After reading pages 71 - 80 in The World that Trade Created, answer the following questions
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
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The author refers to chocolate being a drug and hes kinda right because everyone wanted it and there was such a high demand for it. I mean people today are OBSESSED with chocolate or as they would've called it, cocoa. He provides good examples and backs up his point about it being a drug and i actually do agree with him because yea people were addicted to it like a drug, but also other items like tea or whatever, it was a nice luxury to have.
ReplyDeleteDrugs like tobacco helped civilizations like the Americas or the new empires prospered and grow to as strong as they are today because thats what they had to trade for other items and resources they didn't have. I guess gold and silver could be a drug too because it makes people power hungry and lust for this type of wealth and power. So like the last article we read about, posito or something, they benefited from those silver mines for as long as they were running, even though many many people and slaves died, they didn't care they still got payed and there drug, silver.
These products are huge in our society today i mean especially chocolate, cmon who doesnt like chocolate, its an addiction. I mean i know some people(usually girls) who are like i wouldn't have gone through that problem without chocolate. Also money and power hungry is a huge thing today, also like drugs themselves like marijuana, many many kids and people these days run on it like Dunkin Donuts. So there are many many drugs today in our world today that are harmful in there own unique ways but they are a bug part of our economy and world today, so who knows what would happen if all of it would just disappear and wasn't here.
Wow chris you are such a good writer and you responded to these questions in a intelligent manner, but i disagree with you completely. I dont see chocolate and other commodities should be considered as a drug because its just an addiction, but besides that your stunningly handsome :)
DeleteHaha I agree I'm one of those girls who rely on chocolate sadly. It is true that our economies wouldn't be the same without these driugs on the markets. No joke probably half the money would dissappear. These drugs were luxuries that everyone else wanted and they changed it in order to have them. For example, the Aztecs wouldnt recognize our sugarised milk hot chocolate.
DeleteWow Chris you're so smart...I would totally eat chocolate with that guy. Anyways, I agree with you because our economies would not have received the benefits of the income these Drugs would have brought, and it was traded to many different countries.
Delete-Emmanuel Damanakis
haha, oh chris, i agree with you, though i still consider chocolate as a drug, just like markella said, I'm a lady and chocolate is the only cure that can calm me down in one of my bad moods ;D Your right, our economy wouldn't last without things like chocolate, gold, silver, tobacco...ect. The economy would probably perish without them, i love how you compared marijuana to kids and people running on it like dunkin donuts, it made me laugh :)
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because it had become very popular with the Europeans when it was first introduced. Chocolate was supposedly an aphrodisiac,hallucinogen, and a stimulant. People wanted chocolate a lot and it was a very high commodity afforded only to the aristocracy and later the middle class/everyone else. I do agree with the authors opinion on it being a drug because everyone had wanted it. It was very profitable and empires lager started cultivating it like they did with other drugs such as tobacco. They also changed the meaning of chocolate from being only for the elites to becoming a sugarized version of its former self.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
Some examples of societies would be the Spanish empire who took over control of the chocolate trade. They were the ones who brought it to Europe and introduced it to the rest of the world. It became the primary export agricultural good. Another exa!mple would be the tea drug in Europe, especially england. They taxed the tea trade in order to capitalize on the popularity of it. Tea was originally known as the drink of the aristocracy but later spread to mass market. It became a staple in European lifestyle.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer
These "drugs" are very important in our modern world. As the reading said reliance on taxes on drugs is still one of the main source of public revenue today. These drugs have defined our culture, the English drink tea, Americans drink coffee, Mexicans made hot chocolate, etc. These commodities defined us and are still as important as they were when they were first introduced to the world.
Thought I disagreed that Chocolate is an actual drug, everything else I agreed with. I think you used the text to your advantage and you made some really good points. I'd like to think of chocolate as not a drug, because I eat it. Though I'm not addicted to it, If it was taken away from me I wouldn't g crazy, but actual drugs like tobacco actually have something addictive about them and users feel like they NEED it. Im sorry to disagree and its actually a first, I usually agree with you, you did prove a very good point though.
Delete-Samantha Aversano
Markella, you were what I thought about reading this whole thing with how crazy you are about chocolate. I do agree that it is one of the major money makers in our economy today, and though I've never really agreed with the idea that these drugs define our cultures, bringing that up helps make an even more valid point. go you dude.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteChocolate was deemed as a drug according to the author because Chocolate was greatly desired by the Europeans when it was first introduced. Chocolate was first drunken by people involved in the aristocracy, and as it received more and more popularity, it started to be domesticated by women and children mostly. I agree with the author's opinion that chocolate was a drug because it was very popular with people, since it was a major cash cow at the time, and empires started cultivating their own chocolate, like other empires did with drugs such as sugar or tobacco.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
One example of how "drugs" affected societies would be the cultivation of chocolate by the Spanish. When the Spanish first started to colonize the Americas, they found cacao beans, and used these beans in order to create chocolate. The Spanish started to export chocolate to many empires of the world. Another example of how "drugs" affected societies was the introduction of tea into England. The English started to make income from the taxes they imposed on the tea products because of how popular it was.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer
These drugs are very influential in the modern world. For example, we give each other chocolate on Valentine's Day, and it's available in many places. Coffee has been a great addition into our modern world. Every morning, people buy coffee to start their day off instead of eating breakfast. These items have created a lot of revenue due to the demand of these items.
