HIS1030 EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENT Essays - , Term Papers

HIS1030: EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENT THE ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE POLITICAL CRISIS COMPARED The 17th century marked a period of intense upheaval and instability for European nations -it saw states almost topple under economic hardships, mortality rates and subsequent political resistance to such conditions. Whilst academics have reached general consensus about the existence of a crisis in Europe at this period, debate continues today over the nature of this crisis. In consideration of this, I will examine two notable contributions to this field - one arguing that the crisis was economic in both cause and nature, whilst the other assesses the political overtones of the situation, and in doing so I hope to be able to demonstrate how evidence and argument can be constructed to create historical interpretation. As a Marxist historian, it is unsurprising that in his perspective of the general crisis, Eric Hobsbawm elects to focus on economic trends visible across the continent over the course of the century. He argues that methods associated with capitalism failed to take root in a feudalist social framework too premature to support it, and the subsequent social discontent and financial regression that came to epitomise the period arose primarily from this. Particular focus is drawn to the decline of Italy as a demonstration of the parasitic' nature of capitalism on feudal societies, as well as the impacts of the English Revolution in activating a healthy national market. The article presents a focused perspective of events as a crisis of commerce and economic decline that had far reaching implications, but were ultimately the starting point from which crises of a different nature derived. In considerable contrast, Hugh Trevor-Roper's account of the same topic shows little acceptance for even the basic fundaments of Hobsbawm's argument - he is openly dismissive of the classical Marxist interpretation of the crisis as espoused by Hobsbawm, and instead attributes the initial cause and proliferation of crisis to what he identifies as a breakdown in relations between state and society. In evidencing this claim he talks at length of the political events preceding the 17th century, most notably the rise of the so-called renaissance-state' and with that the extensive expansion of bureaucracy, which Roper claims to be the main enemy of the people who participated in revolt endemic throughout Europe. Whilst the argument does not refuse to place any emphasis on the role of economic downturn in the creation of a climate suitable for such revolution, it remains insistence that the general crisis was not one of commerce, nor production, but instead a societal reaction against the a buses of political systems which caused such economic disparity with European societies. Interestingly, in a published response to Trevor-Roper, Hobsbawm does not see the ideas in the two articles to be conflicting; he notes that, "in fact, our articles are complementary rather than competitive". However the extent to which this can be justified is compromised given that Trevor-Roper's argument rests considerably on the assumption that the crisis had a significant political component, which Hobsbawn does not seem to necessarily take for granted. He talks about the rise of absolutist monarchies across Europe as one of the sole indicators of stability within the crisis - a demonstration of political reliability in a period of vast economic uncertainty. The absence of a political crisis is certainly not visible in Trevor-Roper's account of the ineffectiveness of the renaissance state, whose excessive and universal polices of veniality placed great strains on a great number of European populations. However, in presenting this argument he arguably places too much emphasis on feelings of resentment towards the operators of the stat and does not consider that social discontent arose not through deep anti-establishment sentiments but much rather as a resistance against worsening economic situations. This is not to suggest that there was no antagonism - even Hobsbawm identifies that absolutism was reckless in providing financial support for insecure ventures, however I would personally question the notion of the deep and bitter divide between society and state that Trevor-Roper bases his article upon. In addition to struggling to find common ground over the very nature of this general crisis' we are also able to identify discrepancies on how the crisis eventually came to an

Essay on Family and Jing mei Identity

Essay on Family and Jing mei Identity Essay on Family and Jing mei Identity Salu Subba Eng. 102-5604 Prof. A, Maharaj 03/27/2015 Self-Discovery As a child, it is very difficult to understand our culture, family values and traditions. We really don’t know where and how we come from and how the way we become. The story entitled â€Å"A Pairs of Tickets,† by Amy Tan, is a about a girl named Jing Meh at her late 30 who rediscovered her ethnic and culture roots in the way to China. Jing Mei was a Chinese born in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the Western background cultures whereas her parents were grew up in China and immigrated to America. She had never felt herself as Chinese. She never showed up any interest to know about her family’s roots, when her mother used to tell her about her family’s background. She didn’t want to be Chinese because she thought that Chinese people do same things like her mother like haggling with storeowners, pecking her mouth with a toothpick in public and talking loud in their native language among themselves. She thought that Chinese people do embarrassed things in public. So she didn’t want to be like those Chinese people and be neglected from her friends. After her mother died, she and her father travelled China to fulfill her mother’s wish. She started to feel different as soon as she reached China. When she saw her father’s tears of happiness in his eyes while meeting his aunt, it touched her emotionally. She felt so bad for her twin sister because her sister couldn’t see her mother for many years. She started to understand her mother feelings towards children. She was afraid that her twin sister might not have talked with her because she didn’t speak fluent Chinese. She started thinking about all those past years when she was denying about being Chinese, and she finally accepted that she could be Chinese too. Her father told her the meaning of her name â€Å"Jing like excellent Jing. Not just good, it’s something pure, essential, the best quality. And â€Å"Mei,† as younger sister† (Tan, p.153). She solved the problems that had been lingering from a long time of not wanting to be Chinese. After she visited China, she realized that she could be both Chinese and American. This story didn’t only help discover of Jing Mei identity but also rediscovered her father’s Chinese childhood when he met his aunt after years. They were emotionally attached, had a full of happy tears in their eyes. Jing Mei noticed that her father looked like a young boy, so innocent and happy (Tan, p.145). He felt those things because he had no one elder than him while he was away from his motherland and he couldn’t let