Benjamin Banneker :: History

Benjamin Banneker Benjamin Banneker was an astronomer, scientist, mathematician, surveyor, clock-maker, author, and social critic. Most notable about his accomplishments was that despite racial constraints and little formal education, he was a self-taught man. By the end of his life, his achievements were well-known around the world. Unlike many blacks of his time, Banneker was not born into slavery. The maternal side of his family determined this fate. His grandmother Mary Walsh was a white Englishwoman who was sentenced to seven years of servitude for stealing milk. She was sent from England to America to serve as an indentured servant. After she finished her sentence, she bought some land and two African slaves. She married one of them, named Bannaky, and they had many children, one of whom was named Mary. Like her mother, when Mary married, she bought a slave and married him. Mary and Robert had several children, including Banneker. Banneker was born in 1731 just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. Banneker's education began in the early years of his childhood. Banneker and his siblings were taught to read by their grandmother Molly, who used the Bible as a lesson book. When Banneker was twelve, a Quaker named Peter Heinrich moved next to the Banneker farm and established a school for boys, which Banneker attended. He excelled in mathematics and even progressed beyond the ability of his teacher. At the age of twenty-one, his abilities were finally utilized. He met a man named Josef Levi who showed him a pocket watch. Banneker was so fascinated that Levi gave him the watch. He studied how it worked, drew a picture of it, and made mathematical calculations for the parts. He worked on building the clock for two years. In 1753, it was completed. It was made of wood and he had carved the gears by hand. This was the first clock built in the United States. For more than forty years, the clock struck every hour. In addition to creating America's first clock, Banneker had an interest in astronomy. When Banneker's friend Andrew Ellicott died, he left him books on astronomy, scientific instruments, and a telescope. Banneker began to study astronomy and made mathematical calculations of the stars and constellations. He used these calculations to correctly predict a solar eclipse that took place on April 14, 1789. His abilities in astronomy and mathematics led him to create an almanac in 1792.

Muslim Nationalism Dbq

Ryan Rojas 4/6/8 AP World History 3rd Period Muslim Nationalism DBQ Muslim leaders in North Africa and India saw the needs for nationalism in the Muslim areas and took on the issue of westernization as they saw right. A portion of Muslims wanted to welcome western ideas. And others didn't want western ideas around, they thought they needed to be one in their own nations, not in the co.uk/why-nations-fail-chapter-5-review/">Nations of the west. Some saw westernization as a flawed idea or solution, and used parts of westernization that would help them the most, and still allow them economic freedom. Most of the world was near required to westernize, during the Industrial Revolution.To compete with the new technology coming out in the world, and the new way of living. The rest of the world had to deal with and change in favor of the new technology and knowledge. The western portion of the world was â€Å"smarter,† and had stronger military power, and were more successful, economi cally. Not paying attention to these new technologies and ideas, would no benefit the Muslim community. Syed Ahmad Khan knew this and made the argument that the prophet of Muhammad said Muslims should find knowledge even if they need to go to places far away such as China. Document 1. ) He was referencing the fact that Europeans were far more successful. He is biased on this subject because his argument wouldn't make sense to a crowd of say, British people or French people, as they do not get the references to the prophet or these Islamic teachings. But, another person had said, that the people of Egypt should definitely be proud and content with their nation for how it is and they should go to nationalism and try to escape the pressure of Westernization. Document 2) Ahmed Ben Bella Bella, military lead of the Algerian National Liberation Front stated that the two societies of Europe and the societies of the Muslim nations were hardly different in any way. He makes the argument that both the teachings of old Greek Philosophers and their ideas. (Document 6)The Indian Muslim leader Abul Kaham Azad had called the western societies ignorant on the subject of religion. And at the same time calling people who were traditional, troubled or harassed by religious beliefs or irrationalities.This displays how much he enjoyed and gave credit to the thought of European philosophy and teachings and Europe's peoples. His point of view is bias on this subject, because European influence has been very heavy in India for a very long time, he more than likely grew up around European teachings and the influence of Europe. (Document 3) A portion of leaders in the Muslim society wanted to stay away from the idea of westernization. A nationalist in the nation of Egypt had noted that the Europeans were far more militarily advanced then they could hope to be.The only real reason he wanted better weapons and technology was because he didn't the English people to be Egypt any longer the n they already have been. Taha Husayn was really pushing for their independence in the economic area, and that he really wanted to defend the Suez Canal from any enemies or people trying to harm the Egyptian people. (document 4. ) His opinion on this subject is bias, because the English have been in Egypt really taking control of it and not giving the freedom that Egypt might of really wanted. If he had lived in France I highly doubt he would care that the English people were oppressing the Egyptian peoples.Moufdi Zakaria thought of the people of Europe as an interruption of the Muslim societies and they really seem to pushing the division of the Muslim community. This portion of Muslims wanted to stay together and strong by the teachings of their religion. They wanted to stay united by their language, and by their country or location. (Document 5) The Muslim leaders all were in desperate need of nationalism, without that it is very likely that North Africa and India, would be ruled by the European way of life, its teachings, its populace even, and maybe even the religions in Europe.Another document that would of helped understand the situation would have been an account or letter, or journal from a European military leader, or European King or ruler taking a side of the issue of Muslims accepting or declining the idea of nationalism in their society. The leaders in these 6 documents really interpret their definition of nationalism by how much they would want to accept the new advanced, and successful European way of life, and the European teachings even.

Environmental Pollution Essay

Environmental pollution is one of the biggest problems the world faces today. It is an issue that troubles us economically, physically and everyday of our lives. The contamination of the environment is also being linked to some of the diseases that are around currently. Yet, most people do not know about this problem. This shows that environmental pollution is becoming an increasingly worse problem that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, not only for the good of the environment but also for the people that live in it. Many factors are present for why environmental pollution has become such a large issue in the world. However, if the people of the world were to address the issue it would definitely help both the environment and it’s people. There are many activities that can be done by both the common citizen to the governments of the world, which could severally improve the world’s environmental problem. On the other hand, if the current way the world’s environmental problem is being handled continues, catastrophic consequences can follow for the future population. Over the years, environmental pollution has become more of a problem for a number of reasons. â€Å"Due to the great increase in the world’s population, which is at 6.1 billion, energy use, and the number of vehicles on roads make air pollution a greater threat than ever  (Pollution, Environmental). Because of this, â€Å"air pollution kills eight thousand people a year due to respiratory related problems  (Air Pollution Kills). â€Å"Also, 40% of the world’s deaths are being attributed to environmental factors  (Segelken). With such a number of people dying a year due to air pollution one can see how much the environmental pollution is affecting us. This dilemma is only made worse due to the current means of disposing nuclear waste. â€Å"Until 1993, Russia would resort to the dumping of its high and low level radioactive waste by dumping it into the Arctic seas and any other low-level waste into the Seas of Japan  (Nitze). â€Å"Radiation from nuclear waste is known to cause a series of reactions in body tissue that results in damage to the bodies cells  (Daley). This can cause disease, such as cancer, injury, or death. The effects on the human body make the situation even worse for the people of the world. But, an even more common threat is the use of incinerators and landfills, for the reducing and disposal of waste. Using incinerators to reduce the volume of trash not only causes air pollution but also produces  toxic ash that must be disposed of in specially made landfills. Landfills themselves can pollute groundwater after heavy rain, which would then be drunk by the surrounding population.