The Bearded Savages

Throughout history, the Vikings have been portrayed as great explorers that travel the seas, pillaging villages every now and then. Over several hundreds of years, the perception of Vikings has gradually transformed. Currently, Vikings are continuously portrayed as savage brutes in a very clichéd manner. However, there is more to them than the typical mental picture of a large, heavily built, bearded brute wearing a wooden helmet with attached horns. The Vikings were the traders and colonists that left an everlasting influence on modern day Britain.



The first recorded Viking raids occurred around the 7th century. Raids by Scandinavian pirates on sites located all over Britain. Approximately 800CE to 1066CE (the Norman Conquest) is commonly known as the Viking Age of Scandinavian History. Small-scale raids continued to occur and by the late ninth century, there were settlements that dotted various parts of Britain. The Vikings had managed to gain control over some areas of Britain.



However, one of the most significant that the Scandinavian had caused, were the emergence of two newly united and powerful kingdoms: England and Scotland. This occurred as an indirect result of Scandinavian involvement with the of Britain.

Much of the information about the Viking raids was simply burnt or destroyed by the Vikings themselves, many monasteries destroyed and the records along with them. Not much is known about the raids in Scotland, due to the scarcity of written material.

The Norwegian were caused possibly the greatest political upset to areas around the north. Around the 860s, the Viking Army began grow larger, armies clearly meant for conquest of surrounding land. During the mid 860s, they captured areas such as York while also forcing East Angles to supply them with more troops.

The two main leaders of the Viking army were Ragnar Hairy-Breeks and his son Ivarr the Boneless. These two mean were responsible for killing the King of Northrumbia in 867 and the King of East Angles in 869. At this point, the Vikings had conquered nearly all of England.

From about the year 900 onwards, many English Kings were able to resist the Vikings and actively fight against them. The last Viking king, Eric Bloodaxe, was forced out in the year 954.

After the year 955, the island of Britain experienced an era of peace, as King Edgar united the kingdom and re-organized the church, while strengthening monasticism. The beginning of the “second Viking age” began in the year 991. These raids were on a much larger scale compared to previous ones and were even organized by members of royalty. Most of these raids had the main objective of extortion. These raids caused the wealth in the kingdom to be spread out equally, and tax that was given to prevent raids caused England to develop a tax system that was far more sophisticated than anywhere else in Europe.

Over time the Viking raiders, having travelled all throughout Europe had given influences to many parts of Europe. Many areas in Europe can have their ancestry and influences traced back to the Vikings. There are several burial sites associated with Vikings all throughout Europe, proof of their spread and constant raiding. While short term effects of their raids might have been total destruction of towns and causing fear and a general contempt against the Vikings, in the long term, wealth was able to spread equally through Europe, enabling Britain to develop as a whole rather than have one kingdom that was superior to the others.
Most of the Viking raids were solely to gain wealth and power, in addition to trade, and spreading their religion.

Although many of the Vikings may have been assimilated into medieval during the 11th century, their influence can still be found around the world even today. Though most people may view Vikings in a more clichéd way due to media, it is important to note that Vikings have been instrumental in the development of Europe.

Of Water, Of Chaos

Flood.

Compared to other threats around the world, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and erupting volcanoes, a simple excess of water may not seem as terrifying as that of raging winds, splitting earth, or molten lava. Yet such a threat has now proven itself to be very real in Thailand.

One aspect of the flood in Thailand is simply that it is simply not immediate enough for many to notice it. Such floods have been occurring in Northern Thailand since May. Rainfall itself was three times over the ordinary during March. Flooding began to occur in northern provinces because of flooding and several dams were forced to discharge excess water in order to keep the area from flooding.

By the beginning of October, most dams in the north were either close to their full capacity or over it. Forced to discharge excess water, this worsened flooding downstream.

Personally, when I heard the rumors of flood during the beginning of October, I never actually expected the flood to affect me personally. It was more of an abstract idea in my mind than an actual reality. However, a month later and I see myself having moved away from home, the entire campus that I have lived in since I as born has been completely flooded.

Many people simply never expect themselves to be the ones facing natural disasters, until the point where it actually affects them. Now however, the signs are showing in Bangkok, as more and more sandbags are beginning to show in various places around the city. Different roads have been blocked and rendered inaccessible, forcing traffic in other parts of the city and causing a disruptance in the general flow of cars and other vehicles. Many families will be forced to evacuate from their homes and others could potentially find themselves inundated by the flood before having a chance to move away.

