When you want to acquire more knowledge

This is really random but I find it interesting how attitudes toward knowledge acquisition vary across cultures. You have scientists from Renaissance Europe saying things like "poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master" (Leonardo da Vinci) and "science had to torture nature's secrets out of her" (Francis Bacon). The first one sounds pretty based and epic and motivated me throughout my masters degree if I'm going to be honest. The second one sounds very extractive, like it is making the earth submit to your will and curiosity. 

"Poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master" is very different from something that my mom would always quote to me in Hindi. This was गुरु गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े काको लागूं पायं। बलिहारी गुरु आपने जिन गोविन्द दियो बताय | The speaker of this line is wondering if he should touch the feet of Govind first (a name of the god Krishna) or his guru's (his teacher). Touching someone's feet is a sign of respect in Indian culture. He touches his teacher's feet because he was the one who told him about the god. The teacher is above the god here.

Also I have been reading about Anishinaabe culture and they believe learning can not happen without humility. There is no such thing as an "expert" on anything because we all have so much to learn, and this rejects the European concept that we can have mastery over something. We also can not learn without experiencing the world, interacting with nature and maintaining our holistic well-being. This is different from the European idea of a scholar who stays inside and reads all day and never touches grass. Native people touch more grass than Europeans do. There is also a retelling of a traditional story by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson where she says that the Anishinaabe learned about maple syrup (ninaatigo-ziiwaamigide in Anishinaabemowin I think, idk I am still learning it and I will never master it) from a child and that child learned it from observing a chipmunk. It really shows humility if you believe you can learn something from a child and from nature!! 

Anyway I think someone smarter than me should write about pedagogical approaches in different cultures. Also, the British patterned education is probably terrible for learning outcomes and the well-being of students. 

Why the Dark Ages weren’t so Dark: Revisiting Medieval Europe

A/N: Alright so in this post I'm going to talk about something that a lot of followers of this blog probably don't like much. Europe. Take it as a lighthearted devil's advocate piece until I can do some research to update this blog with a quality post about indigenous culture. I wrote this for Medium. You can read the article at its original source here. 

Imagine yourself in 13th century Western Europe. You probably see yourself as a serf, tied to the land and suffering under the back-breaking labor that your oppressive feudal lords force you to do. Chances are that you’d also be starving and infected with plague because of the extremely unsanitary conditions of the time. If you’re a woman, say goodbye to all personal liberty. Most of your social interaction is done at church, where priests hold sermons in Latin that you don’t understand a word of because you never learned Latin. You never even learned to read, right?

Why do we oversimplify such a culturally rich epoch of European history? Though historians disagree on the exact start and end date of the Middle Ages, most place it somewhere between the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD and Columbus’ voyage to the Caribbean in 1492. This period is considered to be a time of isolation for Europe in which not much trade occurred, and progress in science and technology remained stagnant. Yet new research has shed light on the accomplishments of the time. For example, many centers of learning such as Oxford and the University of Paris were established. Though many resources were lost in the pursuit of alchemy, it helped people to discover many new elements that would later be added to the periodic table. As for the suppression of women’s rights, some inspiring female historical figures still managed to emerge such as Joan of Arc who lead the French army to victory, and the German nun Hildegard von Bingen who studied botany and medicine. Their names have echoed throughout time and still evoke our awe today.

I believe we shouldn’t underestimate the impact that the Middle Ages have had on Western thought, for some of the greatest works of literature emerged from this time. Our ideals of courtly love came from the great chivalric romances, such as Amadeus de Gaulle, in which a heroic brave knight saves a princess from a dragon. Some other epic works of literature like Dante’s Divine Comedy and Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were conceived in this time. The folk songs and fairy tales of today would be nothing without the Middle Ages, for perhaps no other time period in history has captured Western imagination as much. The Dark Ages may not have been the most scientifically advanced or morally enlightened, but they certainly weren’t a dark time for storytelling and singing epic ballads that still endure today.

Happy New Year!

Happy new year, fam! Although the Mexica New Year actually happens in spring. I hope your 2018 will be lit. 

Stolen from Memexica empire Facebook page

Also, check out this super cool new movement that my white internet friend started recently. It's called "Back to Europe" and yes, it's as good as it sounds: https://backtoeuropebte.blogspot.ca/ 

You can also like them on Facebook. 

For now, it looks like they're inspired by the Mexica Movement, which is cool (I'm obsessed with the MM and I know it's definitely an inspiration to all of humanity) but I'm hoping BTE will be a little more original and come up with their own content instead of copying stuff the MM says. 

