry boomed in Belgium because of a Briton who installed the first woolen spinning machine in the country, thus establishing the foundations for a textile boom. Canal building expanded because of the need for improvement in transportation. Railway building boomed as well.

6. How did infrastructure in Belgium improve?
The transportation system was greatly improved due to accelerated canal and railway building.
                                     
France:

7. What characteristics in France discouraged industrial innovation?  
France lacked natural resources such as iron and coal, which was very scarce.     

8. How did French social structures dictate which industries developed?
The French aristocracy wanted furniture, porcelain, leather goods, and silk, so those were the industries that developed most.

9. Which industries developed in France late? Why did it happen late?
The coal mining industry developed late due to coal scarcities and a longstanding, heavy reliance on timber.
   
Germany:

10. Why did industrial development occur late in Germany?
Germany was divided into a number of small states, and the traditional guild privileges had not been abolished.
                     
11. What was the impact of the German Customs Union?
The German Customs Union abolished trade barriers between states.
                          
12. In which industries did Germany become the leader in Europe?
Germany became the leader of mining, ironworks, steel, and railways industries.        

Great Britain:

13.  Which other industries developed because of the steam engine?
Textile, iron, coal, and railway industries expanded due to the development of the steam engine.
                         
Luxembourg:

14. How did Luxembourg benefit from German industrialization?
Luxembourg entered the German Customs Union, and its transportation communications system was improved.
      
15. Why were they so successful at producing iron?
They were successful at producing iron because they developed an improved iron-producing process, called the Minette ore.
                                      
Netherlands:

16. Was the Netherlands' economic success before industrialization something that helped industry develop or slowed development? Why?
The Netherlands' economic success before industrialization slowed development. This was because, since they were already successful, pre-mechanization, the sudden use of machines caused them to lose a lot of industries.

17. Which industries did develop in the Netherlands?
Textile mills, ironworks, coal, and steel developed in the Netherlands.
                                   
Norway:

18. What were the earliest industries in Norway?
The earliest industry in Norway was fishing, and early small factories produced soap, bricks, glass, iron, and beer.
                                           
19. How did water power development change Norway's economy?
Water development enabled Norway to  have eleven water power stations, and industries thrived on the cheap, mass-produced energy.
  
Spain:

20. What kinds of mining industries were successful in Spain? 
In Spain, iron, coal, cinnabar, mercury, copper, gold, silver, sulfur, and coal were successful mining industries.                   

Revolutions are SUPER DUPER FUN!!!

           The French and American Revolutions had many similarities, such as their beginnings which were due to civil unrest, and differences, such as the economic state each were in at the time of war. For example, in the French Revolution, they were not economically stable due to having just come out of the Seven Year's War, but in the American Revolution, the colonists were slightly more economically stable with their cash crops and plantations and such.

          A similarity between the revolutions is that they both arose because of injustice felt by the civilians. The monarchies were treating them inhumanly, violating what philosophers of the Enlightenment had stated as basic human rights. 

          A second similarity is that the civil unrest that caused both revolutions also stemmed from increased taxes. Different tax acts that the British government imposed on the colonies, as well as the join stock companies' monopolies, caused the colonists to have to unfairly pay high taxes on basic necessities. In France, heavy debt from the Seven Year's War caused taxes to have to be raised, and the people felt this was terrible and unjust. This affected both Britain and France.

          A third similarity is the conclusion of an official document at the end of each revolution. The American Revolution ended with the Constitution, and the French had their Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. They did this because they wanted a clear and official guide to how the reformed country would run, and to set down some firm, anti-tyranny rules.

          One difference between the revolutions is the economic stability of both countries during their revolutions. The French were suffering in a lot of debt from the Seven Year's War when they launched into the revolution, while the colonies were not. They had not participated in too many wars, and they were doing well with plantations, crops, and trade.

          Another difference is that during the French Revolution, the people with power--the nobility--revolted against the central control, but in the American Revolution, the people with a little more power were sided with the British government. The nobles in France hated the taxes being imposed and rebelled, but in America, the loyalists went against the poorer patriots.