While disrupting major supply lines and disabling several industrial estates, the flood has also managed to fill a country with the feeling of panic, confusion and chaos. While there will obviously be the environmental effect, with all of the displaced mud and other materials all around the country, there will also be the sense of uncertainty, as governments, organizations and institutions will have to decide whether or not to continue work, or to stay safe and reduce the risk for people working.

Right now the flood continuing, draining away south as time passes, eventually northern regions will have to recover and begin pumping out, while Bangkok will continue to receive more water from the north. In the months that will come, people not yet affected cannot simply view the flood as something that will never happen to them. If action can be taken, then it should be taken. A lot of controversy is currently going on because of the manipulation of flood water through the city. Protests and other occurring conflicts will only serve to make the situation worse, and I may not know how it feels to have flood waters intentionally redirected to my residence, but I have already experienced how it feels to lose my home.

The greatest impact on humans by the flood, has undoubtedly been a psychological one. The feeling of losing a home and not having any control over whether or not you will be able to get it back is a strong one, and right now, time will only tell what will happen after the flood has gone, and then there will be the issue of attempting to recover as quickly and cheaply as possible.


Sources:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/new/national/Major-dams-over-capacity-30166650.html

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/252818/death-toll-in-ravaged-provinces-climbs-to-37

http://asiancorrespondent.com/67306/thailand-why-was-so-much-water-kept-in-the-dams-part-ii/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15610536

The 12th Most Populous Country...

is only the 73rd Largest

Such conditions can pose problems to a developing country. This country is the Philippines, a 7,107 island archipelago.


The Philippines is currently undergoing second phase in terms of demographic transitions. This phase can easily be identified in countries that are just beginning to develop. While the Philippines may not be the most developed country in South-East Asia, new advancements in technology are being brought to this country though currently it still suffers from overpopulation.

The Philippines was originally discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, who then claimed the country for Spain. Being an archipelago, it not have as much influence from surrounding neighbors like China as much as a country like Thailand would have. In that sense, the country was not very developed. The country was later named after King Phillip the 2nd.

Spanish control helped keep the Philippines as an entire country. After a many centuries, the Americans gained control of the Philippines, as the country was an important strategical location in World War 2. American influence helped open many public schools in the Philippines, eventually causing the country to become one of the most educated developing countries in the world.

Between 1960 and 1995, the Philippines had one of the highest rates of urban growth in the developing world. At the moment, about 60 percent of the population is urban. However, overall urban growth rates are beginning to slow though development does continue in other parts of the country. The Extended Metro Manila has a population of about 12 million people and is about a third of the total urban population. Urban-based business is one of the main forces contributing to national economic growth, although cities in other neighboring countries are proving to be competition due to them being better organized and having better living conditions.

Such a high economic growth rate does cause imbalances in terms of individual people and their incomes. About 30 percent of the country lives under the national poverty line. Many families in the Philippines are supported heavily by relatives ‘abroad’, or working outside the country.
Like other developing countries, the Philippines will need to be able to pass through the second phase as quickly as possible, in order to reduce backlash from such high population and possible consumption rates.




Sources:

http://www.worldbank.org.ph/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/PHILIPPINESEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20771349~menuPK:333013~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:332982,00.html
http://www.worldbank.org.ph/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/PHILIPPINESEXTN/0,,menuPK:333013~pagePK:141132~piPK:148560~theSitePK:332982,00.html
http://www.worldbank.org.ph/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/PHILIPPINESEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21016342~menuPK:333013~pagePK:1497618~piPK:217854~theSitePK:332982,00.html
http://www.worldbank.org.ph/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/PHILIPPINESEXTN/0,,menuPK:333013~pagePK:141132~piPK:148560~theSitePK:332982,00.html
Zaide, Gregorio F. and Sonia M. Zaide (2004). Philippine History and Government (6th ed.). All-Nations Publishing Company.
Scott, William Henry. (1994). Barangay: Sixteenth-century Philippine Culture and Society. Ateneo de Manila University Press. p. 6. ISBN 9715501354. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
Spate, Oskar H. K. (1979). "Chapter 4. Magellan's Successors: Loaysa to Urdaneta. Two failures: Grijalva and Villalobos". The Spanish Lake – The Pacific since Magellan, Volume I. Taylor & Francis. p. 97. ISBN 070990049X. Retrieved 2010-01-07.

