Great Writers of the Seventeenth Century

 Great Writers of the Seventeenth Century

            William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Garcilaso Inca de la Vega are all great writers of the seventeenth century. Their works as well as plays, books, and other writings are still being acknowledged today. Though all three men are very important in literary history their marks left on English literature are extremely unique and very different.

            Miguel de Cervantes was a man who lived a trouble life and look to writing as an escape, from the world around him. According to Jean Caravaggio author of The Cervantes Project, “After five years spent as a slave in Algiers, and four unsuccessful escape attempts, he was ransomed by the Trinitarians and returned to his family in Madrid, where a few months later he published a pastoral novel called, La Galatea” (1). The novel gained him little success, but it wasn't until 1605 where he gained immediate success for his work Don Quixote. Unfortunately, Don Quixote is the only work written  by Miguel de Cervantes that I'm familiar with, however he is still known all over the world as the father of the Spanish language, thanks to his brilliant creation  Don Quixote.

             Garcilaso Inca de la Vega was also a great writer of this period. José Durand, author of Selections from the Library of José Durand, believed even though Vega was wealthy being the son of an Inca princess and a Spaniard father, he still gained a reputation that lead to accusations of treason, during this difficult period of rebellion and civil war in the colonies (1). “Garcilaso's writings provide eloquent testimony to the emotional and intellectual struggles faced by this unique hybrid of the Old and New worlds” (1). Vega was the first man ever to write from a Native American's prospective and his publication Florida gained him worldwide success. Garcilaso Inca de la Vega seems to be a great historical author, but sadly I had never heard of him until now.

            William Shakespeare is the Michael Jackson of English literature. Everyone knows him despite whether or not they like or dislike his works. Shakespeare is one of the most, if not the most respected writer of all time. His works are constantly being read, re interrupted, and even made into hit films. According to the Academy of American Poets, “In his poems and plays, Shakespeare invented thousands of words, often combining or contorting Latin, French and native roots” (2). Shakespeare has written over thirty plays and almost everyone them are still being acted or read today. “These plays are usually divided into four categories: histories, comedies, tragedies, and romances (1).” Shakespeare’s earliest plays were primarily comedies and histories. Plays such as Henry VI and the Comedy of Errors. Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare's  second and one of the most famous tragedies written by him, drew him even more success as he continued writing more plays with similar themes. Plays that he is greatly known for, such as: Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra.

            William Shakespeare is obviously the most famous and my personal favorite out of the three. However, Miguel de Cervantes and Garcilaso Inca de la Vega both made there marks in history and became great writers of their time.

Words Cited

Academy of American Poets. http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/122. 1-2. 2011

Canavaggio, Jean. "Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616): Life and Portrait". The Cervantes Project.

            Retrieved 2007-01-04. http://cervantes.tamu.edu/biography/new_english_cerv_bio.html

Selections from the Library of José Durand. 2011.  http://www.library.nd.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/durand/index.html

Life During The Black Death

Jazmine Willard

History 101-03

October 19, 2011

The Black Death

The horrific period known as the Black Death was one of the most dreadful times in all of history where many tragic deaths occurred. According to The Making of the West Peoples and Cultures textbook, “The Black Death began in 1346 in a region between the Black and Caspian seas, and a year later a Byzantine scholar, by the name of Nicephorus Georgas, identified the Black death as a pestilential disease”(388). The Black Death, also known as a pestilential disease, not only made its mark in history, but changed many lives of people during that time.  

The Black Death killed millions of people all over Europe. Starting from its breeding ground in the Middle East, where it then rapidly moved to the North African Coast, and finally Europe. “The prominent signs of this disease, that indicted a possible death were, tumorous outgrowths at the roots of thighs, and arms and simultaneously bleeding ulcerations” (389). It is said that many historians believed this disease was caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis, which is the same organism that is claimed to be responsible for the many outbreaks of plaque today. Personally I believe that the disease could have been brought over from a different country or place where the water or food may have been contaminated. If that were the case it would only take one person to give the virus to someone else and the disease could easily spread. It’s the same as Chicken Pox. It is normal for everyone to experience the Chicken Pox at least once in their life, but if someone with a sick child were to bring him or her to a public school then most likely any kids who have yet to have the virus probably would get it a lot quicker than if that child were not present.

In such countries like Italian city of Pistoia for example, the government had quarantines set up, in hopes that the disease would stop spreading (390). Some others however, took more extreme measures and as an attempt to placate God for their sins, men and women who believed they had caused the plaque outbreak went to churches, took off their shirts, and one by one laid on the church floor and had themselves whipped (390). Neither of these approaches worked as plan, as the church did not approve these actions, saying that the people who did the whipping had taken on the jobs of the clergy and could not purify the body or soul doing such.

These people had dealt with a great deal of suffering, but for those who had survived it brought new opportunities as well as inspiration. With so many deaths that had occurred there was a smaller population to feed as well as less land to farm. In the end the survivors were left with more than they could ask for, but the tragedy that came from it was of a much greater loss.

Work Cited

Hunt, Lynn, Martin, Thomas R., Rosenwein, Barbara H., and Smith, Bonnie G. (2010). The Making of the West Peoples and Cultures. Concise Third Edition. Bedford/ St Martin’s: Boston, Massachusetts. 388-390.