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DeleteThis is Emmanuel Damanakis FYI
DeleteI think you have the right idea here Manny. These so called "drugs" are integral to our economy, and they produce massive amounts of revenue due to increasing demand amongst consumers. Great work :D
DeleteI agree Damanakis you deserve a slap comment. Drugs over the years have been a valuable contribution to the modern world. Drugs such as chocolate and coffee have been used ritualistically for a plethora of years. One can only imagine the amount of money that has been obtained since their respective discoveries.
DeleteSlap Comment! - Jordan Fickling
ReplyDelete1) The author describes chocolate as a drug because people were addicted to it. They were so addicted to it that it consumed their lives. He does make a good point by describing chocolate as a drug in those times because they had no idea if it had any positive effects, such as dark chocolate being better for you. Although he does clump actual drugs with potatoes and tomatoes, which we need to have a healthy diet. Therefore I don’t agree with him, I think there is a very big distinction between actual drugs and food products we use all the time. Even if chocolate, coffee, or tea was considered drugs because people become addicted to it, then everyday items that almost everyone uses, such as our phones and computers are also ‘drugs’ because many people are addicted to it. I understand its not consumable but neither is a tobacco, you smoke that not eat it.
2)In the 1700 century people all over the world began to smoke, drink and eat the exotic plants from all over the world. Coffee, tea, cocoa, tobacco and sugar all became popular at around the same time because of the immense amount of trade. If a certain place wanted to trade something they would need to get something just as valuable in return. Europe and Asia became addicted to these new exotic plants from America, Africa, and Asia. For three centuries they constituted the most valuable agricultural goods in world trade. In Europe the beverages coffee, tea, and coaco became tied to secular uses, they became mass delights and finally common necessities. The drugs that began as nourishment for spiritual contemplation became the substance of industrial workers. Cacao beans in Central America, tobacco in West Africa, opium in Southwest China, and tea Bricks in Siberian Russia were currency.
3) The ‘Drugs’ such as coffee, tea, and chocolate and drugs such as tobacco are very important to the people of the society. They use these things all the time, all around the world. We have certain places where you can get just these things, like 711 you can get tobacco in cigarettes and coffee, tea, and chocolate from Starbucks. Although, we may use these products all the time, they are not essentials to living. There was a time when the people of the earth hadn’t even heard of these things, but they went on with their lives like they weren’t missing anything. The items such as tea, chocolate, and coffee help the economy a lot, people are always buying these things, just to please themselves. Other drugs such as tobacco are not as good for the economy, although they didn't always know that tobacco was harmful they were hurting themselves by smoking it, even still today, so much so that people have to be hospitalized which affects the economy in a bad way.
-Samantha Aversano
Deletei totally agree with you because today we use so many of these once prized "drugs" in our normal day to day lives. you seen them in everything i mean i know i drink at least 3 cups of tea a day and without it my life would suck. thanks to this mass need for these things it has helped us create international trade and helped countries gain things that they never would have dreamed of. your examples are really good though, it does sometimes hurt the culture (smoking) but atthe same time does help the economy. when it comes to trade though and what people want and what they need theres always a good and a bad.
DeleteI agree with you about the tobacco being bad for you, it's true, however I think that people realize that it's bad, but once they start, they start to "need" it because they get addicted to it. The reason why most people need drugs and everything today is to alter their mind. So i think that "drugs" are kind of necessary for the modern world.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not? I do agree with it because according to his definition of what a drug is (or was), which is “…products ingested, smoked, sniffed, or drunk to produce an altered state of being,” it would be legitimate to call chocolate a drug. Although not by today’s terms, chocolate can be considered a drug as it was covered for its pharmacological effects and rarity, as well as taste. The Cacao bean was used as a stimulant, intoxicant, hallucinogen, and aphrodisiac so yes this definition of what chocolate once was can be considered a drug, although because it had become so popularized many people fail to see that anymore as it has become too common as a food substance rather than its initial economic and pharmacological uses.
