Changes

Some might say that the publication of the King James Bible was even more significant than the settlement at Jamestown.  This version of the Bible, which became known as the "Authorized Version," was a spectacular work that transformed and elevated the entire English language to new heights.

Some might say that the publication of the King James Bible was even more significant than the settlement at Jamestown.  This version of the Bible, which became known as the "Authorized Version," was a spectacular work that transformed and elevated the entire English language to new heights.

With the King James Bible as the "gold standard" for proper English, the language then grew upon this foundation at a rate of about 1000 new words per year.<ref>See [[Essay:Best New Conservative Words]].</ref>  This enables English to constantly improve its ability to express concepts.  English easily incorporates and adapts words from other languages, such as "detente" (French for a lessening in tensions between nations) and "tsunami" (Japanese for a massive tidal wave).

With the King James Bible as the "gold standard" for proper English, the language then grew upon this foundation at a rate of about 1000 new words per year.<ref>See http://conservapedia.com/Essay:Best_New_Conservative_Words.</ref>  This enables English to constantly improve its ability to express concepts.  English easily incorporates and adapts words from other languages, such as "detente" (French for a lessening in tensions between nations) and "tsunami" (Japanese for a massive tidal wave).

English has the smallest alphabet of widely used languages;<ref>Some describe the Hebrew alphabet, without vowels, as having only 22 characters, but modern Hebrew (spoken by a few million people) has more characters than English.  See http://www.omniglot.com/writing/hebrew.htm .</ref> this compact simplicity gives English an advantage, particularly in using computers.  For example, modern English lacks accented letters (such as the dots over the "e" in "noël"), hybrid letters (such as the "æ" used in British spelling like "encyclopædia"), and pictograph characters.

English has the smallest alphabet of widely used languages;<ref>Some describe the Hebrew alphabet, without vowels, as having only 22 characters, but modern Hebrew (spoken by a few million people) has more characters than English.  See http://www.omniglot.com/writing/hebrew.htm .</ref> this compact simplicity gives English an advantage, particularly in using computers.  For example, modern English lacks accented letters (such as the dots over the "e" in "noël"), hybrid letters (such as the "æ" used in British spelling like "encyclopædia"), and pictograph characters.

English features easy interchangeability of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, without much variance in form for pronouns and verbs. That promotes communication through brief, cryptic messages if necessary, the style preferred by electronic media.  English enjoys a powerful pipe-like quality, such that one phrase can be cut and pasted to another phrase with ease.  Computer-based cutting and pasting text works more efficiently in English than in many other languages, such as those using pictorial characters. This gives English an advantage in the internet medium, and about 80% of the internet uses English. English is now the second most widely spoken language in the world, with only Chinese dialects spoken by more people. English is overwhelmingly the second language of choice for non-English-speaking people.<ref>See Barbara Wallraff, “What Global Language?” 286 Atlantic Monthly No. 5, at 52 (Nov. 2000) (noting that “English is the working language of the Asian trade group ASEAN” and is also “the official language of the European Central Bank”).</ref>

English features easy interchangeability of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, without much variance in form for pronouns and verbs. That promotes communication through brief, cryptic messages if necessary, the style preferred by electronic media.  English enjoys a powerful pipe-like quality, such that one phrase can be cut and pasted to another phrase with ease.  Computer-based cutting and pasting text works more efficiently in English than in many other languages, such as those using pictorial characters. This gives English an advantage in the internet medium, and about 80% of the internet uses English. One out of every five people in the world speak English; it is the most popular second language in non-English-speaking countries.<ref>See Barbara Wallraff, “What Global Language?” 286 Atlantic Monthly No. 5, at 52 (Nov. 2000) (noting that “English is the working language of the Asian trade group ASEAN” and is also “the official language of the European Central Bank”).</ref>

==The Age of Exploration==

==The Age of Exploration==

Slavery, though not considered part of the Columbian Exchange, became a hurtful form of trade.  In 1455, a “papal bull” (formal letter by the pope) justified a “right” of Christian nations to enslave any non-Christians in the name of exploration.  The Spanish had already been enslaving South American natives on a limited basis, but with the rise of sugar plantations, the need for a larger slave force arose.  Millions of African slaves were brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Mexico, Peru, the Caribbean and especially Brazil.  The growth of sugar — which had first been introduced to Europe when the Muslims ruled Spain — was exploding in popularity throughout the entire western world.  Soon France, the Netherlands and Great Britain were also establishing profitable sugar plantations in the new world.  The plantation system began in Brazil, where rich white plantation owners were the highest rung in the social hierarchy and the enslaved Africans were at the bottom.  Obviously life on a sugar plantation was very hard work for a slave.   

Slavery, though not considered part of the Columbian Exchange, became a hurtful form of trade.  In 1455, a “papal bull” (formal letter by the pope) justified a “right” of Christian nations to enslave any non-Christians in the name of exploration.  The Spanish had already been enslaving South American natives on a limited basis, but with the rise of sugar plantations, the need for a larger slave force arose.  Millions of African slaves were brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Mexico, Peru, the Caribbean and especially Brazil.  The growth of sugar — which had first been introduced to Europe when the Muslims ruled Spain — was exploding in popularity throughout the entire western world.  Soon France, the Netherlands and Great Britain were also establishing profitable sugar plantations in the new world.  The plantation system began in Brazil, where rich white plantation owners were the highest rung in the social hierarchy and the enslaved Africans were at the bottom.  Obviously life on a sugar plantation was very hard work for a slave.   

