The 12 Articles of the German Peasants, 1524

The Theme of "The 12 Articles of the German Peasants" is that of what the peasants want from the government. The things that they thought was there God given right. The part that stuck out the most to me was this "Likewise, if more complaints should be discovered which are based upon truth and the Scriptures and relate to offenses against God and our neighbor, we have determined to reserve the right to present these also, and to exercise ourselves in all Christian teaching. For this we shall pray to God, since he can grant our demand, and he alone." This really got me thinking about how they said that this is what they are given in scripture and if it goes against what is written then they are null.

The new ideas that this made me think are how the peasant knew that they were not being treated right and they had the great idea to change it. This made me think about how if something I thought about was wrong then I should do something to change it. Whatever it may be, one way or another I should step up and do something to change it.

You can relate this to many of the different organizations that are all trying to end something or bring awareness to something. Some of the groups are like the ones that are bringing awareness to sex trafficking and invisible children. They know something is wrong and they are doing something to change it or they are at least trying to change it. They are doing what the German Peasants did.

This relates to the text to how there were many different civil revolts among the people. The one thing that is different with what the German Peasants did is that they did not fight with their fist but with their words. The revolts or revelation that happened but they way that those happened where not as smart as how the Peasants did it. The Peasants did it in a way that will become more common in history. 

The Journal of Christopher Columbus

The theme of the reading was how the native people and Christopher Columbus. "As the Indians are so simple, and the Spaniards so avaricious and grasping, it does not suffice that the Indians should give them all they want in exchange for a bead or a bit of glass but the Spaniards would take everything without any return at all. The Admiral always prohibits this..." This stood out to me because the face the Columbus would not let them take everything shows good charter. This also shows how the Spaniards really act and it is not respectful.

This reading had me thinking about what it would be like to discover a new place and have new in counters with people. It would be thrilling to go travel to a place you have never been and no one has ever tried to go. The things that must have been going through Columbus' head when going through this would be so interesting. Columbus' did something that not many other people could do.

The modern parallels are how everyone whats to be the first to do whatever. To be the first to do something is everything to everyone. Everyone whats to make a name for themselves. Christopher Columbus made a name for himself and showed everyone a new world and because of that everyone whats to be the first to do anything. If they are not the first then they have to be the best.

This relates to the text with how everyone was trying to do what was best for themselves to show that they were the best at anything or to show that they had the most power. This is what ends up fueling the world into the exploration of the new world. Who knows what will come next with everyone trying to be the best.

Anonimalle Chronicles English Peasants' Revolt 1381

The theme of the reading was that of how the King treated the peasants in his kingdom and how they went about to change it. "Presently Wat Tighler, in the presence of the King, sent for a flagon of water to rinse him mouth, because of the great heat that he was in, and when it was brought he rinsed him mouth in a very rude and disgusting fashion before the King's face." I found that the way he disrespected the King was uncalled for but at the same time it was needed to help the revolt. Because for the revolt to be successful it is needed to show the King no respect at all. 

The thought that you need to take great measures to show someone something really stood out. The fact that they were willing to do what they had to, to revolt was impressive. I do not think I could do that to someone even if I had to, because I do not like to be mean to anyone, at all. I like to look at the good in everyone, but they looked past that and saw what the King really was and had the want to change it. 

This connects to what went on in Iraq. Yes, they need help but they wanted to revolt against their rule because of the way they were being treated. This show that what happened in the past can still happen again. It might happen the same way it may not but it still can happen. 

This relates to the text with the Italian Renaissance in how they wanted to change something and they worked hard to change it. They had the want to change it and they did. Just like the Peasants' did in their revolt against the King. In both cases they did not wait for someone to come along and change what they did not like the took charge and changed it themselves.    

Urban II's Speech at Clermont

The theme of this reading is about what the Pope says to his people about the way things are with all the people. This was important for the Pope to be able to write and talk to the people. This lets the people know that the Pope is not high up to talk to the common people. It also helps the common people to know what the Pope is talking about.

