Agreement To Furnish Breeding Rights: Fill & Download for Free

CPEC Master PlanThis article is based on the information most people don’t know outside Pakistan, and my prime intention is to show you what is happening behind the closed doors. This article is written on my observations of events and if you want to read one different aspect of CPEC, please read this article till end.CPEC Master Plan - Dawn ArticleCPEC Master Plan is a Long Term Plan (LTP) for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. According to the Pakistani English-language news daily, Dawn, which has accessed the full report, the plan comprehensively outlines the Chinese goals in its ally's territory for the next decade and a half with the main focus being on agriculture. The plan lays out in detail what Chinese intentions and priorities are in Pakistan for the next decade and a half, details that have not been discussed in public far.Formation of the LTP was begun in November 2013 by Chinese Authorities. For the next two years, until December 2015, the Chinese Authorities worked different Government Institutions to develop a detailed plan to be implemented over the next 15 years, until the year 2030 that will open the doors for Chinese enterprises – private and public – to enter every area of Pakistan's economy. The report was first transmitted to the Government of Pakistan in June 2015 and Pakistan met their counterparts in Beijing on November 12th, 2015 and gave their feedback and finalized the draft on Dec 29th, 2015.To keep the report secret, the Pakistani government created two versions of the LTP (Long Term Plan). The full version is 231 pages long and drawn up by the Chinese Authorities in December 2015. The shortened version, dated February 2017, is 30 pages long and “contains only broad brushstroke descriptions of the various `areas of cooperation` and none of the details.” It is meant to be provided to the provincial governments in a bid to obtain their assent. The only provincial government that received the full version of the plan is the Punjab government.I have provided below the summary of CPEC Master plan if somebody interested in detailed report please check the following link.Exclusive: CPEC master plan revealedIf you have already read or know about plan please skip the following plan summery.What is a Plan Summery?AgricultureAccording to this plan, thousands of acres of Pakistani agricultural land will be leased out to Chinese enterprises to set up ‘demonstration projects’ in areas ranging from seed varieties to irrigation technology. Chinese enterprises to operate their own farms, processing facilities for fruits and vegetables and grain. Logistics companies will operate a large storage and transportation system for agrarian produce.Provisioning for seeds and other inputs, like fertilizer, credit, and pesticides. Advanced planting and breeding techniques to peasant households or farmers by means of land acquisition by the government, renting to China-invested enterprises and building planting and breeding bases.Identifies areas for engagement for Meat and milk production and processing plants, including construction of fertilizer plant, inducted to lease farm implements, like tractors, efficient plant protection machinery, efficient energy saving pump equipment, precision fertilization drip irrigation equipment and planting and harvesting machinery.To build a nationwide logistics network and enlarge the warehousing and distribution network between major cities of Pakistan with a focus on grains, vegetables, and fruits. Cities will see a vegetable processing plant, fruit juice and jam plant and grain processing.IndustryFor industry, the plan divides Pakistan into three zones: western and northwestern, central and southern. The western and northwestern zone is marked for mineral extraction, and central zone for textiles, household appliances, and cement. For the southern zone, the plan says “Pakistan develop petrochemical, iron and steel, harbor industry, engineering machinery, trade processing and auto and auto parts (assembly)” due to the proximity of Karachi and its ports. The plan shows great interest in the textile's industry and is particularly focused on yarn and coarse cloth.Fibre-optics and surveillanceA full system of monitoring and surveillance will be built in cities with 24-hour video recordings on roads and busy marketplaces for law and order.A national fibre-optic backbone will be built for the country not only for internet traffic but also the terrestrial distribution of broadcast TV, which will cooperate with Chinese media in the “dissemination of Chinese culture”.Tourism and recreationThe future cooperation between Chinese and Pakistani media will be beneficial to disseminating Chinese culture in Pakistan, further enhancing mutual understanding between the two people and the traditional friendship between the two countries.A long belt of coastal enjoyment industry from Keti Bunder to Jiwani, the last habitation before the Iranian border.The plan also speaks of a long belt of coastal enjoyment industry that includes yacht wharf, cruise, nightlife, hot spring hotels and water sports. Visa-free entry proposed for Chinese to Pakistan, no reciprocal arrangement discussedRegional SecurityThere are various factors affecting Pakistani politics, such as competing parties, religion, tribes, terrorists, and western intervention. The plan identifies politics and security as its major risks.FinanceThe primary financial risk in Pakistan, according to the long-term plan drawn up by China Development Bank, is politics and security. Efforts will be made to furnish free and low-interest loans to Pakistan But, Pakistan’s federal and involved local governments should also bear part of the responsibility for financing.$2 billion China’s maximum annual FDI in Pakistan$1 billion Pak’s ceiling for preferential loans$1.5 billion ceiling for non-preferential loansWhat's new in this report?If you watch any video on YouTube by a searching the keyword “CPEC Master Plan News Discussions”, you observe Pakistani Politicians are quite relaxed discussing this topic. No outrage, no concerns.Because they know the truth that many of these above-mentioned practices are quite old in Pakistan. Same kinds of land acquisition happening for many years with almost the same kind of Tax benefits.[1] Surprise it's a Pakistan Army. They run factories to produce and process Fertilizer, Cement, Meat, Food, Cereal, Seeds almost all the stuff mentioned in the report. They also run and operate Banks, Sugar Mills, Natural Gas, power generation, oil terminal operations, Housing Societies, financial services, healthcare, and education.[2]Pakistan Army runs these business entities under the trusts like Fauji foundation, Shaheen foundation, Bahria Foundation, Army Welfare Trust (AWT) and Defense Housing Authorities (DHAs).[3]Writing about the military in Pakistan can be risky business, almost no one reports against Pak Army inside Pakistan. The daring lady in the photo is Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, she exposed Pakistan army's business practices and their commercial interests in detail in the book Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan's Military Economy[4], she moved to London a few years ago. Even here on Quora, I have seen some articles got collapsed because they mentioned Ayesha Siddiqa and details of Pakistan Army's commercial interests.Dr. Siddiqa estimates the military’s net worth at more than £10 billion — roughly four times the total foreign direct investment generated by Islamabad in 2007, the army owns 12% of the country’s land, its holdings being most fertile soil in the Western Punjab. Two-thirds of that land is in the hands of senior current and former officials, mostly brigadiers, major-generals, and generals.[5][6][7] But critics said also that the Pakistani military keeps a lion's share of the country's budget and is not answerable to the civilian government over its expenditures. [8]Is everyone in Pakistan agreed on this report?As per the report, China initiated creating the draft in 2013, sometimes around Nawaz Sharif elected as a Prime Minister. In May 2015, during the visit of Xi Jinping, CPEC deal was signed[9] and the report was the first draft is transmitted to the Government of Pakistan around the same time in June 2015.There are two different Power Centers exists in Pakistan, Elected Government, and Pakistan Army. If any Govt. Minister or official face any question against Chinese Investments, they simply counter their critics by quoting “If no Chinese Investments, then who else? No one other than China interested in investing in Pakistan”. It might be the same kind of argument presented by Prime Minister to Army General while discussing this draft. With reduced of coalition fund and very less budget, General also didn't have any choice to accept the proposal.To make plan details secret from Provincial governments, the second draft was created and shared with no essential details. As per the details shared in Dawn article, Punjab government received the full version of the plan, and it might be possible that they took advantage of the situation to make some favorable changes in LTA.To make public happy, massive media engagement was started to promote the CPEC plan and used social media to spread the positive aspects. The promotional video's started floating on YouTube, the campaigns to promote project was started on Facebook and tweeter.Everyone was happy in Pakistan except some media culprits who smell the rat.What will change?In this report, the CPEC projects are often called as ‘demonstration projects', that means until now Pakistan Government is not provided full autonomy to China to purchase land and set up the economic zones by their own. 6500 acres of land allocated for Chinese enterprises to operate their own farms in Punjab doesn't count much, but the availability of water, perfect infrastructure, sufficient supply of energy and the capacity of self-service power, means it is the jackpot for China.It is not the case Pakistan don't have seed's processing and fertilizer plants in Pakistan, but it seems like they don't improve the quality of their farming techniques in last 70 years. If you check Indian side of Punjab, the state is growing enough crops which feed the entire India.