AUCX 190: MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES: The Ottoman Empire (Dr. Steve Rosenthal)

Turkey, Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire are my favorite topics of history and geographical location and culture.  Istanbul is a city so full of culture that has been built upon for 1000s of years.  The reign of the Ottoman Empire brought commerce, trade and diversity to this city.  In the reading for today I found it interesting about the slave children from the Balkans.  I know that Greece holds hatred against Turkey and this is probably one of the many reasons they do.  I think its odd that the Ottoman empire took children from the Balkans and converted and educated them.  They made these children turkish and then made them slaves to the rich.  The rich also were not binded by the laws and taxes the citizens of their empire were left to.  Such corruption aided to the insecure government and financial situation of the empire.  With corruption like this an empire will not be able to grow any further than its lowest class can support and keep up with.

Question: What is the status of Turkey and the EU, is the country close to becoming apart of the union?    

AUCX 190: MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES: The Decameron - Day Two

On the Fifth Day, Story Eight there is the interesting tale of Nastagio and the woman he is in love with.  This story ties in the theme of masculinity.  Im many stories we have read, the man is in a position of power.  This power is reached by the time period's emphasis on male dominance, role in society, wealth and social stature.  Nastagio is a man of all these things, especially wealth.  He cannot convince this woman to marry him, but finally uses the cursed visions of a knight slaying his dead wife in the forest.  This scene is gruesome and terrifying, how he succeeds in making this girl fall in love with him instead of running in fear shocks me.  This story, unlike some of the other ones in the Decameron incorporates mythology and the idea of hell.  Its a scary and unique story that shocked many readers.

I like how the Decameron bluntly brings up cheating in almost all its stories.  It ranges from wives cheating on husbands, husbands in love with men, men sleeping with many many girls, the list goes on!  The stories take on these topics in a comedic or horrific way.  This theme is different from our past readings.  In past readings such as Genesis or The Odyssey marriage and women are respected.  If there was cheating it would not have been written in these ancient texts.  The Decameron challenges all past writings and theories about social interaction.  It emphasizes the unspoken truth about many marriages and relationships during this time period.    

AUCX 190: MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES: The Decameron - Day One

The First Day First Story tells the tale of Ser Ciappelletto and his wicked actions.  The main topics we have studied about this region are love and religion.  This story incorporates the view of religion.  This was a very interesting view of religion; usually the texts have a very conservative view on religion and do not challenge it.  This text explains how Ciappelletto is wicked and sins everyday and does not practice or respect religion.  He has no friends, but accomplishes his work so he has respect.  He becomes ill while on a job and I thought he stayed the same wicked man.  He asks for a priest so he may confess his sins.  While confessing I thought he had been lying, because earlier in the text it described his actions as being very wicked.  While confessing he did not tell the priest anything very wicked.  However, at the end of the story he has reached heaven because he became pure at the end of his time.

I think this is ridiculous and that the effect of religion at this time is influencing the book showing common people that if you believe in God you will be saved no matter what.  I think this is a very unique take on religion compared to the other stories we have read.  

AUCX 190: MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES: Travel Literature (Dr. Amanda Walling)

The story of Margery Kempe was an interesting one.  She seemed like a very strong woman; traveling on her own from England to Jerusalem with help from men at some points.  During this time period it is a very strong and wild story.  Women did not hold jobs during this period let alone travel from Europe to the Middle East.  Margery has a story of inspiration, but once she becomes enlightened her life seems to decay.  She communicates with Jesus, Mary and God himself throughout the tales of her travels and they promise to protect her.  Her arrival in Jerusalem and her communion on the holy site of Mount of Calvary are very important.  She might be the first woman to experience something like this and she creates herself in the image of God.  Her journey shows in the importance of women in religion is just as magnified as man's role.  Her journey reminds me of Joan of Arc who relayed God's message to the French and led them to victory.

After Margery Kempe communicates with celestial beings she seems to become overwhelmed she sobs everyday.  How the story unfolds it seems that these 'sobbings' are a gift from Jesus, but I don't see how this is a gift.  Kempe has been forgiven of her sins so her further travels into Rome and Venice are continuations of enlightenment.  She has God guiding and protecting her so she has little fear.  She encounters many people and cultures along her journey and they aid her on her return back home.    

