Intro, Ch. 7, 8, &10
In the introduction we are introduced to the term third wave civilization. This concept is referred to as blended and it mixes the old and new ways of civilization to create a new type of civilization. The quality that makes the civilizations is its uniqueness. Each state or cities is becoming specialized and growing individually because of its resources, technology and the ability to trade. The one thing I noted was that as the new traditions begin to form, the trend of "history repeating itself" also emerges. "Variations on this theme of continuing or renewing older traditions took shape in the Western Hemisphere, where two centers of civilization -in The Meso-America and in the Andes - had long been established". Again, it was an era when old and new borrowed ideas and innovations in order to thrive. Trade was the the thread that held the states together. People traveled further than they ever had before and they interacted with other civilizations. Trade was key to the expansion of empires, technology and diseases.
Chapter 7:
The impact of trade forever changed the dynamics of all civilizations.Trade became important but it took away from the local economy and self-sufficiency of a civilization. Today, this can be compared to a big businesses such as Costco pushing out a smaller retail establishments and causing them to go out of business. This large business is not match for a smaller business who relies on its local and neighborhood customers to thrive. Many of the smaller businesses cannot compete with the lower prices and as a consquence they can no longer stay in business. Bigger business are benefitting and smaller shops are forced to close. The consumer is forced to decide if they want to pay the higher prices to keep the smaller business afloat or save money shopping and buying in bulk.
Another aspect of trade was that it changed the social structure. Merchants became their own group. Many people were leery of the merchants because they had wealth but they did not work to produce the goods. The merchants were able to trade luxury items, rare items or goods that were foreign to a civilization and they were able to make a profit based on supply and demand. Next, trade influenced politics, religion, technology and diseases.
In China, silk was prominent. It represented currency, wealth and high status. It also had an effect on religion. In the Buddhist teachings, material goods were looked down upon. When silk was introduced it became a sign of wealth and changed the core beliefs of the Buddhist.
Silk and sea roads connected people across the Eastern Hemisphere. The people were able to go further distances, and have larger loads because the technology was so useful. The use of boats, animals and the terrain were contributing factors to the successful trade industry in Afro-Eurasia. In contrast, trade was much different in the America's. In the America's the absence of animals, wheeled vehicles and boats limited trade. In addition, to not having the same technology as the Eastern Hemisphere there were environmental and climate obstacles. For example, the rain forests and the narrow passage in Panama. Trade existed in the America's but it was done on a smaller and more localized scale. "Bur the most active and dense networks of communication and exchange in the Americas lay within, rather than between, the regions that housed the two great civilizations of the Western Hemisphere- Mesoamerica and the Andes".
Chapter 8:
In this chapter we discover the many important technological developments in China and the effects on the surrounding areas. China was the leader in technology in many different aspects. For example, iron plow, paper, gunpowder and printing. China forced its practices on Korea and Vietnam because they were close in proximity and they did not have the resources to fight off the Chinese. However, Japan choose to follow the practices of China and adapted many of their ways. Japan was much farther away and had the ability to choose what to adopt and from the Chinese civilization.
Religion also changed in China. Buddhism was introduced as a result of trade on the silk road. In early China Buddhism went against their core beliefs and Confucian mind set. For example, family values, and seeking enlightenment was selfish. The shift occurred after the collapse of the Han dynasty and the new nomadic rulers started to follow the Buddhist way.
Chapter 10:
In this chapter we read about Christianity and how it emerged in China, Asian countries, India, Africa and Latin America and how it expanded to the European states. It was interesting the role that Islam played in the growth of Christianity. Initially, there were two branches of Christianity, the Byzantine Empire that followed the greek customs, which was orthodox and the beginning of Christianity in Western Europe. Christianity followed the teachings of Jesus and was compared to Buddhism. Both had a promise of the supreme, miracles and supernatural. Further, they both offered refuge to women. Both religions offered women a monastic lifestyle, simple life, poverty, chastity and obedience in exchange for partial freedom from male dominance. As the Byzantine Empire began to collapse Christianity in Western Europe was increasing as the population was growing. There were many holy wars, improvements in technology , and alternative sources of energy began to emerge, such as, the windmill. Further, a new form of thinking began and they were called European Christian thinkers. Intellectuals changed the way people began to think and the debate between reason and faith started. At this point, philosophy separated from theology. The traditions studied are still a topic of great debate in modern times.
