Gapminder Analysis

Gapminder Analysis

Graph No.1

Life Expectancy V.S. Income per Person

(1800-1900)

This is a graph of Life Expectancy vs Income per Person. What do notice about the graph? Please focus on Singapore. 

Here is a closer view of it

Notice that Singapore has greatly increase in both life expectancy and income after 1820. What cause this dramatic change? 

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles

Before 1819, the Dutch has the control of most of the port around the Malay archipelago. However, in 1818, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, a Lieutanent Governor of the British colony of Bencoolen, has decided that the British should replace the Dutch as the new dominant force of the region. The reason why Raffles was so determined is that the Malay archipelago is lies between China and India. Therefore, it will be a great trading post for British and their opium trade with China. Raffles launched an expedition team and went to the Malay archipelago to look for a new naval base for the British. In 1819, Raffles arrived at Singapore and decided that this island will be a ideal place to set up a trading post. Raffles then met the local leader, and a formal treaty was sign on Febuary 6, 1819. Later on, under the British colonial ruled, Singapore has grown into a prosperous colony, as well as a important trading port.

Graph No.2

CO2 Emission (1820-1900)

The graph of CO2 emission from 18820-1900.

Lets focus on the United Kingdom(Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, etc) only

Check this out. Starting from 1820, the CO2 emission from the UK continue to rise. What cause the CO2 emission in the UK to increase?



The Industrial Revolution

During the 1800s, the British were going through the Industrial Revolution. The first thought about Industrial Revolution is factory. Many factories were been built during this time period. Most of the factories were using steam-power engine (Ex. Watts Engine) to power the machines. The principle for steam engine is that you burn coals and produce steam, and the energy from the steam makes the engine to work. The burning of coals release large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). Therefore, when all the factories in the UK were burning coals, large amount of CO2 were release and the CO2 emissions start to rise.

Graph No.3

Fertility Rate V.S. Population

(1800-1900)

The graph of Fertility Rate vs Population

Please focus on Ireland

Look! Ireland's population has been growing since 1800, but what happen at 1849 that makes Ireland's population change in a blink of an eye?



In 1849, Ireland was still suffering from the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852). Potato were the main food for most of the people in Ireland. When the potato famine start, many people died because of lack of food. According to research, the population of Ireland drop from 20%-25% because of famine. One million people died and another million emigrant from Ireland. The main cause of the Irish potato famine is because of a potato disease known as potato blight. The potato famine brought huge impact on human cost in Ireland.

Mother and Child digging potato.

Reflection

1. Which main topic does this artifact relate to? In what way?  This artifact is about the use of Gapminder graph and the analysis(interpretation) on those graph.
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend on creating the artifact?  I spend about 2-3 hours on this (one-third of the time I spend on editing graphs). The indicators I choose on these graphs were the only indicator that shows data from 1800-1900.
3. What understanding have you gained from the creation process of this artifact?  I understand some of the major events that happened in the 1800s, and the effect of these major events to the history.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and ideas? Why or why not?  No, originally, I was trying to get the whole video that record the three graphs, but there are some errors when I try to put the video on the blog. Therefore, I choose photos instead.
5. Any additional comment?  None

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