[10] With the provision of seeds and other inputs, like fertilizer, credit, and pesticides, China is helping Pakistan to grow crops, it is good for Pakistan.China is doing investments like this in South America and Africa from years, it is a known practice. China is protecting itself against future food supply problems caused by climate change by buying or leasing large tracts of land in Africa and South America. Some experts are also pointing the drawback, is that the Chinese are introducing industrial agricultural practices that damage the soil, the water supply, and the rivers.[11]China will build planting and breeding bases, large storage, Meat and milk production, fertilizer plants, transportation system, fruit juice and jam plants, grain processing, precision fertilization, drip irrigation equipment and planting and harvesting machinery. But if you check Fauji foundation's businesses, they are already doing most of these things mentioned here. It smells like now Pakistani Army Industries are going to compete with Chinese counterparts.Is this a new East India Company?In other economic sectors such as household appliances, telecommunications, cement, and mining, Chinese companies would exploit their presence to expand market share and the plan also called for building infrastructure and developing a policy environment to facilitate the entry of Chinese companies.The project shows great interest in the textile industry, with the focus largely on yarn and coarse cloth. The reason, the plan says, is that the textile industry in Xinjiang has already attained higher levels of productivity. Chinese companies would also be offered preferential treatment with regard to “land, tax, logistics and services” as well as “enterprise income tax, tariff reduction and exemption and sales tax rate” incentives. This is the same kind of approach what British East India Company took centuries ago, get raw material from Pakistan, shipped [to China] for pennies & finished products will be purchased back [by Pakistan].There are no friends or enemies only interests.Taking on industries, a plan is to provide basic infrastructure first with Roads, Railways, Ports and Power Plants. The setup Industrial Base and factories for petrochemical, iron and steel, harbor industry, engineering machinery, trade processing and auto and auto parts. It sounds good for Pakistan.It is quite impressive to any Pakistani, but in reality, you are living in the 21st Century. Gulf Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are already started diversifying their businesses. They have started investing in their own countries to boost production.[12] If you take one example of Cement Industry which the most Pakistani thinks doing well in exports, Iran is making cheap and quality cement and even in Pakistan, cement manufacturers are urging the government to place anti-dumping duties on the Iranian cement.[13]Gulf countries are investing in India[14], but check why not enough investment in Pakistan. It is not cheap labor matters, skilled labor, regional security and financial capabilities also going to matter when you need investors. Some development indicators pointing that Bangladesh economy will be bigger than Pakistan in the next few years.[15] They are working very hard work no matter what bad conditions they faced.Few people argue that Once Chinese poor economy provided free land and labor to foreign investors and then suddenly Chinese economy started booming with trade and manufacturing industries. But time is changed since last 40 years, and with the dream of economic prosperity countries like Sri Lanka[16], Myanmar[17], Cambodia[18], Laos[19], Kenya[20][21], some African countries[22][23] are feeling the heat. China is running their industry on surplus capacity[24] and Chinese will not be going to shift their factory bases in such venerable area. China now dropped One Child Policy, and with increasing Industrial Robotics and Automation they have to ensure Job Security for their people as well.[25] Interestingly, on this Dawn article one wise guy named, IFTEKHAR MAHMOOD, mentioned it in his comment.Because of Free Trade agreement with China and cheaper Chinese goods, local industry in Pakistan already got hit very hard and the trade deficit is all time high.[26] Though I accept that China is providing Pakistan a chance to stand up but at the cost of very high interest rates, which will pass on to Pakistani people and businesses. Now only chance is to pay back the interests and do more hard work than developing countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam which share same business profiles and cheap labor like Pakistan do have.Surveillance, Like China?A full system of monitoring and surveillance will be built in cities with 24-hour video recordings on roads and busy marketplaces for law and order is also good initiative, and China has the good experience and doing it for many years to keep an eye on their own citizens.[27] So we wish all the best for Pakistan to have this system with Great Firewall of China.[28] But the question is “Is it part of any big game which is coming soon?”Dissemination of Chinese cultureWhy “dissemination of Chinese culture” needs to distribute over broadcast TV? Does it like to be the same kind of approach taken place in Xinjiang? Pakistan always supports Muslims Rights around the world, but when it comes to China, they will shut their mouth, whenever questions raised. On the issues in Xinjiang like Ban on long beards and veils in Xinjiang[29], suppress Islamic cultural practices[30], Government employees and children under 18 are barred from attending mosques, bans Muslims from fasting Ramadan[31], Uyghur Muslims must pray in mosques that have a government-appointed imam[32] , bans Islamic baby names[33], Pakistan always turn their blind eye on them.According to studies, more than 90% of all Pakistanis consider religion to be very important. Meanwhile, China to be the least religious country in the world.[34] It is interesting to imagine how people from both sides will mesh together with these diametrically opposed views on religion, in the religiously charged environment of Pakistan and we must imagine what kind of dissemination of Chinese culture going to spread through Broadcast TV.There are various factors affecting Pakistani politics, such as competing parties, religion, tribes, terrorists, and western intervention. The plan identifies politics and security as its major risks.Why this report is referring “politics and security” again and again, is this kind of conspiracy going on [Chinese Takeover, blah blah blah]. Politics is always affected by competing parties, so does a report suggesting some kind of authoritarian rule going to impose in Pakistan? So many conspiracy theories!The Great Chinese Money CowThe primary financial risk in Pakistan, according to the long-term plan drawn up by China Development Bank, is politics and security. Efforts will be made to furnish free and low-interest loans to Pakistan But, Pakistan's federal and involved local governments should also bear part of the responsibility for financing.Low interests loans for $2 billion, China's maximum annual FDI, $1 billion ceiling for preferential loans and $1.5 billion ceiling for non-preferential loans which equals $4.5 Billion per year that's good for Pakistan.The World Bank in its latest report projected that fiscal deficit was projected to be 4.8 percent in FY2017 sum up to Rs1.24 trillion [$118 billion][35] along with $28 billion Trade Deficit[36] plus $5 billion Interests of current CPEC loans per year[37] .For the debt-ridden Pakistan is that the plan clears this is no free ride. The report suggested the inflation will next big risk, which the plan says has averaged 11.6% over the past six years. A high inflation rate means a rise of project-related costs and a decline in profits. Plus Pakistan has to pay all the returns to Chinese Currency, there no easy out like printing money.Currently, with 66% of Pakistan's total revenue consume on loan servicing[38], falling exports[39] and Remittances[40], declining Tax Revenue[41], decreasing Foreign direct investment[42][43], forget CPEC loans how Pakistan pay off their existing loans is a big question. Nowadays China is providing vital doses of bailout packages to keep Pakistan Economy alive[44], hope China will bear rest of down payments as well to prove they are the all-weather friend of Pakistan.War Mongering MindsetSince the independence, Pakistan adopted National Security State policy which states nation's security comes before all the things.[45] This mindset has been trying to secure the state but in the process has generated tremendous insecurity among the people and leaders. In 70 years nothing is changed, check this example.Check this recent incident, this guy is Khwaja Asif, who is the Minister of Defence of Pakistan. On December 25, 2016, the story broke out, titled “Israeli Defense Minister: If Pakistan sends ground troops to Syria on any pretext, we will destroy this country with a nuclear attack.” Without thinking and confirming the news, defense minister tweeted with a scathing post directed at Israel “Israeli def min threatens nuclear retaliation presuming Pak role in Syria against Daesh,” adding that “Israel forgets Pakistan is a Nuclear state too.” The story turned out to be fake, even got the Israeli defense minister’s name wrong in the story.