Our Core Concentration blog assignment for today was to explain several Chinese achievements and tell which one we thought personally was the greatest and why. This ties in with our current History unit on China. 

China was and is one of the greatest and longest-lasting civilizations the world has ever known. During its many Golden Ages, it achieved many great things. Many revolutionary inventions still seen today trace their origins to China. Most of the achievements we're studying, though, come from two famous dynasties, or ruling families, in China - the Song and Tang. 

China, as mentioned above, is the source of many great historical achievements, including inventions like gunpowder, the iron and coal industry, movable-type printing, and a type of calculator used in banking called an abacus. Personally, I think the most important invention to come out of China was the use of paper money as currency. Before this was invented, metals were used to make coins as currency all over the world. When the then-called "flying money" was invented, it was frowned upon. Soon after in the Song dynasty, it became the official Chinese currency. Nowadays it is used all over the world. We call our own paper money "dollar bills".

This particular assignment ties into our unit because as well as learning about the history of China, we're also learning about its greatness, achievements, and legacy. Inventions from China are seen all around us. They helped shape the civilization, attitude, and history as well as the world. Paper money definitely made trade within villages and with other civilizations just that much more easy and up-to-date.

Our Core Concentration blog assignment for today was to name three things we are thankful for and explain why we are thankful for them.

The first thing I am thankful for is my family. This seems like a basic answer, but when you think about it, your family is like your very first teachers. They handed life to you and they help you through it. That's the best gift you can give in life, I think. So many children across the world do not have parents or families to help them, but I am grateful for what my parents do for and give to me. 

The second thing I'd like to say I'm thankful for is the Internet. The Internet has become not only a method of international communication, but one of the ways to reach out into the world. I am so privileged to have these technological advantages and this type of enriched education thanks to computers and the Internet as well as basic things like writing and reading. The Internet is rapidly changing the face of the future and our species. 

The third and probably oddest thing I'm thankful for is The Beatles. That sounds like a stupid thing to say, but The Beatles influenced everyone and everything around them, including myself and my outlook on many things. Anything that makes you happy enough to dance around to is worth thanking.

There are a lot of other things that I'm certainly thankful for, too, but those are the main three. Most of all, I'm thankful that I'm alive, go to a good school, and am on track to get a good education. Thanksgiving is a time to realize privilege and pitch in to say thanks to those who have gotten you there. 

Our Core Concentration blog assignment for today was to write about griots and what role they played in West African society and history.

A griot, pronounced gree-OH, is a West African storyteller who is responsible for keeping the oral history and record of a certain community. Being a griot takes skill in memory, oral recitation, and public presence. As a result, griots are valued highly and respected in their villages and community. No major early West African civilization had a written language, so griots were completely responsible for passing down local history. Another thing to know is that griots were not usually paid -- they did their service out of love for the community and its history.

In addition to reciting stories and history, griots also teach moral lessons by reciting old local proverbs or epic poems. Like the more famous Greek epics, West African epic poems told lessons in history and morals by using fantastic or mythical creatures and beings. Griots were found in all sorts of West African communities and empires. Often it was a griot who was responsible for teaching the king or a young monarch the history of their family. There were and are several griots in West Africa. Many grandparents teach lessons to family members and took on a griot role, whether or not they had been appointed.

A griot's area of performance and expertise is not limited to oral stories and myths. Oftentimes several griots got together and acted out a historical event like a scene from a play in order to build an accurate picture in the learners' minds. Many of these plays, myths, and stories told of local events like the birth of a great king or the founding of the society and empire. For example, here are many legends surrounding Sundiata, the first emperor of Mali. Often, griots retelling this story would get names mixed up and history would be distorted. This does, however, make tales of the story unique, as every rendition has different elements and morals. 

Our Core Concentration blog assignment for today was to write about our favorite thing about fall and why it is our favorite.