Jesus and Christianity vs. Mohammand and Islam

Jazmine Willard

His 101-03

September 26, 2011

Christianity vs. Islam

Christianity and Islam are two of the largest religions in the world. Christians as well as Islamic people have come along away in history as they continued to shine a positive light on both Christianity and Islam. They are both religions that are still being practiced today and yet despite their many differences, have just as many similarities as well.

            In my opinion, being a strong believer in Jesus as well as the beliefs of Christianity, and knowing what I do know about the Islamic religion, I didn’t agree with the statement above, that Christianity and Islam have aspects in common. But after researching both religions I found that they both actually do share a mutual ground. According to an article by reilignionfacts.com, “Both Christianity and Islam inherited from Judaism a belief in one God who created the world and cares about the behavior and beliefs of human beings.” However, even though both religions show faith in one God, their faith is shown in very different ways. For example Islamic people believe in a God by the name of Allah and study the holy book of Koran. While Christians address their God as Jesus, who is also known as Jesus of Nazareth, and study the Bible. Both are very diverse books that are looked upon differently in both cultures. Islamic people also have the Five Pillars, in which they practice every day. I have known Christians to fast at the beginning of New Years as a way of showing gratefulness for living to see a new year. But for the Islamic people fasting is a ritual, with last during the month of Ramadan. Christians also have rules they abide by such as the Ten Commandments, even though it is believed that Jesus only spoke of one commandment, which was simply to love.

Church’s as well as people have a lot to do with how Christians and Muslims create religious differences not only among each other, but within that particular religion as well. Even today there are so many standard names for types of religions that are consider to be Christians, such as Baptist, Holiness, Jehovah Witness, Primmest Baptist, and Apostolic. Though surprisingly, when it comes to the controversial matters between the two it really has nothing to do with religion at all. “In recent centuries, mutual distrust between Christians and the Islamic people has continued to grow on the account of tensions and divergent cultural worldviews rather than religion.” So regardless of the religious differences that we all may have, it’s our own personal beliefs that matter. And who knows maybe one day Christians and the Islamic people will find a common ground as well as respect for the differences among worldview.

Work Cited

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/charts/christianity_islam.htm

Empire of Alexnader the Great

                                                                                                            Jazmine Willard

                                                                                                           History 101-03

                                                                                                                September 7, 2011

Empire of Alexander the Great 

Alexander the Great is one of the most exceptional leaders in history. He was the son of Phillip II and an Epirote princess named Olympias (Marx). He was tutored by the brilliant Aristotle in science and political art, he received a complete education in military tactics, and at the age of eighteen he led the Macedonian cavalry in a successful charge that won the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 B.C. (Marx). And yet his most prominent moment in history came much later when he conquered the Persian Empire.

Alexander’s amazing accomplishment influenced many cultures and even brought many of them together in ways that had never been done before, but his quest to conquer was slightly difficult as well as changeling. Alexander, along with his army traveled from city to city during his conquest to conquer the Persian Empire. In 334 B.C., Alexander led an army of about 35,000 men across the Hellespont from Europe to Asia (n page). After realizing that Persians sent out troops to attack Alexander and his men, across the Granicus River, Alexander and his army charged across the river and won the battle, which then opened up Asia Minor (n page). “In 333 B.C., Alexander reached the coast of Syria, where a fierce battle at Issus, took place, as well as where he defeated the king of Persia, Darius III” (n page). He then left Egypt in 331 B.C., continuing on his journey as he traveled eastward into the Persian Empire and by 326 B.C., Alexander's forces had reached the upper Indus River Valley, in what is now Pakistan. “During his years in central Asia, Alexander began to adopt the customs of the Persian kings” (n page).  His final conquest in 326 B.C, was Punjab where his journey soon ended. And in 323 B.C in Babylon, Alexander became painfully ill with a fever and died at age 32 on June 10. 

After Alexander founded so many Greek cities all over the Near East, Greek culture became deeply embedded within the cultures of the region. So deeply that it became the dominant culture throughout the Middle East and was inherited by the Byzantine Empire and by the Muslims as well (Knox). “The Near Eastern cultures, in turn, influenced Greece. This is most notable in the area of religion, with the advent of various mystery religions, but the Egyptians especially had a strong effect on Greek philosophy and science” (Knox). The true legacy of Alexander the Great was not only his conquering of the Persian Empire, but the distribution of the Greek culture all across the Near East. 

Alexander is perhaps one of the greatest generals of all time. “His amazing expedition shocked the world as it gave a new creative energy to Western civilization” (103). His conquering of the Persian Empire and spreading of Greek customs made it possible to establish the culture of the Hellenistic Age.

Sources:

Hunt, Lynn, Martin, Thomas R., Rosenwein, Barbara H., and Smith, Bonnie G. (2010). The making of the West. Peoples and cultures. Concise Third Edition. Bedford/ St Martin’s: Boston, Massachusetts. 103.

http://franklaughter.tripod.com/cgi-bin/histprof/misc/alexander.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/20176/alexander.htm

Irma Marx. http://www.silk-road.com/artl/alex.shtml

E.L. Skip Knox. “History of Western Civilization.” Boise State University. http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/westciv/alexander/14.shtml