Joseph Stalin and Totalitarianism

Totalitarianism is a state regulation of nearly every aspect of public and private behavior.

Film Lesson: Doctor Zhivago

The film takes places during the Russian Revolution. It depicts the Revolution during the years of Bloody Sunday. The Russian people wanted a change during that time because of their defeat during WWI. During the beginning of the Revolution, Russia was ripe for it and it all began with the fall of Czar Nicholas II. The film also depicts communism by the common ownership of the means of production. In the movie, Dr. Zhivago was given a hand at communism when his home was taken over by communists.

Causes of WWI

World War I began in 1914 and lasted through 1918. But it wasn't known as WWI until WWII began, it was known as 'The Great War'. Prior to the war, there were causes like nationalism, militarism, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Nationalism was ignored in 1815 for the settlement of the Congress of Vienna. Germany and Italy were both left divided and revolutions occurred before their unification in 1861 and 1871. What also caused the war was the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. What occurred in the end was that France lost in the war. Militarism was another cause of the war. Before 'The Great War', the militaries of all the countries were coming up with plans for mobilization. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand occurred on June 28, 1914. After his assassination, it began fast-moving events and to the beginning of 'The Great War' in the next month.

The Opium Wars

The Chinese people didn't want to accept any imports from other countries. Then the British imported a drug that the Chinese won't reject. The drug is a pain killer and it was called Opium. It started working in the beginning, but then Chinese people started getting addicted to the drug. The emperor of Yongzheng wrote a letter to the British to tell them that they don't want any more Opium, but the British said no and a war began. The First Opium War began in 1834 and lasted through 1843. The Chinese suffered a humiliating defeat because of their outdated ships, but the British ships had cannons.

"The White Man's Burden"

The reason that the poem is titled "The White Man's Burden" is that it talks about the time of American colonalization.

"The Scramble for Africa"

The Scramble for Africa began in 1881 when France moved into the continent. Other European countries that came in was Britain, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Italy. The African country that remained independent during that time was Ethiopia.

Film Lesson: "Mountains of the Moon"

In the movie, the Europeans experienced life in a dessert and they found it hard. There were a lot of insects that come out in the nightime and the explorers have to wear nets.