M3 WOW! (HISTORY)

M3 Discussion 2: WOW! Lesson

  Unlocked: Monday, October 25, 2021 12:01 AM MDT - Sunday, November 7, 2021 11:59 PM MST.Subscribe

Overview

The WOW discussion is an opportunity to share with the class something that surprised you in your reading, research, or study of the topics we cover in this module. As you read and watch the stories that make up our history, look for things that make you say to yourself "I didn't know that" or "WOW! That's cool!". You will convert this fun fact or pertinent point into a mini-lesson on the topic and share it with your peers in this discussion.

This assignment is designed to help you develop an internal dialogue while reading and studying history. An internal dialogue while reading makes us more effective readers and efficient learners as it improves understanding and memory of story told in the text.

Instructions

WOW! Lesson

1. While reading the e-text, and explorations, as well as watching the video clips in this module, write down several WOW "I didn't know that" or "That's amazing!" facts.

2. Select one WOW! fact that you noted and write at least 3 critical thinking** questions about this topic. **Critical thinking questions are questions that require you to analyze information and form a judgment. Questions such as When was X born? are not critical thinking questions.

3. Research and find the answers to your WOW! fact questions. If you can't find a definitive answer to a question, look for interesting related topics and list them as your answer.

4. Use your questions and answers to build a WOW! lesson for your classmates (as described below). This may be the only thing your classmates learn about your WOW! fact and you are the teacher, so please be thorough!

Formatting

1. At the top of your discussion post, state the WOW! fact (as a quote or paraphrase) followed by an in-text citation of your fact's source. Use in-text citation (not bibliographic citation) in APA, MLA or Chicago Style format.

2. Write a paragraph (3 – 5 sentences in addition to your quote or paraphrased information) about why that information excited you or why you found it interesting.

3. Below the paragraph, list each WOW! fact question followed immediately by your researched answer of at least a paragraph in length (3 sentences minimum). Each answer should also include an in-text citation or note in APA, MLA or Chicago Style format. (Note: this is a total of at least 4 in-text citations in your post and quotations should be used minimally in your answers or not at all).

4. Include a bibliographic list (References, Works Cited, or Bibliography as appropriate) for all the sources you used for research. Remember these should be appropriate research resources – no tertiary sources.

WOW Examples

Example WOW APA Example WOW MLA Example WOW Chicago Style

Posting

1. Post your WOW! lesson to the discussion to share with classmates. (While your instructor reads posts and shares comments as necessary, this discussion is intended to be a student-led conversation.)

2. Respond to at least two classmates' WOW assignments with two additional questions each that keep the discussion moving forward. Your responses should be both reflective and respectful as you pose your questions.

3. Reply to any questions asked of your WOW! thread. (2 peers)

Reference: http://media.ccconline.org/ccco/2020Master/HIS111/eText/Sections/Section3/Page9.html

peer 1 (response needs to be 150 words)

(Samantha Davis)

Mansa Musa was an emperor of the Mali Empire. His presence in stories always comes with the information about how much money he had. In our module he is credited with being the richest man in the world saying “imagine as much gold as you think a human being could possess and double it”. As a trading post for gold, Musa had access to as much as his heart desired. He was also a devote Muslim and took an epic hajj, which is an Islamic pilgrimage, to Mecca. This had a huge impact on both the religious and economic worlds he touched. (Module 3)

1. Why did Musa do a hajj?

Following in the footsteps of prior rulers of the Mali Empire, Musa wanted to show his devotion and solidarity with the rest of the Islamic world. He brought with him as many followers and as much wealth as he could manage. (Goodwin)  

1. How was the gold trade affected by Musa’s hajj?

Mansa Musa brought with him several hundred camels weighed down with gold. He gave this gold to the rulers of Cairo as he passed through on his way to Mecca. He gave them so much that it devalued gold by 25% and impacted the gold trade for at least a decade (Gomez). 

1. A couple of times in my research there were distinctions about what kind of Muslim the subject was. As someone uneducated in religion, this confused me. What is the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims?

The differences between these two sects are not over religious clashes, but politics and leadership. When the prophet Muhammad died, a diagreement on who should take over began. The Shia the successor should be a blood relative, while the Sunni felt an honorable Muslim was sufficient. (Chuck)

References

Chuck, Elizabeth. “What Are the Differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?” NBC News, NBC Universal News Group, 5 Jan. 2016, www.nbcnews.com/news/mideast/what-are-differences-between-sunni-shiite-muslims-n489951.

Gomez, Michael A. (2018). African Dominion: A New History of the Empire in Early and Medieval West Africa. Princeton University Press. ISBN 9780691196824.

Goodwin, Astley John Hilary. “The Medieval Empire of Ghana.” South African Archaeological Bulletin 12 (1957).

“Module 3.” The Rise of Islam & Africa, Colorado Community Colleges Online, media.ccconline.org/ccco/2020Master/HIS111/eText/Sections/Section3/Page11.html.

peer 2 (response needs to be 150 words)

(Carmen Nelsch)

In the Etext section of The Songhai Empire at Gao, (1450 - 1600 CE) there is a part that stood out was that the fall of the Shangai Empire was due to "new technology, muzzle-loading firearms, to defeat the Songhai troops." (Etext) in Morocco in 1591 and it got me thinking a few things about how gunpowder literally changed the way warfare and military tactics were used back then: 

How is gunpowder made and where did it come from? 

According to Michael A. Rosen gunpowder or "black powder" was made out of sulfur, sulfate, charcoal, and potassium nitrate and was made in China in the 9th century. (Rosen, 2006) When these elemental are mixed, it was called "serpentine" and it was very risky to make due to the Sulfur since it is a combustible metalloid. The manufacturing of black powder was mainly made for fireworks during festivals in Asia and is classified differently in different countries. 

What Impact did gunpowder have on warfare?

During the Sung Dynasty, gunpowder was used against mongols in the 13th century when the Mongol Dynasty tried invading China.  In the 14th century, black powder was adopted in Europe where we come to the 100 year war started between the French and English about who was a rightful heir to the french crown. At this time handguns were not used but cannons were. Handguns weren't around till the mid 15th century. handguns become a revolutionary warfare weapon that allowed soldiers of all military to allow a small portable cannon in hand and changing military tactics to what we know today. 

The Impact Of Gunpowder On Warfare. (2018, August 28). GradesFixer. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://gradesfixer.com/free-essay-examples/how-did-gunpowder-change-warfare/

Rosen, M. A. (2006, July 30). Historical Aspects and Black Powder manufacturing. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from http://www.civilwarartillery.com/disarm/blackpowder.htm