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(Please submit answers to the following questions before August 24!)
CHAPTER #1 QUESTIONS
RECURRING THEMES / QUESTIONS (answer these questions at the end of your assigned reading - but try to think about this question in every chapter and integrate what you learn in each into your final written response!)
In the first few pages, Mann points out an important theme to consider as you read. He notes that when he was a child, the story of Columbus was one of a heroic "discoverer," while today, students hear a very different version of the Columbus story. As you read the assigned chapters, think about the multiple (sometimes contradictory) narratives existing about Columbus's life.
After finishing the assignment - answer this question: People’s perceptions of Columbus have changed in recent times. How and why has this happened? Do you believe Columbus’s actions and intentions were good, evil, or somewhere in between? What complicates our contemporary understanding of Columbus's story? Share your thoughts.
Are there any historical figures or present day people that you feel have also created a new era? Explain who and how?
The first chapter begins with a discussion of monuments. After reading this assignment, what monument would you construct to commemorate the meeting of European culture and American culture. Explain!
Describe the relationship of ecology and economy over time? How is the opposite of what occurred in the 17th c. occurring now? Which era do you think posed / poses a greater threat to the planet?
What role did malaria ultimately play in the creation of the United States?
What was the most surprising thing you learned? Explain.
How might your new-found knowledge and understanding (acquired from the book) impact your study of American history in the coming year? Explain.
DO NOT ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS UNTIL YOU HAVE READ ALL FOUR CHAPTERS!
CHAPTER #1 QUESTIONS (write responses on a Google doc and submit using Blue Button above)
NOTE: Questions are not necessarily in chronological order of the reading - so read entire chapter before answering!
Notice that Mann starts writing about the challenges of "direct trade" between Europe and Central Asia. What were the challenges that made communication and understanding of one another so difficult during this period?
“Of all the people who have ever walked the earth, Columbus is the only one who began a new era in the history of life.” Do you agree with this statement? Explain why or why not.
What mistakes did Columbus make in his journey to China for Spain? Provide examples of mistakes he made that created challenges for him later on.
Mann gives evidence of "biological bedlam" - what does this mean? What was the impact? Describe the impact of the unseen elements of the Columbian exchange.
Mann points to several contemporary situations that have roots in the era of Columbus. Which of these stands out as the most dramatic and / or surprising. Explain.
BONUS: What killed Columbus? Did what he start eventually lead to his demise? Explain.