500-1500 C.E.considered "postclassical" era, or precursor to the modern era.
During this time 3rd wave civilizations emerged, based upon previous classical civilizations.
New ones to emerged; Swahili, Kievan Rus, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Islam being the most expansive and influential.
Classic civilizations evolved such as Greco-Roman and China which grew larger or with the demise of one turned into another such as with the Aztecs.
Trade and commerce bound and influenced across cultures. The following routes of importance were:
Silk Roads
Indian Ocean basin
Sahara Desert
Mississippi River and others
these trade routes helped establish interactions between cultures - wether it be ideas, food,religion, technologies, or germs
"No man is an island, entire of itself," "Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main"- John Donne, sums up civilizations and their influence upon each other.
The Arab, Mongol, Inca Empires were also another vehicle to influence trade and commerce. The trade in turn brought wealth to these civilizations and influenced how they were to be governed.
Questions to consider for the following chapters:
how external stimuli produce change in particular societies?
were they free to decide to accept or reject new ideas and practices? or were they forced?
Strayer discusses a time in which life may have been more difficult to survive compared to our current luxuries and abilities to acquire things. But one can only imagine the wonder to which these cultures interacted with goods. Life was built upon necessity of the simplest needs, food, water, and shelter. It makes one reminiscent for a simpler time, no phones, no laptops,or cars etc. This is the basis of beginnings of our modern civilization.
Chapter 8
The importance of the trade routes where did they lie and what goods were of great value and influence. These goods where dictated by the civilizations environmental situation and what was in demand.
Silk Road - this route began eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, across the most northern part of Arabia, Persia, into India and Turkestan, then across China.
Indian Ocean basin - Sea trade routes, encompassed coasts of Africa, Arabia, India, southeast Asia and China. This oceanic system increased with understanding of trade winds(riding the monsoons between Madagascar and India). And China developing larger ships and the magnetic compass.
Sahara Desert - this route help link North Africa to the interior of West Africa
Mississippi River, Mesoamerica, and Andean regions - each of these regions had developed somewhat independent of each other. Thou some influences can be seen between the Mesoamericans and southwestern United States. The agricultural spread of Maize is what binds these three regions.
Items of trade along these routes were, from:
China - silk, bamboo, mirrors, gunpowder, paper, rhubarb, ginger, lacquerware, chrysanthemums, porcelain, tea
Mediterranean basin - ceramics, glassware, wine, gold, olive oil, glazes, grapevines, jewelry, artworks, perfume, wool and linen textiles
Siberia and Central Asia - furs, walrus tusks, amber, livestock, horses, falcons, hides, copper vessels, tents, saddles, slaves
India - cotton, herbal medicine, precious stones, spices, grain, ivory, timber, tortoiseshells
Arabia - frankincense, myrrh, perfumes
Southeast Asia - tin, sandalwood, cloves. nutmeg, mace
East Africa - ivory, gold, iron goods, slaves, tortoiseshells, quartz, leopard skins
These routes are very significant to each civilization. It helped further develop existing civilizations and foster new ones. Its influence can be seen in religion, language (spoken and written) and culture.
Chapter 9
China's influence, economically, technologically, as it evolved.
Tang dynasty (618-097) and Song dynasty (960-1279) are considered to be the era of the "Golden Age". Boom in the following areas population, structure in government, economy, education, arts, sciences and technology and resurgence of Confucianism incorporated with Buddhism and Daoism. All this allowed China to become one of the strongest civilizations during this time.
Northern vs. Southern China and the Northern struggle with Nomadic tribes. These nomadic tribes would regularly pillage the northern parts of China. Finally an agreement was made between the two cultures. Through the "tribute system" gifts would be made to the nomads to safety to the Chinese people in this region. The "tribute system" was how the Chinese Court came to see themselves, as superior to "barbarian" peoples, and any visiting cultures were required to kow tow before the Imperial Court and present gifts to them. This would also allow other cultures permission to do business with the Chinese.
China"s influence upon Korea, they did try to conquer Korea during the Sui dynasty. It depleted China's resources and they failed. Korea has remained independent of China's rule. China's cultural influence upon Korea was minimal, with the exception of Buddhism.
In Vietnam China's influence very evident in their religion, administrative techniques, examination system, arts, and literature. But like Korea, Vietnam established its independence
In Japan what cultural influences they borrowed from China was voluntary. The influences they did borrow they interpreted it in their own way. Japan being an island, made it difficult for China to assert its power over them.
Eurasian influences, paper-making, printing, gunpowder, metallurgy, and magnetic compass. As well as influencing other civilizations it also assimilated outside influences, such as Buddhism.
Buddhism in China was initially rejected because it was so contrary to Confucian thought, and was not embraced until after the end of the Han dynasty, approximately 300- 800 C.E. Buddhism would be embraced, then rejected and then incorporated with Confucianism and Daoism.
Chapter 10
The term "barbarian" is interesting the Chinese, Byzantium and Roman Empire, all view a "barbarian" as any influence or civilization other than there own.
Christianity, establishing itself, divergence Roman Catholic(Papal centered) and Eastern Orthodox the differences between the two:
Eastern Orthodox - encompassed the most Eastern part of Byzantium Empire, believed in God and State, Constantinople its center, Greek base in language and culture, iconoclasm- no idol worshipping, priest were allowed to marry and grow their hair and beards long.
Roman Catholic - encompassed the western part Byzantium Empire, Rome is its capital, latin based, God separate from state, Papal centered, Priest were required to shave and lead a life of celibacy, and they believed in icon veneration.
By 1054, both mutually excommunicated the other.
The Eastern Orthodox were in constant battle of controlling its influence and empire against the Muslims and in 1095 the Roman Catholics launched their crusade against Islam. This crusade also involved the ransacking of Constantinople. From this point on the separation between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics is to be irreparable.
Unity, harmony and wealth seem to the driving force for these civilizations. They made decisions based on what would benefit uniting their people. Such is the case with Prince Vladimir of Kiev. He chose the religion of Byzantium, for the sole purpose of uniting his people of Kievan Rus, based on their cultural lifestyle. Despite the fall of Rome,
many civilizations looked to the Romans(when it was at its height of reign) as a model to emulate and build upon.
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