adapting-to-the-economy<\/a><\/p>\n Gutierrez, Christian<\/p>\n Dr. Shrout<\/p>\n Hist-410<\/p>\n 25th of October, 2016<\/p>\n Adapting to the Economy<\/p>\n Mangan reading focuses primary on the silver mines of the Bolivian town Potosi during Spanish rule spanning from 16th century up to the 18th century. The article chooses to bring attention to the abundance of silver mined, trade in the global economy, and the cruelty of Spanish rule. However, for the sake of this blog post I will be focusing on a smaller exert of the reading, which is the adaptability of Native Americans in trade. While many still hold on to the concept that Native Americans were blatantly ignorant when it came to trading with Europeans the article highlights the ingenuity of Native American women during the late 16th century. Drawing upon the previous reading, the consumption of commodities had risen from the \u201cdiscovery\u201d of the Americas, the demand for natural resources such as coca leaves grew exponentially. As the population of Potosi grew so would the demand for Coca leaves, seeing room for potential profits Native American women would harvest the leaves then travel down from the highland valleys of the Andes down to the city of Potosi. There they would trade the prized leaves for silver ore or coins, making a living for themselves.<\/p>\n Doctor Ademide Adelusi-Adeluy and Doctor Liora Bigon article Yorba City <\/i>Planning<\/i> goes into depth about western African cities during the late 17th century, stating how strategically planned African cities were. Attempting eliminating the ideology that African tribes were merely nomadic savages, but a group of organized tribes that utilized both military and economic alliances to construct well planned cities holding a centered nucleus (the chieftain’s home) as well as walls separating them from outside forces. However, what I drew upon the reading was one little line, \u201cwomen controlled many aspects of the economy\u201d (McIntosh, 2009). Yet again we see indigenous women controlling the economy which coincides with Alec’s<\/a> post on the Gomez reading that women held strong roles in the community.<\/p>\n All in all in both readings we see Native Americans thriving in the new economic system, displaying both the theme of Native American economies as well as indigenous women holding large roles in society. Our history (the one taught in schools) don’t really credit women with being large parts in society till the 20th century and kinda makes one wonder how empowered women would be if we changed the history taught in our public schools to one where women hold a larger role in past societies .<\/p>\n