How do they move goods and ideas?
First off, the interaction between different cultures originated from the trade of goods, because during this period most people were still confined in their own worlds, and thus had a limited interest in the cultures of other geographical regions. For instance, on the silk road, the first wave of trade was incited by Chinese eagerness for western horses, and Western interests in Chinese silk. It was after these goods were traded that religions including Christianity and Buddhism flourished on the silk road.
Second, women functioned as bridges of cultural exchange in the Indian Ocean Maritime System. Although not prominent in politics, the intermarriage between different cultural groups provided women the ability to merge two languages and cultures into one family. It is interesting to note that although history is commonly perceived to be shaped by the broader vicissitudes in politics, gradual changes in small units of the society, namely individual households, can also join to alter the path of history.
No comments:
Post a Comment