ReplyDelete2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world. Before any “drug” became an overproduced mass in the Afro-Eurasian continent; certain food stuffs indigenous to their areas provided the civilizations there with wealth as well as showed the culture through the food. Chocolate used to be a prized from in the Mesoamerican region. It was used not only for pharmacologic purposes but also as money, showing its importance. When the Spanish came to the Mesoamerican region and quickly it became, back in Spain their drink of leisure. It was the first stimulant to gain favor in Europe and thus were able to control its production and distribution turning it into a grand monopoly and profiting from it greatly. Another example of a society whose “drug” changed its economy and culture was Europe during this time. Due to Europe’s great amount of need for 3 drinks tea, coffee, and cocoa, all three had become of major importance to its culture not only improving trade with its mass addiction to the food stuffs, but also developed a place for the things among the aristocracy of the time. Although as time went on and capitalism took over, the “drugs” became common necessities and mass delights.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? I agree completely because, although they are not seen as drugs today, they provide the world with a much needed and wanted commodity and show that as the want for a product increases, its label changes. No longer is coffee or tea seen as a drug but as a daily food source. These products, since they are now known and grown all over the world, when something is not able to grow it leads to great international trade and allows the monopolies to subside and economies and trade to increase on the foods stuffs. Thus these “drugs” are now VERY important to us in the modern day.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteI don’t really agree with the idea of viewing chocolate as a drug regardless of its addicting properties. However, during this time, many civilizations choose to mix chocolate with drugs to stimulate desirable effects. In any case, the idea that chocolate is a drug-like substance seems nonsensical at best.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
These so called “drugs” helped civilizations and empires that cultivated it in one simple way; by creating profit that would stimulate their economies. An example of this idea can be seen through the Spanish empire. After discovering the cocoa bean in the Americas they began to export this “drug” to various empires around the world thus creating immense profits for their empire. Another example can be seen in
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
While many drugs such as tobacco are detrimental by nature, others such as coffee, chocolate and tea are more useful and perhaps beneficial to our society. As far as economics are concerned, all drugs bring in massive amounts of revenue beneficial to the world economy. In other words, these drugs are integral to our economy and without it, the government may have a hard time getting by.
Raj, I agree with you when you say, “…these drugs are integral to our economy and without it, the government may have a hard time getting by.” Overtime, these “drugs” have become an essential part of our economy, where you can’t go a couple of streets without seeing a coffee shop or a convenience store not selling chocolate. Good job Raj!
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate because of the sheer demand and attraction of it, as well as the pleasurable effect it seemed to have on the people. Cacao was considered to be a stimulant/intoxicant, which brought on hallucinations to those who consumed it. On top of that, it was thought to cure anxiety, fever, and coughs in the Aztec civilization. I agree with the author’s opinion, not only because of the known intoxicating effects of the bean itself, but also because of its high demand and reverence in many cultures. Had chocolate been something anyone could easily obtain back then, it is more likely than not that chocolate would have only been known as just another food, let alone its medicinal or hallucinogenic properties.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
Tea was considered the “staple crop” of England, and became increasingly popular amongst the people. Because of this, tariffs on tea, sugar, and tobacco accounted for a significant part of the revenue and economy of England. Another “drug” that was eminent in trades was coffee, which soon was not only for recreational use, but also for religious purposes as well. In the Middle East, caffeine was believed to contribute to wakefulness needed for religious ceremonies. Once these commodities became well known, they brought fortune to the merchants selling them, even to the point where these “drugs” were considered a legitimate currency.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy?
These drugs as very vital to our modern world and economy, not only because they provide a steady in-flow of revenue, but also because people rely on them every day. There isn’t a time where people aren’t drinking coffee or indulging in chocolate based foods, these so called “drugs” have incorporated themselves into not only our diets, but our societies as well. Without these drugs, the world would probably be a different place, where no one worked on Mondays, there was no such thing as Valentine’s Day, and America didn’t run on Dunkin.
Ruchi, I agree with you when you talk about how cacoa was considered to be a stimulant and help with anxiety, fever, coughs, etc. because that is what a drug does. Some drugs help you and others make you crazy but I think that this one helped some people. Chocolate still helps people, mostly girls, but it really does help. I also like how you made the reference to what the world would be like with no Valentines day and people not running on dunking.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe reason that the author refers to chocolate at as a drug is because chocolate would make people have certain side effects. For example it says "Cacoa was considered to be a stimulation, intoxicant, hallucinogen and aphrodisiac." All of these symptoms sound like a possible drug people use today. I agree with the author when he says that the chocolate is a dug because, even though our chocolate today does not give us these symptoms, the chocolate they had did change them and made them more calm or gave them hallucinations. The passage also says "Emperor Moctezuma would imbibe the potion before going to make love to his many wives. The drink also served as a cure for anxiety, fever, and coughs." We also use drugs today that help with things like fever, coughs, and anxiety so yes I can agree with the author when he says that chocolate was a drug.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
It says in the passage that colonial empires were built on the foundation of drug trades. this means that places, such as England and the Middle East, had a strong economy based on the trade they had. England's number one trading product was tea. It was considered the "stable crop" of England, and because it was stable the economy of England was also stable. This is what lead to England putting tax on things such as sugar, tea, and tobacco. They would not only get money for trading the sugar, but taxing it on the citizens of England also brought in a big revenue. Another area that was big on trading because it helped the economy was the Middle East. They were very big on trading coffee because of all the caffeine it had. Caffeine was believed to be a contribution to keep people awake for religious ceremonies. After the contribution was made they became well known and started selling it for money. This money really helped the economy, and after a while it started to become a currency.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
I think that the drug chocolate is the one of the most important Drugs that we sell. America sells about $7 billion dollars a year on chocolate, and with out that money we would probably be in worse debt then what we are in now. Coffee exporting alone is $20 billion dollar industry. All of these "drugs" are some of the top sellers in the world, and I think that is why it has been around for so many years. If it didn't bring in so much money then we wouldn't want it as much. Also holidays such as valentines day, Easter, and Halloween makes us want chocolate more which makes us buy more and stabilize the economy just a little bit.
