Blog Post #10 - Chapter 7

This chapter focused on 3rd wave civilizations and the effect long distant trade had on society. Trade allowed for the exchange of goods such as salt from West Africa for gold. It made societies more reliant on each other and also allowed for the spread of ideas and religions.Along with that sickness. It also gave people a way to display social status as people who were wealthy could afford the foreign goods. The biggest trade network was in Eurasia known as the Silk Road. This was established because the inner part of Eurasia's land, which was not suitable for agriculture. People relied on trade with agricultural neighbors. Most of the items exchanged on the silk road were luxury goods due to the high transportation cost. The demand for silk was high by elite Chinise men and women. China relied on men for the physical trade of silk but it was mostly rural women who were making the fabric. Despite this most rural families were very poor. Other women wanted silk for its comfort and what it meant as a fashion statement. Roman writers wrote about how this translated to a drain in resources and the moral impacts of wearing silk, it was seen as indecency. Soon other peoples learned how to produce silk. Silk became a symbol for different things in different societies. In Central Asia it was currency, in China and the Byzantine Empire it was a symbol of high status and it also become associated with the spread of religion. Trade helped the spread of Buddhism to cities of Central Asia. But Buddhism spread slowly to the pastoral people of Central Asia because of their nomadic lifestyle, along with the lack of a written language. But for the most part Buddhism remained a religion for foreign merchants and foreign rules. The religion of Buddhism changed also as things from different cultures were added to it. Such as Zoroastrian fire rituals and statues of Buddha with greek influences in the Northwest of India which were influenced by invasions of Alexander the Great. Trade exposed many civilizations to disease they had never dealt with before. Things such as smallpox, measles and the plague killed hundreds. Weakening civilisations that may have helped in their down fall. It also strength the practice of religion as faith helped the sick and dying population. Beyond the Silk Road, oceans also known as the “Sea Roads” were used to help ship goods. But this time things such as textiles, pepper, rice timber, sugar and wheat. Because cargo ships could support the weight of heavier cargo that camels couldn’t. The use of the Red Sea for trade was also utilized by 1st civilizations such as the ancient egyptians. But this most likely were short routes. Expect for Malay Sailors who traveled from modern day Indonesia to Madagascar. Bringing their language and crops (banana, coconuts and taro) with them.Indian Ocean Commerce grew greatly with the growth of Chinese economy. Along with technology advances in larger ships and magnetic compass. Indian Ocean Commerce also grew with the rise of Islam as it was a culture that was nice to merchants and commercial life. To want to reclaim the land of Mesopotamia to producesugar created a slave trade from East Africa. Thousands of Africans worked in salt mines in Southern Iraq. Trade though the Sea Roads  in Southeast Asia created political change aspiring rulers gain wealth through commerce. Indian traditions and Buddhist religions concepts influenced the civilization. Such as people believing the rulers were reincarnation of a hindu deity or Buddha. These influences were voluntary and were practiced peacefully alongside other religious beliefs and traditions. Such as Southeast Asia was far less patriarchal, 

Blog Post #9 - Chapter 6

This chapter focuses on other seconds wave civilizations in other parts of the world, such as Africa. Civilizations in Africa relied on the heavy but unpredictable rainfall, that was followed by a dry season. One civilianization focused on in this chapter is Meroë. A Kingdom ruled by a monarch, which often time were women. Meroë was a wealthy kingdom with access to gold, ivory, tortoiseshell etc. It also made iron weapons and cotton cloth. This made long distance trading common. By the kingdom fell due to deforestation and the trading routes changing from the Nile Valley to the Red Sea. The civilianization was overthrown by a neighboring kingdom, Axum. Axum was an agricultural civilization that farmed using a plow. Farming great amounts of wheat, barley, millet and teff. Axum took advantage of trade with Rome and other civilizations. Axum was also a Christian Kingdom with the coins having the cross on them. The Axum kingdom fell due to deforestation, soil exhaustion and erosion from extensive framing. Another civilization developed along the Niger River. But this civilization function without a government, organizing themselves in groups based on special skills. Relied on trade to get things they did not have access to around the river. Two more civilizations were Mesoamerica and Andes. Most things in these civilizations occurred without many domesticated animals and iron tools. Although Andes did have access to alpacas and llamas. They grew maize, beans, chili peppers etc. Had their own 260 day calendar. Other civilizations discussed were the Maya best known for their mathematics and use of the solar calendar and one of the most extensive writing systems.

Blog Post #8 - Chapter 5

This chapter focused on the different social structures of China and India. Along with analyzing the difference between the patriarchal structures in China and two Greek city states Athens and Sparta. Also focusing on slavery and it uses within Roman society. I remember learning about the caste system briefly but I was unaware that it was so restrictive. That in order to move up the social ladder you have to die and be reborn. That your caste is a reflection of good and bad deeds in your past life. I was also aware that all of these societies were patriarchal, that they believed men were superior to women but reading all the practices they used to illustrate women were below men is surprising. Such as in China the ideal elite women was one that stayed in the home while other men or slaves took care of task outside the house. But a women in China played an important role in the production of textiles that could be used to sell or pay taxes. Of course there was women’s role as mother and to have children. In Athens, while it was a democratic society, women had no role at all. Similar to China women were expected to remain inside and give birth to sons who would become free citizens. Women were not taught to read or write but how to spin cloth and weave and similar tasks. But they could own personal property. In Sparta women’s main task was to have children, but to strengthen their bodies they were encouraged to participate in sports.Slavery exist in China but it played a very small role, usually in desperate situations where a person was in debt or in poverty. Similar in India people who were slaves were criminals, P.O.Ws etc. Where slavery differed in Rome is that the economy depended on it with slaves making up a big part of the population. They had no rights and were not considered citizens.

Blog Post #7 - Chapter 4

Reading about of the different religions and ways of thinking, it is clear that they all don't have things in common. But There are ones that start near each regionally did have times when they influenced each other. How Daoism arose as a response to Confucianism  . That Christianity historically began from Judaism. I think that all the things in the reading have similar goals to one, work on becoming a better and aspire to something beyond themselves. Or two a way to structure society in way that is beneficial to everyone. The chapter focusing on different ways of thinking such as Christianity, Confucianism, Buddhism, Judaism and Daoism provide context on how religion develop in the ancient world and context on religions that are still practiced today. The additional reading about how serving is different from was an interesting article because it was something I have never thought about before in that context before. Because while I am aware of the difference of the words by definition. I never gave much thought to the connotation of the words. The difference they make towards on the receiving end of being helped or giving to charity.