          A difference that occurred sometime after the end of both revolutions is which directions of government each country took. After the American Revolution was over, a democracy was immediately put in place, and the Constitution was followed. However, after the French Revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte came in and took over, turning the country into a dictatorship, while in America, George Washington eventually came to be President of a democracy by popular vote.

Ottoman Arts and Stuffs

Ottoman Art

          The Ottoman Turks were particularly well-known for their architecture, and they built a number of public buildings, mosques, and caravanserais--roadside inns for travelers--as well as keeping up with traditions such as calligraphy and miniature painting. Their decorative arts were famous too, and these included carpet weaving, jewelry making, paper marbling, and--special to their culture--Iznik ware ceramics. The Ottoman mosques and other architecture were first modeled off Byzantine styles, like the ones seen in the Hagia Sophia, and Ottomans were able to master the technique of creating large inner spaces that topped off with huge, vast domes, complete with tasteful articulations of light and shadow. There were numerous vaults, domes, square dome plans, slender corner minarets, and columns in their mosques, and this remained basically uniform throughout the empire. During the high classical period found in Turkey, the Balkans, Hungary, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, many mosques, bridges, fountains, and schools were built. A particular mosque with striking aesthetics is the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, which is flanked by four tall minarets and crowned by a monumental dome. The interior is lit by a number of tiny windows that caused the tiled walls to glitter. Miniature painting was a skill that involved a team of painters--the head painter designed the composition and his apprentices drew the contours and painted it in. Coloring was provided by ground powder pigments mixed with egg whites or diluted gum arabic. This resulted in vibrant, brilliant colors, the most common of which were bright red, green, and varying shades of blue. Paintings were stylized and abstract to aim towards an infinite and transcendent reality, although, as time progressed, they became more realistic due to influence from the European baroque and Rococo styles. Carpet weaving was particularly significant during this time, and they were used as decorative furnishings and for practical value, used on floors, walls, and doors which provided additional insulation. They were intricately knotted carpets made up of either silk or a combination of silk and cotton. The patterns on the carpets were most often full of religious symbols and other types of symbolism. Hereke silk carpets, made in the coastal town of Hereke, were the most valuable of Ottoman carpets due to fine weave and were typically used to furnish royal palaces. The Ottoman gold and silver smiths were renowned for their skill, able to make jewelry with complex designs and incorporate various Persian and Byzantine motifs in them. Their ceramics were also famous, particualrly Iznik pottery, which was produced in western Anatolia. It consisted of high quality pottery made of fritware and was painted cobalt blue under colorless lead glaze. Detailed designs combining Ottoman arabesque patterns with Chinese elements were made upon it.

Mughal Art

          Mughal Art was an eclectic style that was shaped by major influence from the European Renaissance, Persian sources, and Indian traditions. Its most significant contribution to the Indian subcontinent was architecture. Shah Jahan, the fifth emperor, brought about the golden age of Mughal architecture and arts, with the construction of many beautiful monuments--the Pearl Mosque, the Red fort, the Jama Masjid of Delhi, and the Lahore Fort. His most famous piece of architecture is known worldwide today--the Taj Mahal, built in memory of his third wife. It stands on a square plinth and is completely symmetrical, featuring an iwan--an arch-shaped doorway. The Taj Mahal is topped by a large dome and finial. Its basic elements are Persian in origin. The Taj Mahal's base structure is a large cube with many chambers and chamfered corners, basically forming an unequal octagon. Each side has a huge pishtaq (vaulted archway) which frames the iwan with two similar, arched balconies stacked on opposite sides. This motif is replicated on the chamfered corner areas, so the design is absolutely symmetrical on all sides of the building. Four minarets frame the tomb, with one on each corner of the plinth. They are facing the chamfered corners. However, the most spectacular feature of the Taj Mahal is its giant marble dome. Because of its shape, it is often referred to as an onion dome, or amrud (guava dome). Its shape is further emphasized by four smaller onion-domed kiosks, known as chattris, placed at its corners. The dome and chattris are topped by a gilded finial, and this finial is topped by a moon, which is an Islamic motif. The minarets were built to fall away from the tomb, in case of collapse, and constructed slightly outside the plinth. Mughal painting was a unique blend of Indian and Persian styles, with a combination of certain motifs, naturalistic effects, and structuring principles from both cultures, as well as from European Renaissance and Mannerist painting. The Mughals overthrew the Muslim tradition of miniature painting and developed their own. Soon, the Mughals delved into realistic painting, mostly centering around animals and plants. Memories and diaries of Mughal emperors depicted rich scenes from nature, court life, hunting, and battles, as well as portraits and portrayals of varying events.