[46]This is not the one incident, with the North Korean type approach, he threatens to use Nukes multiple times.[47] Any surprise why FDI is not coming to Pakistan.In other hand China is moving away from War Mongering Mindset, they are becoming more focus on trade and development. China never involved in any war against Vietnam in 1979. The fact is any war could impact China's economy with very severe damage. They are too floating through the economic crisis as their economy is slowing down and debt to GDP ratio is now raised to 277%.[48] In one study said that in the case of any war scenario, if weak opponent country [such as North Korea] managed to blow up three gorges dam[49] , it wiped out their massive population with all the developed cities on the shore of Yangtze river. This will take back China to at least 20 years behind and will take a lot of time to recover the economy.Pakistan always needs super powers who protect them to protect them, and they paid a lot of cost of their “War Mongering Mindset”. From years they relied on the United States was there, now on China. To protect their investments China needs to control Pakistan which was the United States failed to do in past. We have to see in future, how these players will play with each other. This interesting game is between the Masters of Trade vs the Masters of Double Game.Why Half Measures?Pakistan has always played the double game with their counterparts, they cheated Americans by making the partnership with North Korea and exchange Nuclear Weapons with Missiles[50], supporting Terrorist group Haqqani Networks in Afghanistan war[51], providing terrorist safe havens in Pakistan.[52] They always remembered for their half measures, and recent track record also states that.This plan might finally arm the Pakistani government with the clout to reduce the religious influence in the society, but the reality is the National Action Plan they have started to reduce religious radicalization is still not implemented on the ground.[53] Despite Pakistani army's recent operations against terrorists, Pakistan still facing terrorist attacks. Many experts raised the questions on the efficiency of these operations.[54] It is also another example of such kinds of half measures, might be the way to counter future Chinese ambitions.Dawn Leaks 2There are a lot of people in Pakistan raising the question about CPEC, especially reporters like Dr. Farrukh Saleem and Khurram Hussain who wrote the same Dawn article. Mubashir Luqman already revealed these details 6 months ago, but everyone's perception was that he is spreading anti-government agenda.[55][56] In one of the news program, Pro-Government Reporter like Najam Sethi openly quoted that 10% kickbacks are standard in Pakistan and CPEC projects interest rates are actually higher.[57]Reacting to the leak, Pakistan's planning, and development minister Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry tweeted: “I am appalled by Dawn Leak II. CPEC Long Term Plan story based on working docs 2 distort final draft taken up with NDRC yesterday in Beijing. CDB study referred to as Long Term Plan in Dawn story is factually incorrect. Definite angling in a story to malign CPEC by promoting fears.” [58]What is this Game?With CPEC the situation looks like a flowing river which looks calm and cool on the surface but nobody knows what volatile stuff are going inside. Here the game is played by lots of players; Pakistan Government, Provincial Government, Pakistan Army, Chinese Establishment, Media, State and Non-State Actors.Before signing the deal, during the OBOR summit on 15th May 2017 this report was leaked. Who is responsible for this, why this time was chosen, we have only guesses. But the game is still going on.What is Pakistan Government hiding?Two years ago, we only know that energy and infrastructure projects were going to establish through the CPEC, now information is out on these ‘demonstration projects’. Nobody knows in public what exactly at interest rates are and on what conditions these deals were been made.Now the report is officially out, then also why Pakistani Government doesn't make the final draft public, what is hidden agenda they are hiding? What more hoaxes Pakistani government still hiding from their people?This article shows you the second side of the coin, quite unknown to people outside Pakistan. If you like this answer, please share it on social media.Thanks for reading!!Footnotes[1] A spotlight on the Pakistani military's corruption | Asia | DW | 22.04.2016[2] 50 commercial entities being run by armed forces[3] 50 commercial entities being run by armed forces[4] Book on military’s business empire launched[5] The military millionaires who control Pakistan Inc | The Spectator[6] Pakistani army's '$20bn' business[7] Military Inc: An economy within an economy - Times of India[8] A spotlight on the Pakistani military's corruption | Asia | DW | 22.04.2016[9] Economic corridor in focus as Pakistan, China sign 51 MoUs[10] Punjab is set for record rice production this year, but at a heavy price[11] Food supply fears spark China land grab[12] Economic Diversification In The Gulf[13] Local cement industry losing competitiveness[14] India-Gulf Ties in the Spotlight[15] 45 yrs on, Bangladesh beats Pakistan in many indices[16] Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port And The World's Emptiest Airport Go To The Chinese[17] Is China blackmailing Myanmar, like it did with Sri Lanka?[18] Is China blackmailing Myanmar, like it did with Sri Lanka?[19] Laos And China Come to Terms on Loan Interest Rate For Railway Project[20] Is China railroading Kenya into debt?[21] Subscribe to read[22] Africa's debt spree: Precursor to a new debt crisis? - African Business Magazine[23] How Africa Rising turned into Africa Falling again[24] Making Sense of China’s Surplus and the “Ratchet Effect”[25] US automakers' Chinese factories are now mostly robots[26] Beyond CPEC[27] Big data, meet Big Brother: China invents the digital totalitarian state | The Economist[28] What is the biggest hoax you've ever heard about the CPEC?[29] China Uighurs: Ban on long beards, veils in Xinjiang [30] China's Uighur oppression runs deeper than Islamophobia[31] China bans Muslims from fasting Ramadan in Xinjiang[32] Killings in Xinjiang’s Guma Sparked by Anger at Prayer Restrictions[33] China bans Islamic baby names in Muslim-majority Xinjiang[34] Roads and religion: How CPEC will pit Pakistan against itself[35] Budget deficit surges to Rs1.24 trillion[36] Trade gap widens by 35pc to $20.2bn[37] Pakistan's 'Silk Road' repayments to peak at around $5 billion a year - chief economist[38] Debt servicing eats up 66pc of tax money[39] Falling Exports[40] Declining remittances[41] Low interest rates lead to fall in govt revenues[42] Where’s CPEC in our FDI?[43] Declining FDI[44] China provided $1.2bn in loans to bail out Pakistan: report[45] Pakistan: The Security State[46] Reading Fake News, Pakistani Minister Directs Nuclear Threat at Israel[47] Five times Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif bragged about nukes, made outrageous statement against India[48] Stung by debt, China's economic growth to slow to 6.5 percent in 2017: Reuters poll[49] Bombing Everything, Gaining Nothing[50] The Long History of the Pakistan-North Korea Nexus[51] Opinion | Time to Put the Squeeze on Pakistan[52] Pakistan continues to be safe haven for terrorists: Pentagon report says Haqqani Network biggest threat[53] Not really a plan[54] Has Pakistan's Zarb-e-Azb military operation failed? | Asia | DW | 02.09.2016[55] Khara Sach with Mubashir Luqman 19 December 2016 | CPEC Special - Channel 24 News[56] Khara Sach | Reality of CPEC Projects | 11 January 2017 | 24 News HD[57] Aapas Ki Baat - 16 May 2017[58] Ahsan Iqbal slams Dawn's CPEC 'master plan' article, calls it Dawn Leaks II - The Express Tribune

This article is based on the information most people don’t know outside Pakistan, and my prime intention is to show you what is happening behind the closed doors. This article is written on my observations of events and if you want to read one different aspect of CPEC, please read this article till end.The Dawn Article and Long Term PlanCPEC Master Plan is a Long Term Plan (LTP) for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. According to the Pakistani English-language news daily, Dawn, which has accessed the full report, the plan comprehensively outlines the Chinese goals in its ally's territory for the next decade and a half with the main focus being on agriculture. The plan lays out in detail what Chinese intentions and priorities are in Pakistan for the next decade and a half, details that have not been discussed in public far.Formation of the LTP was begun in November 2013 by Chinese Authorities. For the next two years, until December 2015, the Chinese Authorities worked different Government Institutions to develop a detailed plan to be implemented over the next 15 years, until the year 2030 that will open the doors for Chinese enterprises – private and public – to enter every area of Pakistan's economy. The report was first transmitted to the Government of Pakistan in June 2015 and Pakistan met their counterparts in Beijing on November 12th, 2015 and gave their feedback and finalized the draft on Dec 29th, 2015.To keep the report secret, the Pakistani government created two versions of the LTP (Long Term Plan). The full version is 231 pages long and drawn up by the Chinese Authorities in December 2015. The shortened version, dated February 2017, is 30 pages long and “contains only broad brushstroke descriptions of the various `areas of cooperation` and none of the details.” It is meant to be provided to the provincial governments in a bid to obtain their assent. The only provincial government that received the full version of the plan is the Punjab government.I have provided below the summary of CPEC Master plan if somebody interested in detailed report please check the following link.Exclusive: CPEC master plan revealedWhat's new in this report?If you watch any video on YouTube by a searching the keyword “CPEC Master Plan News Discussions”, you observe Pakistani Politicians are quite relaxed discussing this topic. No outrage, no concerns.Because they know the truth that many of these above-mentioned practices are quite old in Pakistan. Same kinds of land acquisition happening for many years with almost the same kind of Tax benefits.