€uropa MEP

OKAy can I just say that this is the BesT Hetalia video that I have EVEr SeeN?! The art is majestic...The effects and transitions are so on point and epic.The song is a bit controversial though but I love the lyrics. I just hope the singer isn't as anti-Islamic as it seems. The ending was like "Leningrad, Berlin wall, *insert several other events in European history*...... Drop the bomb end this war" I just didn't like that because it was making it sound like violence is a bad thing but then the end lyrics kind of encourage you to use violence. I didn't really like the "Omg ENd the New Caliphate WHOEVEr WiNs WiLL rule for the next 1000 yearS" feels. If it really had to mention religion it should've talked about Norse paganism or something. Goddamn Europeans can't even get along among themselves. Always fighting with each other.More AMVs are needed like this for other/better continents. 

Alternate History Hub: What if the Americas Never Existed?

So I found a Youtube channel recently called Alternate History Hub and I'm obsessed with their videos, especially this one. Give it a watch, fam! The topic of this one is "what if the Americas Never Existed?" (then ¿what would I do with my life? I wouldn't have anyone to obsess over. I wouldn't even be able to eat chocolate.)

Another great video by the same person who made this one is called "What if Africa was Never colonized?" and that video is very interesting too so I suggest you watch it too by clicking this link.

Even though the Americas and their history are my life (true story), I agree that there would be a positive and negative effect of them not existing. 

While brainstorming this list I realized that the negatives and positives of the Americas not existing are similar to the negatives and positives of Europe never colonizing the world (because it wouldn't be possible for them to colonize the world without first starting with the Americas.)

Negative effects: 

• We'd be less technologically advanced if an entire culture which made so much scientific progress was taken away. The ideas of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas were taken by Europeans and spread to other continents. If this never had never happened, inventions like computers, phones, etc. would appear much later as these were created by Europeans using things they had learned from other cultures. 
• Certain crops such as potatoes, corn, quinoa, tomatoes, coffee, chocolate, pumpkins would not exist. Now this is important because POTATOES WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WHO COULD NOT FEED THEMSELVES ;_; also corn is probably one of the most important crops in the world, not just because it is the staple diet of many people but because its in everything. Many every day products such as gypsum dry wall, toothpaste, paint, diapers, dog food, makeup, and hand soap are made with corn. Weird processed ingredients that you find in unhealthy processed scary diabetes-causing food also contains corn sweeteners, corn preservatives, and other strange substances. You can thank indigenous Mexicans for genetically modifying a type of grass to create corn. 
• It would take a much longer time for Europe to get out of the Dark Ages. The Dark Ages were a time after the fall of the Roman empire. During the Medieval times/dark ages, Europe had almost no technological advancements because of, you guessed it, isolation. The Renaissance would've happened much later for Europe if this alternate-history video were reality, so Europe would be behind the rest of the world. But so would Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa because they relied on European discoveries to help them advance. Some continents however (not Europe) can do just fine while being isolated such as the Americas, Asia, and North Africa. The Americas would obviously be much better off with no biological warfare spread by Europeans! But would Europe be better off without the Americas? Absolutely not! Where would they get the gold and silver to trade for slaves from Africa and silk from China in order to become rich? and most importantly, where would they get super important crops like corn?
• No chocolate. That would be awful.
• No one to stalk.
• NO CURE FOR SCURVY D: (but at least Jacques Cartier could die from it then.) 
• "less filthy heathens to convert to Christianity." ~ a Jesuit missionary
• People will hate me for saying this but sub-Saharan Africa would not benefit at all if the Americas didn't exist, because Africans relied on Europeans for many things (and the Europeans relied on the Americas for many things.)
• As for Australia, it depends on how you approach the situation. On the bright side, at least 99% of the indigenous population wouldn't be wiped out. On the negative side, no computers until a much later date.
• Perhaps the economies of some Asian countries would suffer, because less trade partners (Europeans would be too dirt poor to trade with them.)
• There would be a higher need for slave labor, so slavery would not go away. 

Positive effects:

• No European colonialism! yaaay!!!! 
• A greater understanding would probably arise between different cultures. 
• Asia would become the most technologically advanced continent. 
• 99% of Australia's indigenous population wouldn't get wiped out.
• Slavery would still exist, perhaps even in a higher scale, but it'd be internal. I mean that a race wouldn't exclusively own slaves of another race. Slave masters would have slaves the same race as them.

Well that was the most controversial thing I ever wrote. What do you think?