Dominique, I agree with your answers and I think you did a really good job explaining and supporting your response. The examples of drugs the author described definitely had an impact on our modern world because it has defined our culture. I like how you mentioned "holidays such as valentines day, Easter, and Halloween makes us want chocolate more which makes us buy more and stabilize the economy just a little bit." Drugs such as chocolate, tea and others have created revenue due to the high demand of these items. Other drugs such as tobacco may not be good for their health, but it created wealth and happiness. Great job on your post!
Delete- Alice Mungyu
I agree with Alice. Especially your response to question three was good because I like how you found some outside information to support your opinion on how chocolate does boost the economy(that was above and beyond) and the facts you pull out from the essay were good too.
Delete- Nice!
Blog # 5 - A Culture of Drugs
ReplyDelete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
The author refers to chocolate as a drug because it became very popular with the Europeans when it was first introduced. Described as “an aphrodisiac, hallucinogen, and a stimulant,” chocolate was seen as a drug because it was wanted by the Europeans. I agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug mainly because everyone wanted it. Since chocolate was very profitable, empires started to cultivate it like they did with sugar and tobacco. Like Adva mentioned in her post, although not by today’s terms, chocolate can still be considered a drug as it was covered for its pharmacological effects and rarity, as well as taste.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
One example on how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of the empire is when the Spanish took control of the chocolate trade. They came to the Mesoamerican region and brought it back to Europe. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world which became the primary export agricultural good. Soon they were able to control the production and distribution of cacao beans and turned it into a massive monopoly. Another example on how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of the empire is when the European took control of the tea trade. The English taxed the tea trade and took over it due to its popularity. It became mass delights and common necessities which began as nourishment for spiritual contemplation became the substance of industrial workers.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
These "drugs" are very important in our modern world because they affect and influence us today. It has defined our culture. Drugs such as chocolate, tea and others have created revenue due to the high demand of these items. Other drugs such as tobacco may not be good for their health, but it created wealth and happiness. Because we still use these products today, some of which we use daily, they are very important in our modern world.
-Alice Mungyu
I agree with your statement on how we use these "drugs" daily and that they influence our everyday use, because coffee and tea can become addictive when taken to much. Its actually proven which is kind of scary. But these are still important to use because we have become so reliant on them and how they affect our moods and even behaviors. And you're totally right on how it creates wealth in our lives because without it then there wouldnt be such large businesses that there are today.
DeleteI agree with the fact that drugs help our economy by bringing us wealth but not necessarily happiness although that is what drugs make people feel. I also agree that it is something that is in our everyday use so it helps us by gaining money and tax from it.
DeleteI agree with you because yes these 'drugs' are still very important in our modern world. "Other drugs such as tobacco may not be good for their health, but it created wealth and happiness." It is for pleasure and how it makes one feel. ITs the craving thats addictive.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because chocolate was really popular at the time. Today, chocolate is just candy to us, however drugs were addicting back then, it also lead to some side effects. Drugs are substances that cause a physiological effect when it's ingested to the body. This defines "drugs" today, because of the word "ingested". Chocolate was defined as a drug back then because it was so addicting, it was also profitable since people bought it so often because the taste was so addictive. I agree with the author that chocolate is like a drug because the author mentions that chocolate was "a stimulation, intoxicant, hallucinogen and aphrodisiac" and this definition is similar to how we define drugs today. Drugs can be toxic, can cause hallucination and it was a stimulation. Even though chocolate isn't as bad for you as drugs, it was still considered as a drug because it did cause hallucination. Chocolate also makes people not as depressed. Since feeling depressed is a emotion, chocolate is able to change the brains nerves so you can feel "happy". This is similar to what drugs today, when it's ingested it relaxes your brain and makes you feel "high" or happy. Not only was chocolate like a substance, it also boosted the economy since it was so profitable. Kind of like cigarettes today, a lot of people pay a lot of money just to buy the cigarettes, and the companies are earning a lot of money from that. This is why I agree with the author, Chocolate is somewhat similar to drugs.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
One reason why drugs helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations was because of what drugs were able to do. They were substances that altered the nerves in the brain. One society that took advantage of this were the countries in the Middle East, their "drug" was caffeine, caffeine was able to keep people awake. This was important because people would use this so they can stay awake during long religious ceremonies. However, you couldn't just drink caffeine, caffeine was mainly in coffee, so people had to buy coffee to get the caffeine. Selling coffee meant money, people would buy it so they can stay awake. After people realized that caffeine helped people stay awake, it became a major product at this time. This helped boost the economy since so many people started to buy it. Another example is tea, tea was considered as a "stable crop" which meant that it was easy to get. Tea helped the economy because the English started to tax the tea trade because it was so popular. This meant they were able to earn money from the tea trade, which benefited the economy
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
I think "drugs" are really important in our modern world and economy because some people need it to survive. For example, coffee, a lot of people need it everyday because of the work they have to do. Most people don't get sleep and can't stay awake, however, with coffee they are able to stay awake longer. However, there are drugs that aren't as good, such as cigarettes. Even though they're unhealthy, it's used to create happiness. Coffee, chocolate, and cigarettes are "drugs" that we still use today and without it we probably wouldn't be able to survive.