[1] Surprise it's a Pakistan Army. They run factories to produce and process Fertilizer, Cement, Meat, Food, Cereal, Seeds almost all the stuff mentioned in the report. They also run and operate Banks, Sugar Mills, Natural Gas, power generation, oil terminal operations, Housing Societies, financial services, healthcare, and education.[2]Pakistan Army runs these business entities under the trusts like Fauji foundation, Shaheen foundation, Bahria Foundation, Army Welfare Trust (AWT) and Defense Housing Authorities (DHAs).[3]Writing about the military in Pakistan can be risky business, almost no one reports against Pak Army inside Pakistan. The daring lady in the photo is Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa, she exposed Pakistan army's business practices and their commercial interests in detail in the book Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan's Military Economy.[4] This book is banned in Pakistan, she was labelled as a traitor, threatened with being tried for treason and practically hounded out of the country into temporary self-exile.[5] Even here on Quora, I have seen some articles got collapsed because they mentioned Ayesha Siddiqa and details of Pakistan Army's commercial interests.Dr. Siddiqa estimates the military’s net worth at more than £10 billion — roughly four times the total foreign direct investment generated by Islamabad in 2007, the army owns 12% of the country’s land, its holdings being most fertile soil in the Western Punjab. Two-thirds of that land is in the hands of senior current and former officials, mostly brigadiers, major-generals, and generals.[6][7][8] But critics said also that the Pakistani military keeps a lion's share of the country's budget and is not answerable to the civilian government over its expenditures.[9]Check this shocking Ronan Christian's answer on Pakistan ArmyIs everyone in Pakistan agreed on this report?As per the report, China initiated creating the draft in 2013, sometimes around Nawaz Sharif elected as a Prime Minister. In May 2015, during the visit of Xi Jinping, CPEC deal was signed[10] and the report was the first draft is transmitted to the Government of Pakistan around the same time in June 2015.There are two different Power Centers exists in Pakistan, Elected Government, and Pakistan Army. If any Govt. Minister or official face any question against Chinese Investments, they simply counter their critics by quoting “If no Chinese Investments, then who else? No one other than China interested in investing in Pakistan”. It might be the same kind of argument presented by Prime Minister to Army General while discussing this draft. With reduced of coalition fund and very less budget, General also didn't have any choice to accept the proposal.To make plan details secret from Provincial governments, the second draft was created and shared with no essential details. As per the details shared in Dawn article, Punjab government received the full version of the plan, and it might be possible that they took advantage of the situation to make some favorable changes in LTA.To make public happy, massive media engagement was started to promote the CPEC plan and used social media to spread the positive aspects. The promotional video's started floating on YouTube, the campaigns to promote project was started on Facebook and tweeter.Everyone was happy in Pakistan except some media culprits who smell the rat.What will change?In this report, the CPEC projects are often called as ‘demonstration projects', that means until now Pakistan Government is not provided full autonomy to China to purchase land and set up the economic zones by their own. 6500 acres of land allocated for Chinese enterprises to operate their own farms in Punjab doesn't count much, but the availability of water, perfect infrastructure, sufficient supply of energy and the capacity of self-service power, means it is the jackpot for China.It is not the case Pakistan don't have seed's processing and fertilizer plants in Pakistan, but it seems like they don't improve the quality of their farming techniques in last 70 years. If you check Indian side of Punjab, the state is growing enough crops which feed the entire India.[11] With the provision of seeds and other inputs, like fertilizer, credit, and pesticides, China is helping Pakistan to grow crops, it is good for Pakistan.China is doing investments like this in South America and Africa from years, it is a known practice. China is protecting itself against future food supply problems caused by climate change by buying or leasing large tracts of land in Africa and South America. Some experts are also pointing the drawback, is that the Chinese are introducing industrial agricultural practices that damage the soil, the water supply, and the rivers.[12]China will build planting and breeding bases, large storage, Meat and milk production, fertilizer plants, transportation system, fruit juice and jam plants, grain processing, precision fertilization, drip irrigation equipment and planting and harvesting machinery. But if you check Fauji foundation's businesses, they are already doing most of these things mentioned here. It smells like now Pakistani Army Industries are going to compete with Chinese counterparts.Is this a new East India Company?In other economic sectors such as household appliances, telecommunications, cement, and mining, Chinese companies would exploit their presence to expand market share and the plan also called for building infrastructure and developing a policy environment to facilitate the entry of Chinese companies.The project shows great interest in the textile industry, with the focus largely on yarn and coarse cloth. The reason, the plan says, is that the textile industry in Xinjiang has already attained higher levels of productivity. Chinese companies would also be offered preferential treatment with regard to “land, tax, logistics and services” as well as “enterprise income tax, tariff reduction and exemption and sales tax rate” incentives.This is the same kind of approach what British East India Company took centuries ago, get raw material from Pakistan, shipped [to China] for pennies & finished products will be purchased back [by Pakistan].There are no friends or enemies only interests.Taking on industries, a plan is to provide basic infrastructure first with Roads, Railways, Ports and Power Plants. The setup Industrial Base and factories for petrochemical, iron and steel, harbor industry, engineering machinery, trade processing and auto and auto parts. It sounds good for Pakistan.It is quite impressive to any Pakistani, but in reality, you are living in the 21st Century. Gulf Countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are already started diversifying their businesses. They have started investing in their own countries to boost production.[13] If you take one example of Cement Industry which the most Pakistani thinks doing well in exports, Iran is making cheap and quality cement and even in Pakistan, cement manufacturers are urging the government to place anti-dumping duties on the Iranian cement.[14]Gulf countries are investing in India[15], but check why not enough investment in Pakistan. It is not cheap labor matters, skilled labor, regional security and financial capabilities also going to matter when you need investors. Some development indicators pointing that Bangladesh economy will be bigger than Pakistan in the next few years.[16] They are working very hard work no matter what bad conditions they faced.Few people argue that Once Chinese poor economy provided free land and labor to foreign investors and then suddenly Chinese economy started booming with trade and manufacturing industries. But time is changed since last 40 years, and with the dream of economic prosperity countries like Sri Lanka[17], Myanmar[18], Cambodia[19], Laos[20], Kenya[21], some African countries[22][23] are feeling the heat. China is running their industry on surplus capacity[24] and Chinese will not be going to shift their factory bases in such venerable area. China now dropped One Child Policy, and with increasing Industrial Robotics and Automation they have to ensure Job Security for their people as well.[25] Interestingly, on this Dawn article one wise guy named, IFTEKHAR MAHMOOD, mentioned it in his comment.Because of Free Trade agreement with China and cheaper Chinese goods, local industry in Pakistan already got hit very hard and the trade deficit is all time high.[26] Though I accept that China is providing Pakistan a chance to stand up but at the cost of very high interest rates, which will pass on to Pakistani people and businesses. Now only chance is to pay back the interests and do more hard work than developing countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam which share same business profiles and cheap labor like Pakistan do have.Lot of people in Pakistan pointing toward strategic friendship like production of JF-17, for those please check this Dan Rosenthal's answer on JF-17.Surveillance, Like China?A full system of monitoring and surveillance will be built in cities with 24-hour video recordings on roads and busy marketplaces for law and order is also good initiative, and China has the good experience and doing it for many years to keep an eye on their own citizens.