Happy Birthday, le Magna Carta!!11!1!!!11!

Summary:

The Magna Carta was a treaty, designed to avert civil war and to take away some of King John's power. He had gone head to head with some powerful barons, and everyone was angry and threatening. However, King John was not wrongly accused of doing wrong: he expelled monks from Canterbury, alienated Pope Innocent III as well as many barons, spent too much money trying to keep his hold on France, and oppressed the people with his overpowering rule. Soon, faced with the threat of crumbling peace, a tumultuous country, and invasion, King John sued for peace with the Pope. This did not appease the barons, and there was a rebellion. Rebels fought and took over London, and King John FINALLY stopped being a stubborn butt and agreed to come to terms with them--terms that made up the Magna Carta. At the time, this document didn't seem all that important or revolutionary. It was ultimately a failure, and only a month later, King John asked for its annulation. The Pope agreed. Despite this failure at conception, overtime, it proved to be extremely significant in the shaping of history.It was used by radicals to portray themselves as conservatives, which was beneficial to their goals of rebelling and going against common beliefs. It also spoke directly to the Anglo-Saxon urge of justifying the past, using the present as evidence--changing everything around them, while turning a blind eye and faking complete normality. 

Questions:

1. OMG what was the king's hostage doing to her son??!!??!

• When the doors were finally opened to have their corpses removed, they realized that the woman had been chewing on her son's cheek. Gour-mom food. aha. aha.

2. At the time, what was England's relationship with its neighbors?

• It was rocky due to England becoming a oppressive, rogue nation, and countries such as France, Wales, Scotland, and Rome were planning on overthrowing England.

3. Why did King John agree to the Magna Carta?

• He agreed because there were rebels overtaking the country, and they had already gained ground in London.

4. What was the impact of the Magna Carta at the time?

• Nada. No impact. It was a failure at its conception because, of course, the King did not obey its commands and had it annulled after a month of its existence.

5. How did later kings use the charter to their advantage?

• William Marshal, successor to King John, led the royal troops into battle against the French and held victory over them. After this success, he reissued the Charter and turned it into "the monarchy's most powerful weapon." The former rebels did not have a cause to stand up for anymore, and the previously fervent rebellion died away. Later, Henry III reissued the Charter yet again, and most of the witnesses to it were, in face, former rebels.

6. How did Edward Coke revive the importance of the charter?

• Edward Coke and a group of others revived the Magna Carta, keen to show that they were traditionalists and not revolutionaries. He based his claims on the Magna Carta, and although some of them were complete nonsense, he was able to point out that the Magna Carta did establish the rightful limits of power on the monarchy. He was able to base the Petition of Rights off of the Magna Carta, which Charles I was forced to sign.

7. How did American colonial leaders use the Magna Carta?

• The Massachusetts Assembly used it to justify their protesting of the unfair taxes that British Parliament imposed upon them, saying it was "against the Magna Carta..." The First Continental Congress also justified their rebellion with the Magna Carta, saying that what they were doing was parallel to what past Englishmen had done to assert their liberties. The American Bill of Rights also bares striking similarities to certain parts of the Magna Carta.

8. Why is the Magna Carta more important to modern Americans     
than to the British?

• It has been able to shape American history more heavily than it has British history. References to it are made all the time in modern-day legal cases all over America, and it is highly codified in jury instructions.