Chapter 8 titled Commerce and Culture is about the era of the third-wave civilizations from 500 to 1500 C.E. The creation of the Silk Roads across Eurasia where luxury items were carried by large camel caravans that traversed the harsh and dangerous steppes, deserts and oases of Central Asia linked culture and commerce throughout the planet. Another form of transportation was the Sea Roads which linked peoples across the Eastern Hemisphere between China and East Africa. This commerce changed the landscape of the Afro-Eurasian world. The West African civilizations were also experiencing commercial trading with other long distance civilizations through the use of their Sand Roads. The luxury items were transported from the local communities by donkey or boat and then transported by caravans through the Sahara Dessert. These caravans, who traveled at night to avoid the heat, consisted of 5,000 camels and hundred of people took approximately 70 days. Another form of commerce, but not to the scale the Silk, Sea and Sand Roads, was the transcontinental interactions with the Americas. The commerce connection stretched from the North American Great Lakes and upper Mississippi south to the Andes. I enjoyed reading Chapter 8 and how the determination of the people of 50 to 1500 C.E. forged their commerce and culture to destinations so different from their own. The civilizations of that era were so vast compared to today’s age of technology and travel.
What interested me in Chapter 9 was the Tribute System in China and how China believed that basically everyone, except them, were barbarians. Another key element of the history of China that I find interesting is the different ways women were treated depending on the emperor of the dynasty.
I find it difficult to keep track of the formation of cities/states/empires…who expanded where…who took over who…What I found interesting regarding the Crusaders is they swore a vow and in return offered an indulgence which removed the penalties for any confessed sins. I guess because they were killing people in the name of God it made it okay??
I really enjoy your posts. They highlight points that are really worth thinking about.
ReplyDeleteIn the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, the crusaders used the same tactic of indulgence. Filipinos were promised forgiveness and reward in heaven with the confession of their sins, but in reality, those same confessions were used against them by the colonizers. Through those confessions, the priests were able to pinpoint to the Spanish rulers who were against the existing government. It is sad to realize that too many people use the name of God in a twisted way.
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