Small Group: Discussion on King Leopold II pg. 115-139

During the discussion, an idea was that King Leopold II continued to expand on his methods by isolating the ethnic groups from the reporters and using weapons to manipulate the Africans to work.  As he continued the construction of the Congo, he made sure to censor any writing pieces or newspapers about his plans.  A question is will King Leopold II go bankrupt or unable to manage the finances, and if so, what will he do?  Also, will King Leopold II's plans in the Congo be revealed to the Europeans?  

Group discussion: I felt that with having a smaller group, I felt more comfortable sharing my ideas, and I am able to analyze with a few responses than a whole group.  Also, we felt everyone was able to participate whereas in a bigger group, there is a possibility that only a few people would not speak.  One way to improve the discussions are to have questions that can really expand your thinking.  However, the questions were good!

King Leopold's Ghost - Thoughts and Questions

In King Leopold's Ghost, what stood out to me was the section that described Henry Morton Stanley.  Although it mentions specifically about his motives before and after the death of his wife and father, the author applies major themes that occurred in that time period such as the "epidermic" or the fact that women had to disguise their names as men in order to enlist in the military or in order to have equal rights as men - Alice (25).  Specifically with women, he emphasized Stanley's uncomfortable zone with the woman who he thought was a man.  Another example, not from the book, is a woman called George Sand who is known to be the first French woman to gain a major reputation through her writing (Time: 1830s-1840s).  Her real name was Aurore Duplin, but if she was to put her real name on her publications, then not many people would have read it.  This is that men did not think that women should have the power to rise to that level of intelligence or high professions such as a writer, business, etc. 

2 Questions:

1) In the perspective of Africans and Europeans, how has "the dawn of ocean navigation" affected them? (In other words, now that Europeans can travel by ocean, how are the Africans affected)?

2) What were women's role in society while men voyaged to different lands? (Could be implied)

Class Thoughts

1) What did you learn?

I learned about S.P.I.C.E.R. (multiple lenses or categories in history).  Now, when I refer to a specific event in history, this is a useful tool to break down the event.  Also, even though I have learned about imperialism and colonialism before, I feel I have an even more clear distinction between the two terms.  


2) What questions do you have?

Not any in particular at this moment!

3) What are you curious to learn more about?

I am intrigued or fascinated by the History of Europe.  Specifically, the Greco-Roman civilizations starting in Ancient Greece (I know we are not going to study that far back in history, but I find it interesting).  Also, events like the French Revolution, the rise of the Ottoman Empire, Russian Revolution, etc.