[27] So we wish all the best for Pakistan to have this system with Great Firewall of China.[28] But the question is “Is it part of any big game which is coming soon?”Dissemination of Chinese cultureWhy “dissemination of Chinese culture” needs to distribute over broadcast TV? Does it like to be the same kind of approach taken place in Xinjiang? Pakistan always supports Muslims Rights around the world, but when it comes to China, they will shut their mouth, whenever questions raised. On the issues in Xinjiang like Ban on long beards and veils in Xinjiang[29], suppress Islamic cultural practices[30], Government employees and children under 18 are barred from attending mosques, bans Muslims from fasting Ramadan[31], Uyghur Muslims must pray in mosques that have a government-appointed imam[32], bans Islamic baby names[33], Pakistan always turn their blind eye on them.According to studies, more than 90% of all Pakistanis consider religion to be very important. Meanwhile, China to be the least religious country in the world.[34] It is interesting to imagine how people from both sides will mesh together with these diametrically opposed views on religion, in the religiously charged environment of Pakistan and we must imagine what kind of dissemination of Chinese culture going to spread through Broadcast TV.There are various factors affecting Pakistani politics, such as competing parties, religion, tribes, terrorists, and western intervention. The plan identifies politics and security as its major risks.Why this report is referring “politics and security” again and again, is this kind of conspiracy going on [Chinese Takeover, blah blah blah]. Politics is always affected by competing parties, so does a report suggesting some kind of authoritarian rule going to impose in Pakistan? So many conspiracy theories! Does it indicates China also needs to control Pakistan’s State driven Politics for smooth execution of these projects. Is this beginning to Chinese interference in the regional politics of Pakistan.Gwadar the WonderlandIt is a great plan to have a long belt of coastal enjoyment industry in Gwadar that includes yacht, wharf, cruise, nightlife, hot spring hotels and water sports Gwadar in next 15 years. Before completing these entertainment centers, Pakistan must provide first basic necessities which were they failed to provide in Gwadar in last 70 years. Gwadar is not connected to National Electric Grid so electricity is supplied by Iran, there are severe water shortage problems, people go to Karachi for the treatment of even minor diseases, and there are not enough schools and colleges to educate the youth of the region. [35]The Great Chinese Money CowThe primary financial risk in Pakistan, according to the long-term plan drawn up by China Development Bank, is politics and security. Efforts will be made to furnish free and low-interest loans to Pakistan But, Pakistan's federal and involved local governments should also bear part of the responsibility for financing.Low interests loans for $2 billion, China's maximum annual FDI, $1 billion ceiling for preferential loans and $1.5 billion ceiling for non-preferential loans which equals $4.5 Billion per year that's good for Pakistan.The World Bank in its latest report projected that fiscal deficit was projected to be 4.8 percent in FY2017 sum up to Rs1.24 trillion [$118 billion][36] along with $28 billion Trade Deficit[37] plus $5 billion Interests of current CPEC loans per year[38].For the debt-ridden Pakistan is that the plan clears this is no free ride. The report suggested the inflation will next big risk, which the plan says has averaged 11.6% over the past six years. A high inflation rate means a rise of project-related costs and a decline in profits. Plus Pakistan has to pay all the returns to Chinese Currency, there no easy out like printing money.Currently, with 66% of Pakistan's total revenue consume on loan servicing[39], falling exports[40] and Remittances[41], declining Tax Revenue[42], decreasing Foreign direct investment[43][44], forget CPEC loans how Pakistan pay off their existing loans is a big question. Nowadays China is providing vital doses of bailout packages to keep Pakistan Economy alive[45], hope China will bear rest of down payments as well to prove they are the all-weather friend of Pakistan.If you need full details and calculations of CPEC, please refer Nirav Bhatt's answer on CPECWar Mongering MindsetSince the independence, Pakistan adopted National Security State policy which states nation's security comes before all the things.[46] This mindset has been trying to secure the state but in the process has generated tremendous insecurity among the people and leaders. In 70 years nothing is changed, check this example.Check this recent incident, this guy is Khwaja Asif, who is the Minister of Defence of Pakistan. On December 25, 2016, the story broke out, titled “Israeli Defense Minister: If Pakistan sends ground troops to Syria on any pretext, we will destroy this country with a nuclear attack.” Without thinking and confirming the news, defense minister tweeted with a scathing post directed at Israel “Israeli def min threatens nuclear retaliation presuming Pak role in Syria against Daesh,” adding that “Israel forgets Pakistan is a Nuclear state too.” The story turned out to be fake, even got the Israeli defense minister’s name wrong in the story.[47]This is not the one incident, with the North Korean type approach, he threatens to use Nukes multiple times.[48] Any surprise why FDI is not coming to Pakistan.In other hand China is moving away from War Mongering Mindset, they are becoming more focus on trade and development. China never involved in any war against Vietnam in 1979. The fact is any war could impact China's economy with very severe damage. They are too floating through the economic crisis as their economy is slowing down and debt to GDP ratio is now raised to 277%.[49] In one study said that in the case of any war scenario, if weak opponent country [such as North Korea] managed to blow up three gorges dam,[50] it wiped out their massive population with all the developed cities on the shore of Yangtze river. This will take back China to at least 20 years behind and will take a lot of time to recover the economy.Pakistan always needs super powers who protect them to protect them, and they paid a lot of cost of their “War Mongering Mindset”. From years they relied on the United States was there, now on China. To protect their investments China needs to control Pakistan which was the United States failed to do in past. We have to see in future, how these players will play with each other. This interesting game is between the Masters of Trade vs the Masters of Double Game.Why Half Measures?Pakistan has always played the double game with their counterparts, they cheated Americans by making the partnership with North Korea and exchange Nuclear Weapons with Missiles[51], supporting Terrorist group Haqqani Networks in Afghanistan war[52], providing terrorist safe havens in Pakistan.[53] They always remembered for their half measures, and recent track record also states that.This plan might finally arm the Pakistani government with the clout to reduce the religious influence in the society, but the reality is the National Action Plan they have started to reduce religious radicalization is still not implemented on the ground.[54] Despite Pakistani army's recent operations against terrorists, Pakistan still facing terrorist attacks. Many experts raised the questions on the efficiency of these operations.[55] It is also another example of such kinds of half measures, might be the way to counter future Chinese ambitions.Dawn Leaks 2There are a lot of people in Pakistan raising the question about CPEC, especially reporters like Dr. Farrukh Saleem and Khurram Hussain who wrote the same Dawn article. Mubashir Luqman already revealed these details 6 months ago, but everyone's perception was that he is spreading anti-government agenda.[56][57]Reacting to the leak, Pakistan's planning, and development minister Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry tweeted: “I am appalled by Dawn Leak II. CPEC Long Term Plan story based on working docs 2 distort final draft taken up with NDRC yesterday in Beijing. CDB study referred to as Long Term Plan in Dawn story is factually incorrect. Definite angling in a story to malign CPEC by promoting fears.” [58]What is this Game?With CPEC the situation looks like a flowing river which looks calm and cool on the surface but nobody knows what volatile stuff are going inside. Here the game is played by lots of players; Pakistan Government, Provincial Government, Pakistan Army, Chinese Establishment, Media, State and Non-State Actors.For Politicians CPEC is the opportunity to grab the lot money, in one of the news programs, Pro-Government Reporter like Najam Sethi openly quoted that 10% kickbacks are standard in Pakistan and CPEC projects interest rates are actually higher.[59]Pakistan Army also has their influence in their National Politics.