When 7 Billion People, Occupy the Planet...

From National Geographic's "7 Billion" article. The January 2011 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

NUMBER 10

Countries can slow population growth by passing laws, such as China passing it's one child policy.

NUMBER 9

Birth control can reduce the number of children born, reducing the growth of population.

NUMBER 8

Imbalances in age groups within a country can economically affect that country.

NUMBER 7

Land that is used for farmland and producing food will run out. This land needs to be used efficiently.

NUMBER 6

Women that are educated will have less children.

NUMBER 5

The ideal number of children for a couple to have is two, both to replace them when they die.

NUMBER 4

There are phases that can be observed in the way population grows, and a country develops.

NUMBER 3

Wealthy countries use the most resources, but countries that are developing will rapidly begin to catch up, in terms of consumption.

NUMBER 2

The Human race will continue to have more and more offspring at an exponential rate.

NUMBER 1

Because of overpopulation, many people will not have enough resources to survive comfortably. Population will outgrow food production.

Dude, Where's My Flying Car?

This blog is supposed to be about history. Yet for my first post, I would like to talk about an issue that has been bothering most of man since around the 1800s. It is probably a well-known fact that Leonardo da Vinci was able to design a helicopter hundreds of years before it ever existed. Not only helicopters, but planes, tanks, and other similar vehicles or devices. Jules Verne was also able to write the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and describe his idea of a submarine before they had the technology to make such complicated undersea explorers. The point is, that some people in the past have been able to predict or describe things that were still dreams at that time, and would later become a reality. Hundreds, possibly thousands of ancient civilizations have dreamed of flying, but deemed it impossibility. Yet nowadays, flying is a natural occurrence, and an individual can go from one side of the world to the other in less than a day. That’s half a planet. What was once deemed impossible is now a natural occurrence.

Yet there are other times that prediction have just been completely off. For example, Bill Gates once stated that each person would only need a few kilobytes of data, yet now, when you look at such a statement, it is ridiculous, even comical. Each person uses hundreds of gigabytes, not including music on their iPod or data on their Blackberries. Development of technology is extremely unpredictable. For the last few decades, people have been predicting that by now, there would be flying cars, in order to solve traffic or overpopulation problems. How wrong could this be, because instead of everybody having a flying car, construction companies simply build more roads. Even more ridiculous is the fact that some people believed that we would actually be able to live in a biodome on the moon, or Mars. These predictions may have only came about around the era during the Space Race so it is quite acceptable. Man does not need to expand to space yet because they can just make their buildings taller and taller. Lunar or Martian bases are too expensive and unreliable for people to live in. In fact, NASA is being criticized as an organization that is no longer needed. Now that the US has been able to overtake Russia in the Space Race, and because Russia is no longer as powerful as it once was, space projects are no longer being encouraged, they are believed to be a waste of money.

This era that man is in right now is the era where things are being created smaller and smaller, there is a noticeable trend with the design of new flatscreens, smaller laptops, thinner and thinner cell phones, the list goes on and on. Unlike in World War 1 or World War 2, the militaries of different countries do not seem to be advancing in war technology. Both World Wars where one of the main reasons that development of tanks or airplanes grew so rapidly. It is said that the wartime economy is the best type, since everyone is willing to work, even children. Right now, proper ground warfare is essentially negated since Nukes have shown themselves so be such an easy way to devastate entire cities. Hopefully though, nuclear missiles should only be used for the mind games, because if a single country launched a nuke, others would follow and the entire world would be devastated. If World War 3 ever comes (hopefully it never will), then one can expect Cold War 2, or Space Race 2. If another burst in technology happened, I could be writing emails and checking the internet on mars and whatnot. I am a great fan of science fiction, people living on other planets or on satellites or bases. This is probably what would happen if ever there was another war. When man is under threat, they have shown themselves to be geniuses, developing new technology at an exponential rate. For now, though, large otherworld spaceships or extra-terrestrial biodome cities can wait. Humans are still working on making everything smaller to accommodate the growing population.

Inspired by:

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/gallery/2008-12/dude-wheres-my-flying-car-and-jetpack-and-fusion-energy

http://science.howstuffworks.com/future-space-channel.htm