Jason Chen
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author considers chocolate a drug because of the great popularity of it, and the pleasure it gave people. Cacao was considered to be a stimulant, intoxicant, hallucinogen, and aphrodisiac. Drugs were also used to cure sicknesses just as they believed chocolate cured fevers, and other illnesses. Chocolate also made people feel very happy after they ate it. I do agree with the author that chocolate is a drug, because many people love to buy chocolate there is a huge surplus in our society and many women do crave it, as Chris mentioned in his post.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
One example how "drugs" helped the economy and culture would be chocolate and how the Spanish took control over it. Because they took over it it actually became more popular. They introduced it to the rest of the world increasing the popularity of the chocolate as well. Another example would be caffeine because it was able to keep people going. Since caffeine was to be found in coffee people were able to sell it causing more money in the economies pocket.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
These drugs are important in our modern world and economy because coffee, chocolate and cigarettes are probably one of the most things sold in our economy. Coffee has also become addictive when drinking it often making it more popular to people. The more people crave these items, there is a bigger demand for them in society causing a larger production and money growth for the economy.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because when it first came to Europe many people wanted and appeared to need it. I agree with the way the author said it is a drug because it was supposedly a stimulant. Other empires as well started cultivating their own chocolate just like others did with tobacco or sugar.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
In the passage it mentioned that colonial empires were built on the foundation of drug trades. These drugs helped societies by gaining other products they didn’t have by trading. AN example is the Spanish Empire who took control of the chocolate trade and also in England how important tea was and how much they gained from taxing it.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
Chocolate as a dug in our society now a days is not something necessarily addictive but we do get a lot of money in America from it. Other drugs like tobacco is also something that gives America lots of money every year because of the amount of people that consume it and that’s why the taxes and expense has been raised in cigarettes as well.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because it’s a product that is ingested and heightened senses. For instance: in Mesoamerica some would drink fermented cholate and feel intoxicated by the beans. In the case of Emperor Moctezuma, he would give chocolate to his wives in order to seduce them into laying down with him. All in all, I agree with the author’s opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug because your body is ingesting the product and it can grow to become an addiction on the public.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
Based on the studies of various empires and civilizations around the world, the Aztecs and Africa are two great examples of how “drugs” helped the economy and culture of two societies. For example: for the Aztecs “drugs” occupied a unique position in the Aztec marketing place since the beans were so rare. As for Africa the beans became a “colonial crop”.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy?
These “drugs” are very important in our modern world and economy because people become addicted. Hence, increasing sales.
I agree with your answer. Besides the fact that it is straight to the point, it makes complete logical sense.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because of the high "need" for it in society and it giving off the pleasure to people that it did. I do agree with him calling all these commodities a drug because in today's world there may as well be a diagnosis for people being addicted to chocolate. People say they can't live without it and love it so much, and it is in turn pretty unhealthy depending on the type. Chocolate can make you fat and drugs are unhealthy too causing much more life threatning stuff, but well in a very distant sense they are pretty alike.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
One example of how "drugs" helped the economy could be when the spanish took chocolate from the americas, and brought it back from europe and controlled the trade in this bean. They turned the production and the selling of chocolate into their own cartel like economy and allowed them to prosper. Plus, coffee could have been considered a "drug" in this society too. The demand for coffee in England rose immensely, eventually affecting the population into having 300 coffee houses throughout all of london. People became addicted, and would drink multiple cups a day, due to the effect it gave off on these people.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
These drugs are pretty important in our modern world and economy because of all of the people who drink 16 cups of coffee a day or eat chocolate on a daily basis. Without this, many companies that exist today wouldn't exist at all and the economy wouldnt prosper as much as it has. Without Hersheys, Cadbury, Godiva, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks people wouldn't be as satisfied as they are today, but they wouldn't be addicted either.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because it was an item that had become very well known among the Europeans. At the time people really wanted chocolate and at first it was only entitled to the high class, soon enough it was available to everyone. I do agree with the author's opinion about chocolate being a drug because many people wanted it. It was addicting and it had become very well known among the empires.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
An example of how drugs helped the economy and cultures of empires would be chocolate. When chocolate was over powered by the Spanish, it gained popularity and because of that it got spread throughout the world. A second example could be caffeine and how it become necessary. Do to it being necessary, it was great profit.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
These drugs are very important in our modern world and economy because they still manage to have a large impact on our lives. In some way these drugs have shaped our lives. Chocolate is a drug, a drug associated with good and sweetness and a friend. On the other hand, tobacco isn't exactly the best, but it has still managed to achieve wealth and some sort of happiness for its consumers. Regardless of good or bad, these drugs are important because they have taken a huge role in the way we all live our lives.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteChocolate is considered a drug because the definition of a drug is to heighten, dull or arouse your senses. Chocolate fits those qualities, it became addicting. I agree with it because since the introduction of chocolate it became addictive, many people wanted it.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world. For example, Coffe and tabacco were initially outlawed in consuming countries but the public appeal was so strong the government decided to use money on cultivating the crops instead of using money on drug prevention without a profit. Second example:Arabica coffee to ethiopia.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
I think these drugs are very important in the economy, Tobacco , cigarettes are used all around the world, the price for one pack is around $10 a piece!
If drug companies decided to use their money to prevent their use instead of supporting them the economy would be at a major loss!
