Sugar Hell, Nutmeg Turf Wars and The Perfectibility of Humanity.
This week's reading on the Early Modern Era was, as usual, interesting and painful. I enjoyed how Strayer broke this period into empires, commerce and religion and science. From each chapter, there was at least one description that really stood out in my mind.
The description of the sugar cane "factories" as horrendous or scenes from hell, once again reflect how man's desire for wealth overrides any consideration for the care of a human being. The use of slaves was profitable so who cares if they worked in horrendous, hell-like conditions?
I had a really difficult time accepting people as commerce during the reading. It is unacceptable that people purchased other people. My brain cannot understand this concept. I know that human trafficking still exists and it sickens me. Where in the "evolution" of man did this become ok? Once we discovered that dominance will bring power, money and luxuries. I'm disgusted.
Then I read about the Dutch destroying 15,000 people for...nutmeg? Countries killing each other over routes? All I could think about was our current turf wars between drug dealing gangs. Is crack the modern nutmeg?
At least the reading ended on a somewhat positive note, the scientific revolution. While the ideas and discoveries that bloomed during this time, didn't result in as much violence and pure disregard for human life, it was not without controversy. I can't wait to read a chapter on human harmony but I don't think anyone can write that chapter just yet. I'm banking on Condercet!
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