Maybe this is a crazy question, but how did Europeans know what Africans looked like? I know that some of the paintings here are of North Africans/Middle Easterners, but others clearly depict people born south of the Sahara. I've heard of Prester John but I never imagined that medieval Europeans were aware that Prester John would have had brown skin. Am I missing something?
Like. There are a lot of things I could say here. But I’m just going to do my best to answer your question, and the answer is either very simple or very complicated, depending on your current point of view.
1. “They” knew what people with brown skin looked like because people with brown skin had been there literally THE ENTIRE TIME. Some (and father back, ALL) of “them” had brown skin themselves.
2. “People with Brown Skin” and “Europeans” are not separate and mutually exclusive groups.
3. No matter how far back you go, the mythical time that you’re looking for, when all-white, racially and culturally isolated Europe was “real”, will continue to recede from your grasp until it winkles out the like imaginary place it is.
We can just keep going back. In every area, from all walks of life, rich and poor, kings and peasants, artists and iconoclasts, before there were countries and continents, before there were white people.
The time when “EVERYONE” in Europe was White does not exist. They knew what people with brown skin looked like because they were there. They knew what “Africans” looked like because they were there, and they weren’t “they”, they were us, or you. I think what you’re missing is something that never existed.
I was taught by my American culture that I must change my name when I get married because I am his.
I was taught by Islam that I don’t have to change the name my father gave me. I am not my husband’s property.
I don’t know, man, but also in Europe you don’t have to change your surname. I always thought it’s optional *shrugs*
find the mistake here.Sorry that´s nasty.
Seriously - back to the vikings, the women NEVER took the name of her husband through marriage. The woman always kept her name.
And is there somewhere a law in the US that you MUST change your surname with marriage or you´ll get your head chopped off?
Strange american culture…
clarification: as far as i am aware, changing one’s maiden name when marrying is a common tradition in america, not a legal obligation. some women choose to combine their maiden name with their husband’s name here or don’t change their name at all.
There are still many cultures out there with the changing-your-surname-to-your-husband’s tradition, but as far as I know, you’re not legally obliged to anything. It’s just a thing, but a thing that you grow up around and is completely normal for you, so it doesn’t bother you.
Personally, I’m all for the Brazilian tradition of the woman keeping her name, sometimes adding the husband’s surname after hers, and giving the child both (or choosing from the numerous surnames that inevitably happen after a few generations)
the worst is having a dream where someone loves you and you can practically feel them touching you and it feels so real and then you wake up and it’s like the life is being sucked out of you and the happiness just drains out of your body and you feel empty again
ppl be talkin about the new 3d/live action spongebob movie but all i can think is