[60] Through this plan Pakistan Government trying to introduce Chinese influence in Pakistan’s politics. Now the question is, will Pakistan army accept the Chinese hegemony on their National Politics and dominance of Chinese Industries.Provincial Governments are trying to get the more opportunities from China, they are preferring to talk and deal directly with Chinese Regime. It will also reduce the influence of Pakistan Government and Pakistan Army on provinces. Will Government and Army accept this?Pakistan always involved in proxy wars with their neighbours (using bad terrorists and good terrorists policy) to protect their national interests. Does China force Pakistan to stick to their commitments in fight against all form of terrorism to achieve stability?Before signing the deal, during the OBOR summit on 15th May 2017 this report was leaked. Who is responsible for this, why this time was chosen, we have only guesses. But the game is still going on.What is Pakistan Government hiding?Two years ago, we only know that energy and infrastructure projects were going to establish through the CPEC, now information is out on these ‘demonstration projects’. Nobody knows in public what exactly at interest rates are and on what conditions these deals were been made.Now the report is officially out, then also why Pakistani Government doesn't make the final draft public, what is hidden agenda they are hiding?This article shows you the second side of coin, quite unknown to people outside Pakistan. If you like this answer, please share it on social media.Thanks for reading!!Footnotes[1] A spotlight on the Pakistani military's corruption | Asia | DW | 22.04.2016[2] 50 commercial entities being run by armed forces[3] 50 commercial entities being run by armed forces[4] Book on military’s business empire launched[5] IN UNIFORM – AND IN BUSINESS - Asian Affairs[6] The military millionaires who control Pakistan Inc | The Spectator[7] Pakistani army's '$20bn' business[8] Military Inc: An economy within an economy - Times of India[9] A spotlight on the Pakistani military's corruption | Asia | DW | 22.04.2016[10] Economic corridor in focus as Pakistan, China sign 51 MoUs[11] Punjab is set for record rice production this year, but at a heavy price[12] Food supply fears spark China land grab[13] Economic Diversification In The Gulf[14] Local cement industry losing competitiveness[15] India-Gulf Ties in the Spotlight[16] 45 yrs on, Bangladesh beats Pakistan in many indices[17] Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port And The World's Emptiest Airport Go To The Chinese[18] Is China blackmailing Myanmar, like it did with Sri Lanka?[19] Is China blackmailing Myanmar, like it did with Sri Lanka?[20] Laos And China Come to Terms on Loan Interest Rate For Railway Project[21] Is China railroading Kenya into debt?[22] http://africanbusinessmagazine.com/sectors/finance/africas-debt-spree-precursor-new-debt-crisis/[23] How Africa Rising turned into Africa Falling again[24] Making Sense of China’s Surplus and the “Ratchet Effect”[25] US automakers' Chinese factories are now mostly robots[26] Beyond CPEC[27] Big data, meet Big Brother: China invents the digital totalitarian state | The Economist[28] What is the biggest hoax you've ever heard about the CPEC?[29] China Uighurs: Ban on long beards, veils in Xinjiang [30] China's Uighur oppression runs deeper than Islamophobia[31] China bans Muslims from fasting Ramadan in Xinjiang[32] Killings in Xinjiang’s Guma Sparked by Anger at Prayer Restrictions[33] China bans Islamic baby names in Muslim-majority Xinjiang[34] Roads and religion: How CPEC will pit Pakistan against itself[35] CPEC promises the moon but Gwadar just wants water - The Express Tribune[36] Budget deficit surges to Rs1.24 trillion[37] Trade gap widens by 35pc to $20.2bn[38] Pakistan's 'Silk Road' repayments to peak at around $5 billion a year - chief economist[39] Debt servicing eats up 66pc of tax money[40] Falling Exports[41] Declining remittances[42] Low interest rates lead to fall in govt revenues[43] Where’s CPEC in our FDI?[44] Declining FDI[45] China provided $1.2bn in loans to bail out Pakistan: report[46] Pakistan: The Security State[47] Reading Fake News, Pakistani Minister Directs Nuclear Threat at Israel[48] Five times Pakistan defence minister Khwaja Asif bragged about nukes, made outrageous statement against India[49] Stung by debt, China's economic growth to slow to 6.5 percent in 2017: Reuters poll[50] Bombing Everything, Gaining Nothing[51] The Long History of the Pakistan-North Korea Nexus[52] Opinion | Time to Put the Squeeze on Pakistan[53] Pakistan continues to be safe haven for terrorists: Pentagon report says Haqqani Network biggest threat[54] Not really a plan[55] Has Pakistan's Zarb-e-Azb military operation failed? | Asia | DW | 02.09.2016[56] Khara Sach with Mubashir Luqman 19 December 2016 | CPEC Special - Channel 24 News[57] Khara Sach | Reality of CPEC Projects | 11 January 2017 | 24 News HD[58] Ahsan Iqbal slams Dawn's CPEC 'master plan' article, calls it Dawn Leaks II - The Express Tribune[59] Aapas Ki Baat - 16 May 2017[60] Pakistan's Military-Democracy Complex

Yes. For decades, historians have rejected the term “Dark Ages” ― even for the early Middle Ages variously measured from the fall of the Western Roman Empire until the rise of Charlemagne ― because it is misleading and inaccurate. For example, let me quote Professor Rodney Stark:“…the so-called Dark Ages were a period of profound enlightenment in both the material and intellectual spheres, which when combined with Christian doctrines of moral equality, created a whole new world based on political, economic, and personal freedom.” [The Victory of Reason (New York: Random House, 2006) 68.]Unfortunately, while people knowledgeable about the subject have distanced themselves from derogatory terminology originating in the early modern period, the general public (e.g. Wikipedia, and indeed many answers to this question and other commentaries on the Middle Ages in social media) have actually broadened the term to apply to the entire 1,000 years lumped together as the Middle Ages. The latter is particularly egregious and suggests that those using the term know nothing about the period to which they apply it.The following answer addresses the broader use of this discredited term to the entire Middle Ages while highlighting those developments that took place even in the Early Middle Ages (the more narrow definition.)The Middle Ages, including the early period still unfortunately described by non-historians as the “Dark Ages”, was a period of significant technological, intellectual, and cultural developments that greatly improved the standard of livings for rich and poor alike.Indeed, the greatest improvements undoubtedly came for the poor, as the rich in earlier societies (such as Rome) had often lived comparably well — on the backs of slaves. With Christianity, however, came the concept of the equality of souls in the eyes of God, and dramatic improvements in the status and rights of both working-class people and women. These resulted in substantial and measurable improvements in living standards and physical health.Below is a list of some of the more remarkable or important technological achievements of the Medieval Period as a whole, followed by a more detailed discussion of some common myths. Developments that took place during the Early Middle Ages are noted with an *It was the period in which polyphonic music was developed along with a means of recording music (the musical score).*It was the period in which to organ* was developed and the violin.It was the age in which the first universities were founded ― institutions dedicated to scientific inquiry (not rote learning of religious texts) and protected by the concept of “academic freedom.”It was an age that saw the invention of the chimney and saw huge strides in architecture* as well ― the great cathedrals soaring hundreds of feet into the air as well as the military architecture such a the great concentric castles of the crusader states.It was an age that saw the invention of the compass and of ocean-going nautical architecture including the central rudder.It saw the introduction of brakes* to wagons, and swivel axles*, both radical innovations in their day. These, combined with the development of the horse-collar* and the breeding of larger, stronger horses* enabled the transport of heavy cargoes and equipment inland away from rivers. This was a significant advantage in warfare, where it helped, for example, the deployment of siege engines.Yet, far more important was the impact of horse power on agriculture*. Horses could plow at twice the speed of oxen, enabling a doubling of production. Indeed, they made it possible to bring more land under cultivation. The three-field rotation system was introduced*. In consequence, most peasants moved beyond subsistence agriculture to cash-crops and, except in periods of exceptional natural or political phenomena, had enough to eat to reach their full genetic potential. (For more on medieval horses see: Forgotten Heroes of the Middle Ages)It saw the introduction of clocks and eye-glasses. By the 14th century, eye-glasses were being mass-produced in both Venice and Florence.Let me now turn to debunking a few key myths that have contributed to this inaccurate perception of the thousand years between ca. 500 and 1500 AD which some still insist on referring to as “the Dark Ages.”Myth 1: The Middle Ages were Anti-Scientific, Bigoted and SuperstitiousLet's start with the simple fact that the Church, notably monasteries and nunneries, were the most effective centers for the preservation of classical literature and thought in the period immediately following the "fall" of the Roman Empire (i.e. the Early Middle Ages.) This was especially so in the Eastern Roman Empire where monasteries were not immediately threatened, but more important in the West where they were. It is important to understand that it was in these religious institutions that the teachings not only of Christ but of Aristotle and Plato were preserved, copied, read, studied and analyzed.Monasteries continued to be centers of learning ― not rote