"When Pope Urban had said these and very many similar things in his urbane discourse, he so influenced to one purpose the desires of all who were present, that they cried out, "It is the will of God! It is the will of God!" This stood out to me for two reasons, first was because it talks about things that the Pope had said and how the people responded to what the Pope had said. The second reason this stood out to me is what the people said in response to the Pope, "It is the will of God!" it is kind of weird how of all things that is what they said.

This reading got me to think about religion, mine and the religions of the time. The religion of the time was so much more structured than the religion of the time being. I wish that religion now a days was like it was back then. The structured gave the people a balance in their life and balance is something that I would find helpful in  the world today. Religion is something that the world could use to help keep more peace in the world.

This relates to the reading in how religion was what controlled the time period and what the people did. Religion was not something to be taken lightly. The Pope was the high of the high and people were to look up to him. He was who people did look too in times of need and the fact that the Pope wrote to his people did the Pope a lot of good he was there for them to look up to.

Pope Gregory II- Appeal to Charles Martel

The theme of what Pope Gregory II was that his son is going to be protected no matter what others have to say about it. "You, oh son, will receive favor from the same prince of apostle of all our woes to your faithful subject" this phrase stood out to me because it is saying that he will not only receive favor but the same favor as the prince of the apostle. That is hard to think about that someone could receive that kind of favor. Is that even really possible to receive that kind of favor? I honestly do not think that you can receive that kind of favor because it is so great and the prince of apostle, St Peter, not only lived in the time of Jesus but he walked with Jesus and followed him.

This reading made me think about how can you really know if you have favor coming your way. People can say that you have favor but they are just people and people do not always say the truth. So, can we as people who might follow Christ really receive the same favor as those that walked with Christ? I think that the favor is not the same kind of favor but as Christ followers you will have more favor than those who choose to turn their head on Christ. But that is not to say that we will have the same favor as the prince of the apostle, who himself was only a person but he was a person who follow not only what Christ said but Christ himself.

This is hard to connect to today but at the same time easy. People are always saying that you have favor over others but like I have said before how can one person have more favor over others and how can one say that you have favor? You really can not say that you have favor but yet people say it all the time. It does not matter what time period it is, it is always being said. Favor is favor no matter how you put it. That is why no one person can have favor over another.

The Pope Gregory II is telling his most excellent son, Karl, Sub-King about how because they have defended there church of God and his chosen people that favor is on them. Favor can not be something that is given to you just because you think it should. It is something that just happens to you.

Thucydides: On the Early History of the Hellenes

I believe that the theme of the reading was not just the early history of the Hellenes but how their way of life changed over time. The fact that they migrated many different times seems different from what we know. "Living in this manner and knowing that they could anywhere obtain a bare subsistence, they were always ready to migrate; so that they had neither great cities nor any considerable resources." This stood out to me because just being able to pick up and move somewhere is so different for me because the first time I moved was to college. They were like no mads, they never really had a place to call home, but they still knew how to provide for themselves and their families. The thought of being no mads is so intriguing, because they know how to survive with very little.

This reading generated the ideas of how life would be if I was always moving around. The fact that they were always ready to migrate at anytime but at the same time keeping their culture true with how they were. That would be very hard to do with always moving around, you would think that they would lose some of their culture and gain some of the culture around them every time that they migrate. This idea also had me thinking that if you are always ready to migrate then you most likely do not have to many enemies. That is a good and a bad thing because anyone and no one is their enemies and that is most likely why they were always ready to migrate.

You can see how the Hellenes history relates to the history of many people living in America. The Hellenes never really had a homeland and many of the people living in America, you can trace their history back to where this is not their homeland. But as the people that came to America now call it their homeland, the Hellenes did end up having a place to call their own homeland. You can also see how they could sustain a way of life by living with very little, is not something you see much any more. People depend to much one things that can be taken from them. The Hellenes never had any considerable resources, thus they did not depend on the unnecessary thing.

Hellenes carried weapons on them, which is not something you see anymore. Most people do not have to carry their weapons on them because they believe that they are safe without weapons on them. The Hellenes had to carry their weapons because their homes were undefended and unsafe. That is not how it is in present time, at least most people believe that is not how it is. Weapons soon became not as much a need as they settled down and were able to get a army to defended their home land, like most places have in place now.