Ottoman Empire

While reading the document regarding the Ottoman Empire, I found things that I found very interesting that I made comparisons to. When reading the information based on “The Classical Ottoman Administrative System,” it reminded me a lot of “The Code of Hammurabi.” The empire reached the height of its success under successor, Sultan Suleyman Kanuni. The empires administrative system was based off of his power and his set laws. The reason I compare this to The Code of Hammurabi is because of Hammurabi’s let laws in a system referred to as “Eye for an Eye.” Hammurabi had much power much like Suleyman, which let him set his own administrative justice system. The second thing that I found interesting was the power that The Ottoman Empire had. On the fourth page it reads: “In the classical Ottoman system, the sultan’s servants were slaves, many of them children taken from Christian villages in the Balkans.” The Ottoman Empire had taken over by force and forced people to form to their ways. That is what I fear when I think of an empire, due to its high form of power and the way in which it was received.

Dante and Muhammad

 The thing I liked when I was reading this passage was the entrance into the story. When the author discusses his first hand view and experiences through battle, it is clear that it is something that means a lot to him because he had to go through something very painful and torturous. He enters the story by basically sayiing "who dares to reiterate the story of which they didn't under go." This sets the tone for what the author of the passage was going to speak to the reader about. In the story, the author shows grieve towards what he was going through when he speaks of what he witnessed with a painted picture:

"One foot raised, halted in mid-stride, Mohammed spoke these words, then setting down that foot, went on his way. Another, with his throat pierced through and nose hacked off just where the brows begin, and only one ear left upon his head, stopped with the rest of them to gape in wonder and, before the others did, opened his windpipe, scarlet on the skin side as it was, to say: 'O you whom guilt does not condemn and whom I saw above in Italy, if in your likeness I am not deceived, 'should you ever see that gentle plain again." Through this source of imagery, it makes the reader understand why the writer uses the tone of writing that he does. The writer went through something he feels that no man should have to see but at the same time the ones who went through it are the only ones who have the right to speak of its occurrence.

Reading through these stories in the Decameron I came across the first day, third story the story of Melchisedech a Jew and Saladin who is trying to set him up. This story I believe really reflects the theme of love throughout the whole story on multiple people. Throughout the story the father who is growing old is forced choose who to leave his ring to, which in turn means whoever is left with the ring is the true heir and honored as the head of the family by all others. The father though, having 3 sons was forced to pick his favorite and leave the ring in his possession to claim the inheritance. The father loving his three sons equally could not choose who to leave his ring to, so he had two other rings made identical to the real ring, making the ring so identical you cannot tell which is the real one. As the father was dying the three sons came to claim their inheritance, all showing there rings to prove they were the true heir. As they saw they all had a ring they were all very confused, but without any fight they all accept that they were all heir. They left it undecided as to who the real heir was, never to this day finding out who had the real ring. They all just accept that they had a ring, never to find out who actually had the real one. I believe the theme of love is first indicated by the dying father, as he love all his sons equally he wants to please them all, and does so by making all believe they are the true heir. And again by the three sons who all are willing to accept being heir alongside there other brothers. 

While reading through these reading the book of Margery Kempe kept me interested and had great connection throughout the story. I believe Kempe finds these holy sites so intense because she feels a direct connection to these powerful places, as if she were reliving the suffering that Christ had endured. On page 107 it is stated that "she entered that holy place, she fell down with her candle in her hand, as if she would have died for sorrow. And later she rose up again with great weeping and sobbing, as though she had seen our Lord buried right in front of her." Kempe feels the pain that the Christ felt by basically reliving the events that he suffered through, through vividly real thoughts of the events. Women being inferior to men was what was known during this time, but Kempe was very independent and strong willed. By setting out on this journey, the travel allowed her to be rejuvenated, allowing her to show he devotion, loyalty and love for Jesus. I really believe that Kempe shows her love for God by the rush of emotions she gets while reliving the visions of that he suffered through. She was deeply affected by his suffering, as if she herself was suffering with him. When seeing someone you truly care for suffer you can "feel" there pain. You may not be actually suffering as they are, but seeing them suffer causes you grief because you never want to see them in pain. This is exactly how Kempe is reacting in this story, she is suffering because the Lord is suffering.

Book of Good Love (Day 2)

In the story of the mountain girl, the actual theme was quite unclear until the end. As the arch priest sets off on a journey through the mountains he is faced with a obstacle of the mountain girl, actually multiple mountain girls. For him to pass by these mountain girls he needs to present them with presents or face the rath of not paying the toll. The arch priest promises the wildest presents, anything that these mountain girls are requesting, he's agreeing to have to present to these girls. Knowing he will never be able to give them these things he gets by and promises them on the way back, only to avoid their path on the journey back. Everytime though, that he avoids the same path he is only getting himself into a bigger mess, he meets a different mountain girl on every path and soon finds himself in debt with multiple girls, he knows he will never be able to pay. As the story ends it makes a statement that a man with no money's ill make promises he does intend to keep. While already being poor, he has nothing to lose if he does not make the promises he will be doomed for sure, but making ese promises only put off his misery temporarily. Twice in the wary a similar quote is used which really had great meaning to the lesson of the story. First quoted in the first paragraph, "if you seek what you haven't lost, you will lose what you will lose what you have" and again towards the middle of the story "don't leave what you have got for what you have yet to get" which really is what this man is doing throughout the story, leaving what he had because of a whim that life may be better on the other side, only left him with nothing in the end; even less then what he began his journey with.

Book of Good Love (Day One)

When starting this reading it opens with a prologue in verse form, this prologue really to me is using examples to prove how powerful the Lod God really is. At first the writer is writing from a prison in hopes that will all the power and wisdom God holds he will have the control to release this man from prison and free him from his sufferings. After reading the second prologue written in prose sinning was the main theme, the thought that this action of sinning was accepted for the reason that everyone does it. Sinning is unavaoidable so in turn it is alright, but next I was forced to think differently. It is spelled out quite clearly that this prologue does not exactly mean what we are made it to believe. Sinning is not ok, nor is speaking or agreeing with evil but that sinning is a way to protect ourself. We dont sin unless we are benefitting ourselves in some way, unless sinning is absolutley necessary. So I believe sinning is not accepting or encouraged but I do believe that sinning is something that everyone does, it happens and quite honestly sinning is a way of life happening to everyone at some point in there lives, which is falsely deceived as acceptable.

Troubadour / Trobairitz Poetry

While choosing a poem from Trouadour I like the first poem J'aufre Rudel. This is a poem where I could find myself relating directly to the author. The words felt like something that I could speak at this moment. The struggle with love being away, either leaving love because of distance which is sounds like in this poem; or a long distance relationship like in my care. The main character speaks up how love he is craving is far away. This is the way I feel, after leaving home for college in September I also left my boyfriend. One quote really stuck in my mind, "the path is blocked to my desire". This meaning you know what your desire is and you know how it will make you feel once you've gotten it but you can see it , it is too far the distance in this quotation is the blocking that is denying you what you most desire.

In the second poem form Trobairitz a women is most clearly telling the story by talking and repeatedly referring to a boy throughout the boy. The way i interpreted this poem was the women is saying and encouraging other to live with an open heart. Love the ones you think you love and take it from there, stop over thinking and go with your heart. But this women's love does not turn out so great, she loves a man and the relationship does not go as planned. They are not perfect for each other, though she loves him a relationship with her open heart didn't make them love each other.

The difference between these stories and how you can tell if a boy or a girl is big is by what the main character is done. The first poem talk all about a boy and loving a girl thought the distance is what is keeping them apart and in the second poem the women author relates directly to loving a boy