HIST 100: Engineering The Past

Native Water

by Leave a Comment

Throughout my research on this subject, I infer that the Tohono O’odham tribe has been well taken care of since their losses since being annexed by the United States.  Prior to 1853, the Tohono O’odham tribe members lived in Southern Arizona and many in northern parts of Mexico.  This tribe, as well as many others, were quiet and kept to themselves. They were a peaceful group in comparison to their neighbors.  Then, in 1853, the United States annexed their lands away, in a trade known as the Gadsen Purchase.

Since the devastation this event caused, the Tohono O’odham tribe have been trying to build themselves back up from tragedy– including trying to regain ownership of some of their land.  A few of the articles explained how the tribe wanted to be isolated from all other federal/state authority within the state of Arizona.  This type of fight against the state is allowing the tribe to maintain parts of their tribal traditions.  However, the Tohono O’odham tribe fought to regain their way of life, and the United States government compensated them with a few freedoms that were taken from them back in 1853.  The government allotted a fund for the tribe to develop improved water storage and delivery systems, and agreed to supply them with a certain ration of water per year.  Also, they have agreed to give the tribe additional lands to promote a better-built environment for the members of the tribe.  I would agree that the government has compensated the tribe adequately for present times by granting them land, water, and resources similar to what they lost; given that the Gadsen Purchase was done over 100 years ago.

Engineering

by Leave a Comment

I believed that this class was going to be related to the engineering process of how very old structures were built. It started out that way with the module about the Brooklyn bridge and San Francisco bridge. Learning the obstacles that they ran into and had to figure out ways around them. Also how the era that they were built in played a big influence on the materials that were used. What i didn’t think about was how social engineering was such a large influence on these structures. Engineering is all about inventing and improving ideas, whether it be on structures, machines or literally everything in the world.  I had never thought about how water is an engineering nightmare. Just figuring out how to get it to everybody that needs it, but also figuring out how to share it as fairly as possible while trying to follow the laws that have been put in place.

Define Engineering

by 1 Comment

Based on what I have learned in this course I would define engineering as the process of building structures. Its obviously more complicated than that, so much goes into constructing a building or water system. Time, money, MATH and science. There is something to be said about old/ancient structures because a lot of them are still standing today. For instance: the Brooklyn Bridge, Hagia Sophia and the Aztec structures are all examples of incredibly built structures and for being built so long ago when modern technology was not around. I would also define engineering as a trial and error business. I cannot imagine, especially with the older structures, that they got it right on the first try. And it seems to me that a lot of collaboration goes on throughout the process with many disciplinary’s. Engineering, along with so many other fields is ever growing and expanding on skills and knowledge.