I bet this post made people of all races hate me. 

Back with the Celtics!! :D

zomg. It's been a long time. Here's a post about the Celtics, because I made a promise to you on Samhain 2014 that I'd update the blog with CELTICS. 

This post is dedicated to the warrior-queen Boudicca. May her name ring throughout the ages!! 

Boudicca (also known as Boudica, Boadicea, Buddug, and Boudicca-Victoria) was the queen of the Iceni people who lived in what is now Norfolk in eastern England. The Iceni were a tribe of the Celtics. Boudicca was born in 30 A.D. She became the queen of the Iceni when she married king Prasutagus. Boudicca also had two daughters. She was one of the best leaders the Iceni ever had. 

During the reign of Prasutagus, the Iceni traded with Rome. They had a treaty with Rome that was established long before to prevent Roman invasion. However, the Celtic warriors were always preparing for battle. They were fully aware about the threat of Roman invasion. Rome had already taken over most of Britannia (England). The Iceni knew that the Romans could break the treaty any time and try to conquer them. When Prasutagus died- the cause of his death was unclear- and Rome thought it would be the perfect chance to go and plunder the Iceni lands. The Romans burnt houses, killed people, stole things, tied queen Boudicca to a pole and whipped her, and humiliated her daughters. They completely broke the treaty and left the Iceni hungry for revenge.

Boudicca wasted no time. She was completely infuriated by what had been done to her as well as her daughters and the rest of her tribe. Boudicca's intention was to completely overthrow the Roman empire. 

Now, in my opinion, Boudicca's plan was doomed to fail from the beginning. A barbaric tribe of Celts is no match for Rome!! But I admire her bravery. 

Honestly though, imagine yourself as a member of a battle-ready Roman legion. You would have an awesome shield-war formation with the best weapons of the age and heavy, steel armor. 

THIS except more intimidating and stretching as far as the eye can see. 

The barbarians should KNEEL to Rome

And then imagine yourself as part of the Celtic 'army' (Lol) 

That's right, they didn't even have SHIRTS to protect them from what the Romans would throw at them. 

They expected blue war paint to protect them instead. 

Actually, they didn't have swords like the one in the above picture. But I had to include that picture because Samhain is one of my favorite holidays and Celtics were awesome for celebrating it. 

Back to queen Boudicca....

When the Romans first plundered the Iceni lands, Boudicca became enraged. She not only wanted to avenge her family and the Iceni people, but wanted to COMPLETELY wipe out Rome. Iceni 'warriors' were mostly children, old men, and women. They were outnumbered by the Roman army anyway. So, Boudicca formed an alliance with a nearby tribe. These people were known as the Trinovantes. 

Boudicca was very persuasive. She convinced the Trinovantes to join the Icenian cause against Rome. She told them they should do their best to ensure that their lands and the Iceni lands don't become part of Britannia, the fast-expanding province of Rome. 

The Burning of Camulodunum (Colchester) & Londonium (London)

 Boudicca  finally had enough warriors on her side to lead an uprising against Rome. In fact, Roman historians claimed that the Roman army was highly outnumbered after the Iceni and Trinovante alliance. Though modern historians know the Romans were probably exaggerating this to make Rome's feat seem more epic- like loyal sons of Rome should do? 

So, Boudicca's first official act of uprising was to go to Camulodunum, which was a Roman settlement in England (the city is now called Colchester) and BURN IT TO THE GROUND WITH FIRE!!!!!!! The Iceni and Trinovante plunderers also stole everything that the Romans there had. When Camulodunum was going up in flames, the Roman civilians who lived there attempted to take refuge in the temple. Guess what Boudicca's warriors did? They destroyed the temple. Classic barbarians. 

Boudicca also burned down Londonium (London) and raided Verulamium (St. Albans). 

She thought she was invincible just because she destroyed three unarmed, unaware, outnumbered, cities. 

Things did not go well and in 61 A.D, queen Boudicca was defeated. It is unknown exactly how she died but her warriors were almost all dead. Some say she herself was killed by the Romans while others claim she drank poison and committed suicide which would be the most honorable thing to do if everyone who was fighting for your cause died. Her two daughters also died. Possibly by drinking poison with their mother. The exact location of her death is unknown. 

Inspirational, right?! 

I admire her because she led an uprising against a leading world power. 

Uprising against a leading world power.

I want to do that :D !!!! 

I'll lead an uprising against THIS country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeWRsEFemcA 

no one likes Murica anyway. 

Rome was still kewl though. 

Ok, byeeeee.