Week 3 Blog

Key Points from Chapters 8,9, and 10. 

Chapter 8: The Silk Roads were Eurasia’s extensive networks of exchange with its many people and cultures.

The Growth of the Silk Roads...

As the major civilizations of Persia, China, Rome, and Byzantines prospered so did the Silk Road.  With a successful empire policing its boarders the Silk Road was allowed to flourish providing the exchange of goods across Eurasia.  In the 13^th and 14^th centuries the Mongol Empire nearly controlled the entire road.

  Disease in Transit...

With goods came many diseases from lands where the people afflicted had no immunity or history treating.  The most famous occurrence being the bubonic plague that swept through Europe in 1346 AD killing 1/3 of its inhabitants.  Other outbreaks of small pox, measles, and anthrax had serious consequences for the Chinese, Romans, Persians, and the Native Americans.

Reflections: Economic Globalization—Ancient and Modern

The world of third wave civilizations was a more balanced, multi-centered world than we see today.  Different civilizations had a more equal footing in global affairs and economically.  Could we be seeing a change today as our own world economies become more connected and equal?  

Chapter 9: 

The Reemergence of a Unified China...

After the collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 AD many of China’s inhabitants migrated south toward the Yangzi river region.  And by 1000 AD 60% of its inhabitants lived in southern China. This migration saw the terrible destruction of China’s old growth forests and the migration of many of its native species of animals. 

Making Buddhism Chinese...

Buddhism originally enters China from the Silk Road.  Buddhism takes hold after the fall of the Han dynasty in 200 AD, and like so many religions, captures the hearts and minds of the people when they needed it most.  Some of the original Indian words and concepts were changed to be more understandable to the Chinese.  The term dharma, referring to Buddha’s teachings was changed to Dao, or the way.   The Indian concept of “the husband supports wife,” was changed to “husband controls wife.” 

Chapter 10:

·      In the Wake of Roman Collapse: Political Life in Western Europe, 500-1000

Germanic peoples who the Romans deemed barbarians, Goths, Visigoths, Franks, Lombards, Angles, and Saxons – now emerged as the dominant forces in Western Europe.  They would see a decline in literacy, road and building repair, and a general decline in social order.  Charlemagne ruled an area that included France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and parts of Italy and Germany from 768-814.   

·      In the Wake of Roman Collapse: Society and the Church, 500-1000

In the absence of a supreme ruler like Rome before, serf life or serfdom became a common form of life at this time.  Unlike a slave a serf was not the property of the lord and could live with his or her family – but he did have to make various forms of payments from working the lords fields to providing coin or livestock.  The serf would then receive whatever protection the lord could provide – and in a increasingly dangerous world this was a huge asset.  Charlemagne saw to the conversion of the Visigoths and other Germanic peoples but other religious leaders had a more covert way of converting these people.  Pope Gregory famously instructed missionaries in England not to destroy the temples and places of worship only the idols inside so the native people would still be familiar with the religious site. 

·      Accelerating Change in the West, 1000-1300

During the preceding 3 centuries Europe was prone to many invasions from all areas but these conquering/conquered people had begun to adapt and settle into a new life.  Europe’s population was thought to have gone from 35 million in 1000 to 80 million in 1340.  This gave way to a massive deforestation and urbanization of the continent.  During this time we also see a consolidation of power not seen since the Roman times were regional monarchs begin to appear – as well as a renewed sense of state.

·      Europe Outward Bound: The Crusading Tradition

Europe’s outward expansion in made most evident by a series of holy wars or crusades beginning in 1095 and continuing for nearly 4 centuries.  The crusades solidify the rift between eastern and western Christianity and only adds to anti-Semitic and anti Muslim thought at the time.