READING ASSIGNMENTS
"THE DISCOVERERS"
The first half (or a little less) of the semester will dedicated to the Final Frontier on Earth itself.
In PART IV: "The Geography of the Imagination" we begin with small villages, cities, and nation states some 5000 years ago, when Mountains were the Terra Incognita of the human mind of ALL cultures and all peoples of the Earth. For centuries, the building of pyramids and towers the skies reflects the challenge and call of the mountains and humanity's attempts to reach the gods. We then discuss how the heavens and the netherworld was so well charted in the imagination (and connected to the Moon and Sun) even if the Earth itself was an unknown place. We then visit the great minds of the Greeks and the development idealism we hold today and the development of a system employing observation and confirmation (the beginnings of science). But, we then tragically embark on our first "great withdrawal", which in this case is due to Christian Dogma- the science of geography is abandoned for 1000 years- the Earth remains an unknown imagined place for the "Dark Ages". Finally, we encounter the "flat Earth", which actually assisted in the making of the first maps.
READING
IV. The Geography of the Imagination
10. The Awe of the Mountains (pp 82-86)
11. Charting Heavan and Hell (pp 86-91)
12. The Appeal of Symmmetry (pp 92-99)
13. The Prison of Christian Dogma (pp 100-106)
14. The Flat Earth Returns (pp 107-113)
In PART V: "Paths to the East" we first learn about Pope Urban II, who declared that Jerusalem should be freed and began the great Crusades. Then, we discuss the Arabs and Islam, the single point crusade to Mecca. We then learn of Ibn Battuta, the Arab "Marco Polo". Jihad wad the mode of spreading Islam, whereas Missionaries were the mode of spreading Christendom. We then discuss the "Silk Road" and the so-called "Iron Curtain" that developed after the fall of the Byzantine Empire (the eastern remnants of the Roman Empire crushed by the Turks). Around 1250, the Mongols conquered all of Asia and Eastern Europe and lifted the Iron Curtain. Enter Marco Polo. Then in 1350, the Chinese rebel with "moon cookies" and the Mongols fall. The Iron Curtain is reestablished.
READING
V. Paths to the East
15. Pilgrims and Crusaders (pp 118-124)
16. How the Mongols Opened the Way (pp 124-128)
18. The Discovery of Asia (pp 134-138)
19. The Land Curtain Comes Down (pp 139-143)
In PART VI "Doubling the World" This is the part of the story that is most analogous to the modern space race. Here, we first learn about the rediscovery of geography and the "rumor" of the sea paths to the indies. We then meet the "Father of Continuous Discovery", Prince Henry of Portugal. During this period, a "cold war", not much different than the cold war between the USA and USSR that spawned the space race, was in full swing between the two superpowers of the day, Portugal and Spain. After studying why these powers reached out to their "final frontier" and forged the world into the social and political entity it is today, we examine the high cost of NOT exploring- the story of the Arabs and the Chinese (doomed to exploitation and poverty). We wrap up with comparing modern day USA with China of the 1400s and the lack of will in the people in government due to creature comfort and hubris.
READING
VI. Doubling the World
20. Ptolemy Revived and Revised (pp 147-156)
21. Portuguese Sea Pioneers (pp 156-164)
22. Beyond the Threatening Cape (pp 165-172)
23. To India and Back (pp 172-178)
24. Why Not the Arabs? (pp 178-185)
25. The Chinese Reach Out (pp 186-194)
26. A Nation Without Wants (pp 195-201))
In PART VII "The American Surprise" The Vikings had ample opportunity to change the globe 500 years before the Europeans, but they retracted. Why? Notice that they are no longer players on the world stage? With the discovery of the Americas comes a shift in human social consciousness and an era of exploitation.
READING
VII. The American Surprise
27. The Wandering Vikings (pp 204-209)
30. The Enterprise of the Indies (pp 224-231)
31. Fair Winds, Soft Words, and Luck (pp 231-235)
In PART VIII: "Sea Paths to Everywhere" Though few could envision that the "infinite seas" went anywhere at all, soon everyone realized they were the highways to everywhere and many nations joined in to get their piece of the action (power, economics, influence). Quickly, knowledge of the sea paths, ports, and distant lands become valuable state secrets that were carefully protected- espionage began in full force. Finally, as the world opened, exploitation gave way to science and discovery and missions were funded and conducted that were purely for the sake of new knowledge for all of humanity.
READING
VIII. Sea Paths to Everywhere
34. World of Oceans (pp 256-266)
35. The Reign of Secrecy (pp 267-271)
36. Knowledge Becomes Merchandise (pp 271-278)
37. The Ardors of Negative Discovery (pp 278-289)