learning as in the Koran schools familiar across the world today ― but as centers of inquiry and study, even after the political situation had stabilized.By the 11th century (High Middle Ages) they were very much centers of intellectual inquiry and debate. Peter Abelard (unfortunately more famous for his affair with Heloise than for his philosophy) is just one example of a critical thinker as a theologian, philosopher, and logician. Hildegard von Bingen is, of course, another example from the same century. She wrote treatises on medicine and natural history characterized by a high quality of scientific observation. Later scholars of note included Roger Bacon and Thomas Aquinas.Indeed, the very concept of universities ― places dedicated to learning and debate protected by the notion of academic freedom ― evolved out of the Cathedral schools of the Middle Ages. Pope Gregory VII in a papal decree from 1079 (High Middle Ages) regulated Cathedral schools and is credited with thereby providing the framework for independent universities. The first such university was established just nine years later in 1088 at Bologna, Italy. It was followed by the University of Paris in 1150 and the University of Oxford in 1167. (All High Middle Ages)The learning taught in these universities was not confined to scripture. On the contrary, the study of ancient Greek and Roman texts was an essential component of medieval higher education. It is a fallacy ― but a frequently repeated and propagated one ― that knowledge of classical texts was "re-discovered" in the Renaissance after such knowledge was "preserved" by the Muslims. This is nonsense. The University of Bologna at its inception was focused on teaching Roman law―that is ancient Roman, not canon law! The principal sources used for teaching medicine in medieval universities were Hippocrates, Galen, and Avicenna. Aristotle and Plato were hotly debated in studies of law, politics, logic, and philosophy. Universities also provided the study of mathematics and the natural sciences, based largely on classical but also Byzantine and even Muslim scholars. The university culture at this time, furthermore, was based on debates, disputations, and the requirement to read extensively in order to pass examinations, which entailed defending one's ideas before a panel of established scholars. The concept of "peer review" and defense of a doctrinal dissertation today is based on this medieval tradition.Just one small example, the knowledge that the earth was a sphere was widespread in intellectual circles in the Middle Ages. In the 6th century, for example, Bishop Isidore of Seville included the fact that the earth was round in his encyclopedia. The Venerable Bede, writing roughly a century later, described the earth as an "orb" at the center of the universe. Hildegard von Bingen, writing in the 11th century, described the earth as a sphere, no less than did Dante's Divine Comedy written in the 14th century. Galileo was condemned NOT in the Middle Ages, but in the so-called Renaissance; furthermore, he was condemned not for saying the earth was round, but rather that the earth revolved around the sun rather than the reverse.This brings us to the fact that fundamentalism, the belief that all knowledge is contained in Scripture, is inherently more bigoted and anti-science than was the medieval church. It was the Reformation, with its emphasis on the Bible ― and the Bible alone ― that bred religious bigotry in the West. Likewise, it is Islamic fundamentalism, not enlightened Islam, that poses a threat to peaceful co-existence between peoples holding different religious beliefs to this day.Myth 2: Feudalism was Arbitrary and Autocratic.The notion that kings and nobles were all-powerful, and their subjects were oppressed, intimidated and utterly without legal protections is one of the most ridiculous, ignorant and persistent of the misconceptions about the Middle Ages. People appear to project backwards the characteristics of totalitarian states upon medieval feudalism ― mixed together with images of Hollywood kings (usually Henry VIII) shouting “off with her head.” Aside from the fact that Henry VIII was a “Renaissance” king and not medieval at all, the entire notion of absolutism is a post-feudal concept or, more correctly, anti-feudal.The essence of feudalism was a hierarchical pyramid of mutually beneficial agreements. Simplified: between the king and his barons, barons and their knights, knights and their peasants. Feudal oaths bound both parties and established duties on both sides. In its simplest form, the subordinate pledged loyalty in exchange for a promise of protection from the superior.Feudalism evolved because in the early feudal period life was very uncertain and only powerful men had the resources to build castles and hire fighting men to protect ordinary peaceful farmers. Those peaceful farmers, often the descendants of slaves, agreed to till the land in exchange for being protected by their feudal lord from bandits, raiders, and enemies. Knights too entered a contract with a lord, but rather than tilling the soil, they brought service with horse, sword, and lance. The important point was that they did this in exchange for land (a fief) which gave them both income and status. Although at the top of the pyramid the contract is most difficult to grasp because the power relationships between kings and their vassals were not always straight-forward (e.g. Henry Plantagenet and Louis VII of France), in theory, it too entailed loyalty on the part of the vassal (baron) in exchange for good governance by the king.The operative point is that kings had obligations to their subjects. They owed them good governance which entailed not just defense but also the administration of justice, i.e. the maintenance of “law and order.” A king who failed to deliver good governance could legitimately be challenged by his barons for breach of contract. Thus from Magna Charta and the Oxford Provisions to the wars against Frederick Hohenstaufen in the Holy Land, barons challenged their king because of real or alleged abuses of royal power or failure to ensure peace and good governance.A major criticism that came up again and again in the English history, for example, was the failure of a king to consult his barons, i.e. to prefer his “favorites” (who were often men of lower birth) to his “natural” advisors, i.e. the great magnets/barons of the realm. This epitomizes the contractual nature of feudal oaths: while barons pledged to advise the king, in return he pledged to consult his barons. This obligation on the part of the king to consult with his barons was the basis of Parliament in England, the High Court in Jerusalem, and the Curia Regis in France.In short, medieval kings needed to take into account the advice and interests of their tenants-in-chief (which included the most important ecclesiastical lords because of their vast landholdings), but they were also expected to ensure “good governance” for the lowliest in the land as well. (This applies to the Early as well as the High Middle Ages)Myth 3: The Middle Ages were LawlessBecause feudalism was based on mutual consent and obligations in both directions, the right of either party to sue for breach of contract was implicit in the system. Thus peasants and serfs, although in the first instance subject to the courts of their direct lord, could appeal to the royal courts. Louis IX, one of the most outstanding later medieval monarchs, went so far as to institute special courts of inquiry to investigate allegations of corruption on the part of his own administrators and officers.This leads us to another important feudal concept: the right to judgment by one’s peers (Applies to the Early as well as High Middle Ages). What this meant was that, although a seigniorial officer presided over a court, the judgment itself was given by a jury composed of people from the defendant’s own class. The idea that a lord could legally order punishment without a trial is erroneous. Of course, the operative word here is “legally.”Men with power often act illegally, and in an age where wealth and weapons were generally held in the same hands, it was particularly easy to abuse power. Yet it is still important to remember medieval justice was jury justice ― still common in the Anglo-Saxon world but replaced across most of Europe with justice handed down by trained judges, who rarely share the social status, background or problems of the defendants.Feudalism ended slowly as powerful monarchs across Europe gradually consolidated their power at the expense of their barons and then evolved an ideology, “the divine right of kings,” to justify their usurpation of power. The concept of “the divine right of kings” ended the notion of a contract between ruler and subjects, and replaced it with the idea that the kings derived their power directly from God. While history books still tend to describe this as “progress,” it was in fact regressive. It weakened the checks-and-balances on the abuse of royal power that had been inherent in the feudal system.Myth 4: Serfs were no better off than slavesThe 20th-century popular image of serfs was expressed in the Hollywood film “The Kingdom of Heaven” when the lead character (I hate to call him Balian d’Ibelin because he bore so little resemblance to the historical figure) says to the Hollywood Imad ad-Din that he “had been a slave ― or very like” meaning (inaccurately) that he had been a serf before coming to the Holy Land.The conflation of slavery and serfdom is not only inaccurate, it fundamentally inhibits our understanding of feudal society. As I noted above, feudal society was based on the concept of mutual contracts ― a fact that made medieval Europe very litigious by the way. The fundamental difference