Chapter 7:
The impact of trade forever changed the dynamics of all civilizations.Trade became important but it took away from the local economy and self-sufficiency of a civilization. Today, this can be compared to a big businesses such as Costco pushing out a smaller retail establishments and causing them to go out of business. This large business is not match for a smaller business who relies on its local and neighborhood customers to thrive. Many of the smaller businesses cannot compete with the lower prices and as a consquence they can no longer stay in business. Bigger business are benefitting and smaller shops are forced to close. The consumer is forced to decide if they want to pay the higher prices to keep the smaller business afloat or save money shopping and buying in bulk.
Another aspect of trade was that it changed the social structure. Merchants became their own group. Many people were leery of the merchants because they had wealth but they did not work to produce the goods. The merchants were able to trade luxury items, rare items or goods that were foreign to a civilization and they were able to make a profit based on supply and demand. Next, trade influenced politics, religion, technology and diseases.
In China, silk was prominent. It represented currency, wealth and high status. It also had an effect on religion. In the Buddhist teachings, material goods were looked down upon. When silk was introduced it became a sign of wealth and changed the core beliefs of the Buddhist.
Silk and sea roads connected people across the Eastern Hemisphere. The people were able to go further distances, and have larger loads because the technology was so useful. The use of boats, animals and the terrain were contributing factors to the successful trade industry in Afro-Eurasia. In contrast, trade was much different in the America's. In the America's the absence of animals, wheeled vehicles and boats limited trade. In addition, to not having the same technology as the Eastern Hemisphere there were environmental and climate obstacles. For example, the rain forests and the narrow passage in Panama. Trade existed in the America's but it was done on a smaller and more localized scale. "Bur the most active and dense networks of communication and exchange in the Americas lay within, rather than between, the regions that housed the two great civilizations of the Western Hemisphere- Mesoamerica and the Andes".
Chapter 8:
In this chapter we discover the many important technological developments in China and the effects on the surrounding areas. China was the leader in technology in many different aspects. For example, iron plow, paper, gunpowder and printing. China forced its practices on Korea and Vietnam because they were close in proximity and they did not have the resources to fight off the Chinese. However, Japan choose to follow the practices of China and adapted many of their ways. Japan was much farther away and had the ability to choose what to adopt and from the Chinese civilization.
Religion also changed in China. Buddhism was introduced as a result of trade on the silk road. In early China Buddhism went against their core beliefs and Confucian mind set. For example, family values, and seeking enlightenment was selfish. The shift occurred after the collapse of the Han dynasty and the new nomadic rulers started to follow the Buddhist way.
Chapter 10:
In this chapter we read about Christianity and how it emerged in China, Asian countries, India, Africa and Latin America and how it expanded to the European states. It was interesting the role that Islam played in the growth of Christianity. Initially, there were two branches of Christianity, the Byzantine Empire that followed the greek customs, which was orthodox and the beginning of Christianity in Western Europe. Christianity followed the teachings of Jesus and was compared to Buddhism. Both had a promise of the supreme, miracles and supernatural. Further, they both offered refuge to women. Both religions offered women a monastic lifestyle, simple life, poverty, chastity and obedience in exchange for partial freedom from male dominance. As the Byzantine Empire began to collapse Christianity in Western Europe was increasing as the population was growing. There were many holy wars, improvements in technology , and alternative sources of energy began to emerge, such as, the windmill. Further, a new form of thinking began and they were called European Christian thinkers. Intellectuals changed the way people began to think and the debate between reason and faith started. At this point, philosophy separated from theology. The traditions studied are still a topic of great debate in modern times.
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