AUCX 190: MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES: Book of Good Love (Libro de buen amor) - DAY TWO

All of these tales and fables from The Book of Good Love interpret themes society has about love into stories that incorporates animals, gods and people.  Stanza 189 begins the fable of the 'reckless lad' who wishes to marry three women.  He marries one women and tells her this plan, but he tests his love by his strength to stop the mill stone.  His physical strength can no longer stop the mill stone once he is married, but he falls deeply in love with his first wife and never marries a second one.  The message of love here is that love is a different and unique strength, not comparable to any other strength.  All of these stories ask the reader to think about love in different context.  Relate love to different emotions and human strengths.

The story of the frog and mole tests the truth of love.  That love is something to be grown, developed and trusted.  The frog tells the mole she loves him and will save him from the watery depths, but this love is false, short and fake.  The frog uses the concept of naive love to trick the mole into drowning, but they both end up dying in end.

My favorite fable was at stanza 226.  This was the fable of the mastiff that was selfish and thought he could get two pieces of meat.  The second piece was only a reflection and when attempted to grab this reflection he dropped his original piece of meat into the lake.  Before you let go of what you have you need to trust what you are striving towards.  This didn't exactly include love in the fable, but the importance of human knowledge of the situation.      

AUCX 190: MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES: Songs of Holy Mary (Cantigas de Santa Maria)

I am comparing poems 2 and 4, and also incorporating the introductions.  The introductions gave me a lot of interesting information.  It seemed to me that the author of these poems has a sexual attraction to the Virgin Mary.  I may be incorrect an this could just be religious loyalty.  The author praises Mary and refers to her as the Mother of God and also as She not she. 

Poem two shows the power the Virgin Mary has over even Lords.  She is respected and her voice is feared.  I never thought Mary was depicted in this way.  She seems to want the governmental individuals to fear her, because I am sure she does not understand how government fully works.  But fear is understandable.  She is a powerful woman and this poem tells the story of how she was respected by a Saint.  She also respectable to others and respected by others, a very valuable condition.

Poem four shows Mary as a forgirveful and caring character.  This is the story of Mary confirming the Jew and then saves him from his father.  She forgives the Jew for being Jewish and converts.  This part of the story narrates a conflict between Jews and Christians/Catholics.  Once Mary converts the boy she blesses him so he does not burn when his father throws him into a furnace.  Mary's power is shown here again and like her son Jesus her gifts will travel as rumors and stories around the country. 

AUCX 190: MEDITERRANEAN STUDIES: Troubadour / Trobairitz Poetry

The poems by Trobairitz are from the perspective of noble woman.  The vision I imaged while reading these poems was one of bitter countesses sitting in their rooms sulking about their husbands.  They are of rich family and they were courted by rich men that swooped them off their feet.  These woman were spoiled and fell quickly in love, but this love soon died.  The men were still attractive and went out while the wives stay at home and grow more bitter towards these men.  They turn bitter and grow distant from the husbands that may still love them.  The women are driven mad by solitude and unsure thoughts.  Falling in love was quick and easy for these women, but to keep it strong is difficult and seems to fail at all costs.

Compare these poems by Trobairitz to the poems by Trobadors it is the complete opposite.  Trobairitz's poems are clearly written and the reader can distinguish genders, characters and feelings within the writing.  Trobadors' poems were difficult to understand.  I thought the speaker was in love with a man and woman at the same time, but I think 'he' and 'man' refers to the speaker (himself) or God.  But this man is obsessed with a woman.  I thought she was his lover, but as the poem progresses I discovered she is a woman in his village and he does not talk to her.  So this man is a stalker.  He wishes to become a sparrow and fly to her room.  He is in love with this fantasy, and it kills his heart.  His friends no longer speak to him because of this obsessive love.  This man drives himself into solitude because of this fantasy.  He evens keeps himself from falling in love with real woman who look for it.