between slaves and serfs was that the former (slaves) had no rights, while the latter (serfs) had very clear rights.Let us start by looking at slavery. Slaves own nothing ― not even their own bodies. They can be mutilated, tortured, raped and killed by their masters without the latter committing a crime. Anything slaves produce, even their own children, does not belong to them. Their children belong to their master, who can choose to kill or sell them. As a result, slaves cannot and do not have families. They rarely even know who their parents, siblings, and children are. The products of their hands, from crops to works of art, also belong to their masters. The magnificent pottery of ancient Athens, for example, was the work of slaves who might have been from any part of the ancient world.From the Duke of Berry's Book of HoursSerfs historically derived from Roman slaves. With the spread of Christianity in the 4th century AD, however, slavery became increasingly unacceptable because Christianity viewed each human as a soul loved by God. Within a few hundred years it was universally accepted in the Latin Church that no Christian could be held as a slave. But the economy of the period was still utterly dependent on the labor of those former slaves to plant and harvest the food needed by all. So the status of slaves was altered and became one of serfdom, in which the former slave was still required to till the land and was not free to leave it, but was granted control over his person and with it the right to marry, have a family, and above all retain 50% or more of his produce depending on locality. Compared to slaves, serfs lived a very privileged life!From the Duke of Berry's Book of HoursFurthermore, at the time this status evolved, the concept of being “tied to the land” was not seen as a brutal violation of “human rights.” On the contrary, the contract between serf and lord gave the serf both physical and economic security. The lord was responsible for providing armed protection against outlaws and raiders, and for the serf not be thrown off the land any more than he could walk away from it; he was guaranteed his share of the harvest not just one year at a time but for as long as he and his children and his grandchildren and their children, etc., lived.Renowned French historian Regine Pernoud points out in her book Those Terrible Middle Ages: Debunking the Myths (Ignatius, 1977, p.88):It was this intimate connection between man and the soil on which he lived that constituted serfdom, for, in all other respects, the serf had all the rights of a free man: he could marry, establish a family, his land, as well as the goods he was able to acquire, would pass to his children at his death. The lord, let us note, had, although on a totally different scale, the same obligations as the serf, for he could neither sell nor give up his land nor desert it.Furthermore, archaeology increasingly provides evidence of the very high standard of living serfs could attain. Clever peasants, like clever lords, made judicious marriages. Through good marriages and careful husbandry, peasants could accumulate more and more hereditary plots of land. It mattered little that they did not “own” the land in the modern, capitalist sense of the word; feudal lords didn’t own it either. The point was that some serfs accumulated the right to use the land and harvest its produce. Peasants that accumulated more land than they could themselves cultivate, hired laborers to work it for them. A wealthy serf could build a large house, purchase furnishings, and other luxuries, and live like a lord ― just as long as he didn’t try to leave his land.From the Duke of Berry's Book of HoursThe standard of living among peasants increased as Europe became more prosperous and new technologies, from the horse collar and horseshoe to axles that swiveled and plows that could turn the soil, were introduced. These new technologies increased farm productivity dramatically. By using horses rather than oxen, for example, the amount of land one farmer could cultivate doubled. These technologies also enabled land that had previously been considered marginal to be brought under cultivation. With more land under cultivation, it was possible to introduce (in the eighth century) the three-field system, which left one-third of the land fallow each year.This enabled the soil to regenerate and so the sustainability of agriculture increased. As a result of these innovations, European serfs “began to eat far better than common people anywhere, ever. Indeed, medieval Europeans may have been the first human group whose genetic potential was not badly stunted by a poor diet, with the result they were, on average, bigger, healthier, and more energetic than ordinary people elsewhere.” (Rodney Stark. God’s Battalions. HarperCollins, 2009, p. 70.)From the Duke of Berry's Book of HoursAs prosperity increased, so did the demand for goods, spawning an increase in industry and trade. This, in turn, led to greater urbanization, and with improvements in transportation technology (think of the splendid naval architecture of the Vikings), trade started to spread farther and farther afield. The First Crusade (1097–1099) re-established regular contact with the Byzantine Empire and the Near East, and for the next three hundred years, Europeans dominated the sea lanes of the Mediterranean. Pilgrim traffic, crusades, and trade with the Levant produced a great economic boom that financed the great palaces and cathedrals, monasteries and guild halls, and many more humble dwellings as well.Yet, urbanization also made serfdom increasingly burdensome. Serfs no longer feared to lose their land but longed for the greater opportunities in crafts, industry, and trade that beckoned from the cities. Thus by the twelfth century, serfs were demanding their freedom and more and more mechanisms for emancipation evolved. By the end of the Middle Ages, there were, in fact, many more free peasants than serfs in Western Europe.Myth 5: Medieval man had no understanding or appreciation of hygieneA favorite Hollywood convention is to portray people in the Middle Ages as filthy. Mice run across dinner tables while dogs fight over bones at their feet. Noblemen wipe their mouths on their sleeves (or hair!) and toss the bones from their plates over their shoulders. The poor are consistently depicted in filthy (and usually ragged) clothing and mud-encrusted boots. Yet the evidence we have from the Middle Ages belies this image.First, we should remember that although the "Middle Ages" started with the "fall" of Rome that refers to the political and military might of Rome, not Roman civilization. The customs and habits of people across what had been the Roman Empire from Yorkshire to Palestine were not suddenly extinguished or forgotten simply because the political and military structures that had made it possible to rule an empire from Rome were gone. Rome fell; Roman thought, customs and knowledge remained in the hearts and minds of people all across the former empire. That culture included bathing...Image courtesy of Crystalinks Home PageAcross the Middle East and the Muslim-controlled territory in Cyprus, Sicily, and Spain, as well as in the Eastern Roman Empire, bathing and bath-houses remained a feature of daily life just as it had been in Roman times. In the West, the situation was less clear-cut because this is where the “barbarians” had the greatest impact. Nevertheless, we know from the rule of St. Caesarius’ writing at the very start of the 6th century, that nuns and monks were expected to bathe regularly for hygienic purposes. Other texts recommend washing face and hands daily, as well as washing and brushing hair frequently, and keeping teeth "picked, cleansed, and brushed [sic!]" (Pernoud, Regine. Women in the Days of the Cathedrals. Ignatius Press, 1989, 84.)Furthermore, bathing and washing are referred to in romances and depicted in manuscript illustrations throughout the Middle Ages. Washing hands before meals was part of the ritual at every manor and castle as well as in monasteries and convents. Washing clothes was so important that washerwomen ― always identified as older, respectable women very different from prostitutes ― accompanied armies. Women washing and hanging out clothes to dry are also a motif in medieval manuscript illustrations.By the 13th century, possibly as a result of renewed contact with the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire and with the Muslim world during the crusades, bathing became very popular and prominent. Not only did public bathhouses become numerous, but wealthier citizens invested in elaborate baths which by the 15th century including hot-and-cold running water fed from roof-top tanks. Even before that, the Franks in the Holy Land built aqueducts, bathhouses and sophisticated sewage systems.Obviously, “popular” and “frequent” bathing in the medieval context was fundamentally different than in the 21st century. It took much more effort to heat water over fire and coals, and (except for the very wealthy) it meant pumping or hauling water from a well and lugging it to a tub or going to a bathhouse. The latter cost money. Not necessarily a lot of money, but it was not entirely free, and it was certainly less convenient than stepping into a shower at home today. So, yes, hygiene would not have been at the same standards as today, but that is still a far cry from kings wiping their sleeves on their velvet robes or having mice running across their banquet tables.Other myths include: that medieval medicine was brutal and did more harm than good, that women were “mere chattels,” and many more provided by other answers to this question, but this answer is already long enough and anyone interested in more can ask a new question.