In Polyethnicity and National Unity in World History, McNeill combines two lectures. The first lecture addresses the empire and nation to 1750. This section provides a history of European, African and Asian civilizations. He notes the importance of military and conquest in expanding a nation. Furthermore, he addresses the effect of disease on intermingling civilized and uncivilized populations. Because of disease, increased numbers of people were dying in the cities and population growth was occurring in the countryside. Slavery was also used to fill labor shortages due to diseases. These factors combined resulted in in ethnic mixture. He presents Japan as a case study that was able to maintain ethnic homogeneity by avoiding conquest from other nations.
His second lecture addresses “the triumph of nationalism” from 1750 to 1920. He presents Europe as a group of nations that were able to promote nationalism and ethnic homogeneity despite the rapid intermingling of people. He uses France and England as examples where education, population growth and the military promoted nationalism. He discusses how European invasion of Latin America resulted in a “polyethnic hierarchy” in which less powerful groups were forced to fit into the traditions of the more powerful groups.
I found it interesting how the spread of American crops, such as corn, potatoes and peanuts may have affected population growth. With more crops there was a better chance for survival as well as the need for more labor.
At this point I would like to raise a question to the class. Many cities, including Pittsburgh, are divided into ethnic enclaves (Polish Hill, China Town, Little Italy etc.). At the end of his second lecture he discusses polyethnic hierarchies in which subordinate groups must adhere to the dominant group’s traditions. Do you feel this occurs in America? Or do you feel our country is more of a melting pot where immigrants have the ability to successfully carry out their own traditions?
I feel that in America subordinate groups must follow the dominant group’s traditions. You mentioned all of the ethnic areas Pittsburgh and other cities are divided into-but don’t you act accordingly depending on where you are? You definitely watch what you say so as to not offend anyone. Or even in middle school when you have those embarrassing Christmas concerts. You sing all Christmas carols even though there may be a handful of Jewish kids in your class.
ReplyDeleteHaha this is kind of off-topic but I think it's what you said about middle school concerts is funny. In my school I think we always over-compensated for the handful of Jewish kids by singing way to many Hanukkah songs and only like 2 Christmas carols.
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