Thursday, February 12, 2009
Reflection on Imperial Harem
Women have always played an integral part in history, known or behind the scenes. Today, we can easily recall woman such as Cleopatra and Susan B. Anthony who have exercised power to promote their goals. Leslie Pierces’ Imperial Harem: Women and Sovereignty in the Ottoman Empire, enlightens its reader on the important significant role women played in the long reign of the Ottoman Empire. During the 16th and 17th centuries, literature was concocted describing the era of the harem. This book in its beginning pages denounces the myths following the term harem. Pierce makes it a point in each page to denounce the Western view of a harem as a place where sexual activities occurred by expressing its important in the role of family and politics. The harem was important because it was an imperial harem, where ultimately the line of succession was created. During this time, women had power; they influenced political structures, the decisions of the reigning sultans, created public projects, training their sons to use sovereign power successfully, and ultimately decided the line of succession.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
the Development of Islamic Civilization
[taken from readings and class lectures]
Conceived as a small religion within a community of believers, Islam quickly became of the worlds second largest religion. The basic core of the religion is to believe that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God. Formulated as a minor group of faith in Arabia in the seventh century, Islam became one of the fastest growing religions in the world. By the tenth century, Islam became a religion adopted by almost all Middle Eastern, North- African, and European people.
In the late sixth century, tribes ruled the land known as Arabia. These nomadic tribes sporadically spread across the land where they were in constant contact and struggle with powerful groups such as the Persians, Ethiopians, and Byzantines. During this time, the land known as Mecca, today located in Saudi Arabia, was ruled by a tribe called Quraysh, which in 570 AD was the tribe Prophet Muhammad was born into.
During the 23 years that the prophecies were given by Angel Gabriel, Prophet Muhammad was a warrior, engaging in battle constantly while establishing and facilitating the spread of Islam.
First off and very importantly, it is a monotheistic religion that states that its followers shall believe in one God, that is Allah, and the Prophet Muhammad is his messenger; this line is also called the Shadah which is to “bear witness”, and once this line is spoken, one is able to convert themselves to Islam. One who follows Islam is called a Muslim and these people regard the Qur’an as the final word of God to all of humanity sent down to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. It is seen as the successor to the completion of scriptures sent to Prophets Moses, Jesus and others. Muslims view the Qur’an as the only uncorrupted word of God because earlier revelations have not survived in their original rendering. Moreover, it is important to Muslims because it is their main reference to spiritual matters, states the requirements of day to day living, and functions as a manual of prayer, a guidebook for moral living, a text of linguistics, a source of literary and historical significance that encourages scientific inquiry. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge the Five Pillars of Islam. These are vital duties for a good adherent Muslim to perform. They include Prayer, which is required five times a day at specific times; Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset; Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca at least once; the Shadah or declaration of faith, and charity, which requires 2.5% to be given of ones net wealth. These duties and the importance of the Qur’an, could be seen as potentially significant players in the role of the spread and conversion to Islam.
Conceived as a small religion within a community of believers, Islam quickly became of the worlds second largest religion. The basic core of the religion is to believe that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God. Formulated as a minor group of faith in Arabia in the seventh century, Islam became one of the fastest growing religions in the world. By the tenth century, Islam became a religion adopted by almost all Middle Eastern, North- African, and European people.
In the late sixth century, tribes ruled the land known as Arabia. These nomadic tribes sporadically spread across the land where they were in constant contact and struggle with powerful groups such as the Persians, Ethiopians, and Byzantines. During this time, the land known as Mecca, today located in Saudi Arabia, was ruled by a tribe called Quraysh, which in 570 AD was the tribe Prophet Muhammad was born into.
During the 23 years that the prophecies were given by Angel Gabriel, Prophet Muhammad was a warrior, engaging in battle constantly while establishing and facilitating the spread of Islam.
First off and very importantly, it is a monotheistic religion that states that its followers shall believe in one God, that is Allah, and the Prophet Muhammad is his messenger; this line is also called the Shadah which is to “bear witness”, and once this line is spoken, one is able to convert themselves to Islam. One who follows Islam is called a Muslim and these people regard the Qur’an as the final word of God to all of humanity sent down to Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel. It is seen as the successor to the completion of scriptures sent to Prophets Moses, Jesus and others. Muslims view the Qur’an as the only uncorrupted word of God because earlier revelations have not survived in their original rendering. Moreover, it is important to Muslims because it is their main reference to spiritual matters, states the requirements of day to day living, and functions as a manual of prayer, a guidebook for moral living, a text of linguistics, a source of literary and historical significance that encourages scientific inquiry. Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge the Five Pillars of Islam. These are vital duties for a good adherent Muslim to perform. They include Prayer, which is required five times a day at specific times; Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset; Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca at least once; the Shadah or declaration of faith, and charity, which requires 2.5% to be given of ones net wealth. These duties and the importance of the Qur’an, could be seen as potentially significant players in the role of the spread and conversion to Islam.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict- Class movie
The recent events of the new year ignited a fire that was always kindling since 1946. With more than 1000 Palestinians dead in less then 30 days, in order to pursue Israel’s termination of Hamas, the world has been shaken. It was interesting to watch the movie presented in class because it reported on these ongoing events occurring before the massacre in Gaza. Focusing on how the media is able to manipulate the system was very interesting and also upsetting. To realize that we are fed biased news to support the political, social and economic ties we have on one side is truly terrible. The media should be a way for all to receive the factual news. We live in 2009 with the most advanced technology yet we are still being fed lies. Listening to those interviewed truly gives one hope that there are people determined to learn the truth and teach it to others. It is distressing that people have a view of an issue because they are only shown one side and even more, what is worse is that the media picks and chooses the words and feeds it to us. Due to research, academic courses, and news feeds like BBC, I was able to learn the truth of what was actually occurring: how the occupation is illegal how, civilians are being treated inhumanly and deprived of basic needs, how they are suppressed and lack a country and citizenship and the right to vote; basic freedoms we the united states promote with everything action we take. Under international law the state of Israel is illegal since its conception. Moreover, other resolutions like United Nations Resolution 242, which states all land taken from the Six Day War be returned was never implemented. How can we watch and accept this oppression. With the massacre in Gaza I saw one good outcome: how the international community became aware and came together to support, demonstrate, educate about this cause. The Palestinians have been suffering for over 40 years; they are virtually homeless; and yet it took an event like this which left thousands dead, families torn, children mentally disturbed to have an international outcry of what has been going on these past 40 years.
greeting
My name is Martina. I am a Political Science Major and an African Studies Minor. I am a junior here at Manhattanville; i took a semester off to take political science classes at New York University last spring semester. I have a deep interest in the Middle East especially with its role in politics today. I was able to travel to Egypt this past summer where i stayed for 5 weeks learning Arabic and about Islam. I enjoy learning languages. I speak english, italian and spanish fluently, intermediate arabic and introductory japanese. I look foward to learning more about the Middle East.
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