I agree with Mohammed, these drugs and commodities both benefit the world and the economy. Choclate and coffee are both very popular with people across the world and have become important in lives such as business workers. Tobacco are used daily at times and creates many which increases money for the country and jump starts the economy. These items create money for the world and their individual economies.
DeleteMohammed I agreed with pretty much everything you said except the part about how chocolate is considered a drug because it is addictive. If you think about it really anything can become addictive. Especially in today's society, they are people addicted to video games, material items, etc., but does that make them all drugs? Besides that, I really liked you answer for number three. I thought you used a good example of how it relates to modern society.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because of how popular and addictive it became to Europeans and Asians. The same thing with coffee, tea, sugar, and tobacco. Also because drugs were seen as both medicines and sacraments. Chocolate was used in the form of medicine because coca was chewed to dampen hunger and cold and also to give people energy, but it became something that people were addicted to. The same thing happened with cocaine. It was first used a pain killer but it became addictive. I agree that chocolate can be considered a drug because of the way it was used and the reasons it was used for, however I don't think that just because it was addictive it was a drug. Really anything can become an addiction, it doesn't mean they are all considered drugs. Even with alcohol, many people can and do become addicted, but people still differentiate drugs from alcohol.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
-Cacao beans in Central America, tobacco in West Africa, opium in Southwest China, and tea bricks in Siberian Russia were used as currency.
-The British found tea more to the advantage of their trade plans in China and India.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
These drugs in our modern world and economy are important because millions of people are making profit off of these things everyday. They might not be a necessity to us, but they are making a lot of people money, and money is a necessity. These drugs have helped shape a lot of the trade and currency systems throughout time and even now it still continues.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with the author's opinion on chocolate being a drug along with other commodities since they all were used for pleasure and luxury. Many went crazy and desired it since it wasn't shared with the world until the Columbian Exchange. Tea,coffee, sugar, and chocolate were all used for luxury and many became addicted to the goodness of it and began to trade with the New World to get these new tastes.
ReplyDelete2.For this I would say tobacco. When the Europeans where settling in North America, they brought in tobacco in order to earn more money and plant other crops in order to have these drugs for themselves. Another would be coffee and tea and how Europeans would create places where they can drink these drugs and be able to smoke cigars and unite themselves together with other men of their social class.
3.Many of these drugs that were used during the 15 and 16th centuries have become modern to us since we constanly use it everyday. An example would be chocolate and coffee. Coffee and chocolate are both broadcasted on television and can be consumed everyday. Due to trade many countries still trade and popularize these products and are still considered drugs since many still use it for pleasure.
1. The author refers to chocolate as a drug because it was vital to people's lives across the globe. Chocolate not only tasted good, but it effected people in a manner that was intoxicating or addicting. I agree that chocolate is considered a drug because it has similar characteristics as any other normal drug would have such as being "stimulant, intoxicant, hallucinogen, and aphrodisiac " The fact that chocolate was desired as much as it was proves how important and rare chocolate was.
ReplyDelete2. Some examples of drugs helping civilizations culturally and economically are was coca to the Andes which was used to dampen hunger and cold and to give energy to workers, it was at first a pain killer, but then used in coca-cola and became a necessity.Also, cacao to Mexico.which is chocolate, as I mentioned before it was very rare before it became a commodity making whoever had it very rich since people were so addicted to it.
3. These drugs are crucial to our modern world since people depend on them and also crucial to our economical development because all of the "drugs" back then are used today. For example, tobacco, cocaine, coffee, and chocolate are still in high demand today because of their "addicting" effects. Even I can honestly say I'm addicted to chocolate. :)
Kaitlyn I agree with you. Especially in the [art were you say that chocolate is a drug. It be very good and effects people in a amnner of being very addictive.
Delete1) - I agree with the author, because it was wanted and people obsessed over it, practically worshipping chocolate. It was also one of the many items that had some much thought and detail put into it, making the delectable treat we know it for today. It was also a medicine and aphrodisiac, which is why i agree that it kind of was a drug.
ReplyDelete2) - Because the spanish empire, took over the chocolate trade and exported it all over europe, it had influenced people, who were fascinated by the treat, to industrialize it, which made it a major economy booster since it was seen in paintings, and people are still obsessed with it today. Tobacco had also been a major economy booster and helped the culture of the americas. Native americans smoked tobacco in religious ceremonies, showing how it was mended into cultures.
3) - These drugs are important to todays modern world and economy because, like chocolate and tobacco, they have made the economy flourish. Even though tobacco is bad for your health, the government can't take it off since it makes the most in our economy. Chocolate isn’t really harmful, it was even considered as a medicine, but it helps soothe and delight us with it’s taste, which also benefits the economy.
I agree with your statement on how these drugs have helped flourish the economy, they certainly have because as you mentioned tobacco and even coffee for instance are the fundamentals of our lives and resultantly also our economy. :) Good Job!
Delete1. The author refers to chocolate as a drug because during that time period, Chocolate was a significant commodity for people around the world. Chocolate became a focal point in people's lives due to its intoxicating effect. I also agree in considering chocolate a drug because of its comparable traits with other drugs and how it can engross people during the 16th and 17th centuries. Chocolate went from an uncommon material to a popular demand internationally.