[[Slavery]] was widespread within Africa itself, and the richest in Africa were not those owning the most land, but those who owned the most slaves.  In the Sahara Desert, slaves worked in caravans and were used in gold and salt mining.  Slaves were usually prisoners of war from other areas of Africa, or debtors, or enemies of the king, but many women outside of those three categories were also enslaved in African societies.  Polygamy — the practice of having more than one wife — was common in Africa, as was the existence of harems, from which African women were often sold to join Arabian or Middle Eastern harems.   

[[Slavery]] was widespread within Africa itself, and the richest in Africa were not those owning the most land, but those who owned the most slaves.  In the Sahara Desert, slaves worked in caravans and were used in gold and salt mining.  Slaves were usually prisoners of war from other areas of Africa, or debtors, or enemies of the king, but many women outside of those three categories were also enslaved in African societies.  Polygamy — the practice of having more than one wife — was common in Africa.   

The trading of slaves with other countries was encouraged in Africa, and was considered an important component of the African economy.  Slave trade across the Atlantic (the Trans-Atlantic slave trade) became a booming business for Europeans and Africans alike, by which African rulers sold their people to Europeans for goods such as iron, alcohol, tobacco and guns.  Trans-Atlantic trade led to the degrading use of “chattel” slaves, whereby the slaves were treated purely as property of the owner.  The slaves served as sailors, skilled craftsmen or farmers.  The journey across the Atlantic, known as the Middle Passage, led to the death of 10-20% of the African slaves.  But an even higher percentage lost their lives in the journey from their homes in Africa to the African coast, where they were to board the slave ships.  

The trading of slaves with other countries was encouraged in Africa, and was considered an important component of the African economy.  Slave trade across the Atlantic (the Trans-Atlantic slave trade) became a booming business for Europeans and Africans alike, by which African rulers sold their people to Europeans for goods such as iron, alcohol, tobacco and guns.  Trans-Atlantic trade led to the degrading use of “chattel” slaves, whereby the slaves were treated purely as property of the owner.  The slaves served as sailors, skilled craftsmen or farmers.  The journey across the Atlantic, known as the Middle Passage, led to the death of 10-20% of the African slaves.  But an even higher percentage lost their lives in the journey from their homes in Africa to the African coast, where they were to board the slave ships.  

In the book’s climax, Salviati supposedly proves the Copernican system by citing the movement of the tides.  This theory of Galileo’s was completely false and had already been disproved by Kepler.

In the book’s climax, Salviati supposedly proves the Copernican system by citing the movement of the tides.  This theory of Galileo’s was completely false and had already been disproved by Kepler.

Catholic Church officials were furious about this book and the Inquisition banned its sale.  Galileo was summoned to Rome.  Unlike Luther, Galileo remained a Catholic and fully accepted whatever judgment the Church would render against him.  His “trial” was a bit of a farce, probably put on for show more than anything, with Galileo living in plush quarters at all times.  At the end of the trial Galileo was required to live in a house where the Church could keep an eye on him, much as the American government interned Japanese Americans during World War II to keep an eye on them.<ref>This internment during wartime was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in ''[[Korematsu v. United States]]'', but is controversial today.</ref>  Galileo was not imprisoned.  Galileo then continued his scientific work but was kept from embarrassing the Church further.  Galileo never split from the Church and completely accepted his punishment.

Catholic Church officials were furious about this book and the Inquisition banned its sale.  Galileo was summoned to Rome.  Unlike Luther, Galileo remained a Catholic and fully accepted whatever judgment the Church would render against him.  His “trial” was a bit of a farce, probably put on for show more than anything, with Galileo living in plush quarters at all times.  At the end of the trial Galileo was required to live in a house where the Church could keep an eye on him, much as the American government interned Japanese Americans during World War II to keep an eye on them.<ref>This internment during wartime was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in ''[[Korematsu v. United States]]'', but is widely criticized today.</ref>  Galileo was not imprisoned.  Galileo then continued his scientific work but was kept from embarrassing the Church further.  Galileo never split from the Church and completely accepted his punishment.

There were other noteworthy scientists during this era.  [[Vesalius]] advanced the understanding of anatomy for medical doctors.  [[William Harvey]] explained the circulatory system in human anatomy.  [[Rene Descartes]] was a French mathematician and philosopher who discovered [[analytical geometry]] and famously declared, “I think, therefore I am.”  [[Francis Bacon]] promoted research based on experimentation.

There were other noteworthy scientists during this era.  [[Vesalius]] advanced the understanding of anatomy for medical doctors.  [[William Harvey]] explained the circulatory system in human anatomy.  [[Rene Descartes]] was a French mathematician and philosopher who discovered [[analytical geometry]] and famously declared, “I think, therefore I am.”  [[Francis Bacon]] promoted research based on experimentation.