ReplyDelete2. Some examples of drugs helping civilizations culturally and economically were Tea Bricks valued as currency in Russia and in many other places drugs such as Tobacco and Opium were also treated and used as currency.
3. These drugs are significant to our modernized world because people use these drugs to make a living and a profit. Drugs may not be as significant as it was in our current everyday life however, the wealth gained from these drugs are crucial to the growth and stability of the economy.
- Jordan Fickling
NO RAFFI! GET OUT OF THE BLOG! I also disagree, because not all of us see drugs as be crucial to the stability of the economy. Drugs only account for stability in only a couple of counties, but you make it seem like it accounts for over 427 countries! If I had a son, he would ask me "Dad, why does this man say that all countries rely on drugs?" And you mention drugs EVERY time! While there are some countries like the Dominican Republic that rely on cultivation and export of so called 'drugs', places like norway must export intelligence since they have nothing but flowers to sell.
Delete-zach
I'm from Flushing man...all I know is to write about the significance of drugs and Slap Comment!
DeleteWe are all from Flushing Raffi and you are the only one who has ever said slap comment!
Delete) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug, because drugs are things that when ingested produce an altered state of being. Chocolate gave people an altered state of being intoxicated, especially after it was fermented and even more so if those fermented cacao beans were green. So, by definition of drug in relation to the effects of cacao, chocolate is a drug. Other commodities listed are also drugs, especially the commodities that were actual drugs (the ones that are illegal now) like opium and coca, because these products induced a different state of being in its users. Even products such as coffee and tea, were considered high class and gave a feeling of superiority in its users, altering their state of being mentally. These products also tasted very good which pleased its users immensely. After stating all of this, I would agree that all of these commodities were drugs.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
vanilla- when france took over the vanilla production in the 18th century, they became producers of 80 percent of the worlds vanilla. This made vanilla production one of the largest economic factors in france and also made vanilla be incorporated in culture, because its abundance allowed it to be used in an expendable type of way (perfume, sweetening, etc..) Thus leading to new uses of vanilla.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy?
These drugs are extremely important in todays world and economy, because products such as coffee, tea and chocolate represent tremendous percentages of revenue and production for many different countries. A country such as the Ivory coast which produces one-third of the worlds entire cocoa yield, and after exporting, the revenue created in one-fourth of the ivory-coasts’ entire revenue. Without this one product, the ivory coast would be at a deficit and probably would not be as much of a powerhouse as it is today. This is just one example of how these drugs impact the world economy
-zach
I agree The Player Formerly Known as "Mousecop" you earned a slap-comment come get you some. Drugs that were prominent in the 16th 17th centuries are still extremely significant in the current world and economy. Drugs strongly impact the economy and without it we would not be as stable as we are today.
Delete(I know I have a problem I promise to stop...right after that slap comment. You're the only slap-comment that matters Mousecop!)
-Jordan Fickling
YOU ARE NOT GETTING A SLAP COMMENT!
DeleteMousecop... could I get one more man? I need it for the road to get me on my feet man...
DeleteFine Raffi *looks around* ok.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not? The author refers to chocolate as a drug because it effected many people;s lifestyles across the country. It was addictive and warriors would count on cacao's theobromine to steel them in battle. And others would drink fermented chocolate and feel intoxicated by the beans, especially if they were green. I agree that chocolate was considered a drug because it was considered to be stimulant, intosicant, hallucinogen, and aphrodisiac. It had many characteristics that would've been used as drugs.
ReplyDelete2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
Chocolate occupied a unique position in the Aztec marketplace. Since the Aztec economy was mostly on the basis of face-to-face barter, cacao represented an important opening to monetarization.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
The drugs that were introduced throughout the passage is essential to our modern world and economy because now it is something that is generalized for everyone to have. Such as tea, tobacco, and chocolate became very popular throughout many decades and is still loved by many people which helps those who sell in the market earn more money.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not? The author refers to chocolate as a drug because people became addicted to it as they would with tobacco. I agree with the authors opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug because for someone to consider something a drug means that people 1. become addicted to that substance and 2. for a person to turn to in a time of need and want.
ReplyDelete2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world. "Drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world, for instance tea in England because that's all people ever wanted and they became addicted. The demanding of tea arose quickly therefore taxes on tea grew increasingly larger. Another example would probably be sugar, which quickly spread and as Mr. Sosa said in today's lecture people would steal sugar rather than gold, they raid things.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer. These 'drugs' are important in our modern world and economy because without sugar coffee tea chocolate etc. what would people use to fulfill their cravings or needs and 'addictions.'
Brenda Montero
ReplyDelete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
- The author refers to chocolate as a drug because people become as addicted to chocolate as they would be addicted to a substance of tobacco. Warriors would wait on cacao's theobromine to then be able to steal them in battle. Chocolate in a sense was a luxury. I agree with the authors opinion because a drug is something that you become addicted too and cannot stop using. As for other things such as various foods, shopping, and alcohol; people can become addicted as well just because they enjoy the "rush" or the feeling they earn or relieve from it. Not only can drugs mess you up, but too much of anything that you may be addicted to is not good for you.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
-One example could be vanilla, France took over the vanilla production within the eighteenth century, they became producers of eighty percent of the worlds vanilla. Another example would be the chocolate tree in Mexico; it was terribly rare before it became a part of trade with goods creating whoever had it extremely wealthy since individuals were very dependent on it. One more example would be caffeine for the Spaniards.It was able to keep individuals going. Since coffee was to be found in low individuals, they were able to sell it inflicting extra money within the economies pocket.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
-These "drugs"are important to our modern world and economy because it is basically what people live on. Advertisements promote the "drugs" that our modern societies produce whether it is promoting foods, clothes etc. There are so many different types of things in our society that could be considered a drug that you can be addicted to almost anything.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDelete"Cocoa was considered to be a stimulant, intoxicant, hallucinogen, and aphrodisiac. Warriors would count on cocoas theobromine to steel them in battle. Others would drink fermented chocolate and feel intoxicated by the beans, especially if they were still green. And men such as the Emperor Moctezuma would imbibe the potion before making love to their many wives." Since drugs are a chemical substance used in the treatment of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being, I would say that Chocolate may or may not work as a drug for you depending on your body. As it explained in the article that drugs have transformed their meanings, uses so even though once upon a time cocoa could have been used as in intoxicant/drug it doesn't today, cause if it did it'd be inimical for all the cocoa loving children of today.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
1.The Spanish doted on chocolate because of their dominion over most of latin america, which had a natural monopoly on cocoa until the traders later moved it to africa.
2.The british, who were the first europeans to become coffee crazed, found tea more to the advantage of their trade plans in China and India. Coffeehouses served as centers for trade politicking in Europe.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
These drugs are important to our modern world and economy as these were things that had helped transformed our modern world and economy. When the trades of goods like coffee,sugar, tea, tobacco, and chocolate started to come into persistent occurrences during the trades it showed countries developing and individualizing. Now most of us are aware of many things that make up a country like for instance coffee in america, tea for the british and sugar for mostly everyone. These are some goods that pop up in our heads as we speak of countries, and we often forget that these "drugs" haven't necessarily originated in their corresponding countries, they were at one point introduced by trade before people began to domesticate right from home.
1)Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because of the fact that it was so popular at the time. As chocolate got discovered, and became popular, more and more people wanted it. As chocolate was originally for upper class, it got more popular and middle class and etc had access to chocolate as well. I agree with the author. I think chocolate is a drug because of the fact that it can be “addictive.” In my personal opinion, chocolate is tempting, satisfying, and gives me feel so happy when I eat it just like a ‘drug.’ I cannot contain myself when it comes to chocolate. It’s a drug.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
The “drugs” helped the economy and culture because of the profit it made. The “drugs” were great things to trade with and helped the economy a lot. For example, the Spaniards discovered Chocolate, and the Middle East discovered coffee. When they realized how good it was and how badly people wanted it, it grew and became popular.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
I think drugs as in chocolate and coffee is very important. For an example, so many Americans drink at least one cup of coffee today. Some people can’t ‘function’ without it. Therefore I think it’s very important to our society. Also, cigarettes and alcohol beverages are very harmful things, but helps our modern world as well. There are so many people who buy those products, where the government gets a lot of taxes from it and helped the economy.
1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteThe author refers to chocolate as a drug because of its addictive properties and the high demand for the product during the Colombian Exchange. I disagree with the authors opinion on chocolate because although it has some similar properties to drugs, I still cannot see something like chocolate killing somebody like other drugs such as meth and cocaine.
2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
Chocolate helped the Spanish because they were able to monopolize the product and control the trade of the product throughout the world and became rich because of the high demand for the product. another product is sugar which was in high demand after the Europeans introduced it to the world and were able to make huge profits from sugar.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy?
These products are very important in modern economy because they still are an important part of our daily lives. However their is much larger production of these products and it people don't go as crazy for them as when they were first introduced to the world.
I can agree, they are important to us today and are part of our daily lives. and I can also agree that people don't go crazy then they used to. however maybe if these weren't introduced maybe nothing would be changed. Except the economy would go down a little. These drugs are only good to the sense that it gives humans pleasure no other reason really. None these drugs are exactly healthy for us.
Delete1) Explain why the author refers to chocolate as a drug. Do you agree with the author's opinion about chocolate and other commodities being a drug? Why or why not? This is because of the popularity it received once it was discovered in the new world. Many people were making chocolate ranging from different countries. Also due to the fact that it has many addictive chemicals inside of the cocoa in which it is produced from. I can agree with it because chocolate can be addictive, and since it is so popular people can't really resist it.
ReplyDelete2) Using examples from at least two societies, explain how "drugs" helped the economy and culture of various empires and civilizations around the world.
Coffee, they established coffee places in which people gather to enjoy (especially the rich) In the turkish society.
Tea, not like coffee, tea actually improved the economy because of the taxes that were placed on it from England.
3) How important are these drugs in our modern world and economy? Respond to at least one other person's answer.
These are important because they give us a variety, and caffeine can help us get stimulated. It is good for out economy because it increases the revenue that goes to the government while giving people the joy of these drugs. Although not all may be healthy like tobacco, it still makes people addicted and it makes them feel good. They are important to the sense it gives us pleasure.