Interaction Chris, Masha, and Sarah

Comparison  Question #1: Compare cultural and economic interactions of two of the following civilizations. Greece Rome Gupta Shang/Zhou

Thesis #1 Greece and the Gupta Empire were economically similar in their extensive trade networks, but in the end they are much more different. In Gupta India the government monopolized certain industries, which was not the case in Greece. Also, while the Greeks spread their language and religions along the Mediterranean, Gupta reign saw the internal development of Hinduism as India’s primary religion. These differences come about due to the differences in the economic organization of the civilizations as well as the availability of resources within the empires.

 Question #2: Analyze the impacts of trade on two of the following civilizations. Chavin Phoenicians Persians Han Empire

Thesis #2 Han China and the Phoenicians differed in the goods that they traded, but were ultimately much more similar. For instance, much of the two empires’ power came from their substantial involvement in trade and the extensive networks they used. Also, with trade the two empires were able to spread ideas to new lands as well as bring ideas back to their homelands. These similarities were caused by the common goal to have contact with other peoples and to increase prosperity.

Continuities 1. Eventual development of trade with others 2. Spread of religion 3. Prevalence of certain cultures and civilizations

Changes  INFRASTRUCTURE: As civilizations developed, their technology did. By the near of the common era, roads were built, horses and oxen were domesticated and ideas, clothes, people, music, and all other bases of culture spread easily, either accidentally or purposely. Example: Assyrian vs. Rome  EXPANSION: Since later civilizations had better weapons and the ability to move from their water source, expansion increased as time went on. This caused an increase in cultural diffusion as the defeated nations left pieces of their culture behind, which the victors often drew from. Example: Greece vs. Rome  DISTANCE: When nations expanded, their land area soon became so large that they bordered other civilizations. Since they were so close together, culture passed. Example: Greece and Mycenae.

Change  TRADE: When someone trades with someone from another culture, there’s usually more to that piece than just thread, food, etc. With that merchandise there are links of culture attached to it. Not only that, but when you deal with people from other nations, ideas get passed on. The land between the two traders is also very influenced by this. Example: Silk Road. Explain why Silk Road is alone, as there was nothing like it before.  INFRASTRUCTURE: Because they developed advanced irrigation systems, people could now move further away from their water source.  DEPENDENCE: As other civilizations developed people needed more protection.

Change  TRADE: As nations developed in different places, nations had different natural resources. In order to get resources they didn’t have, they needed to trade with one another. So, since nations could not stay completely isolated for a while, they contacted other nations as time went on.  INFRASTRUCTURE: When you develop roads, trade becomes easier as before you had to travel through new dangerous places. Less obstacles.  EXPANSION: More areas with greater resources were discovered.  DEPENDENCE: See isolation TRADE notes.  KEEP UP: As other nations increased in their power and natural resources, if you refused to trade with them you would develop slower than other civilizations, putting you in harm’s way. You needed to trade with them to be on at least the same level as them.

Cultural Diffusion There was an increase in cultural diffusion as time went on because of:  Infrastructure  Example: Rome vs. Assyrian  Expansion  Example: Rome and Greece  Distance  Example: Greece and Mycenae  Trade  Example: Silk Road

Isolation Nations grew less isolated as time went on because of:  Infrastructure  Example: Ancient Egypt (pg. 25) vs. Ptolemaic Monarch (pg. 134)  Dependence on other nations  Example: Han vs. Ancient Egypt  Trade  Example: Mediterranean vs. Ancient Egypt

Trade There was an increase as time went on because of:  Infrastructure  Example: Silk Road  Expansion  Example: Hittites vs. Mesopotamia  Dependence  Example: Ancient Egypt vs. Rome  To keep up with other nations  Example: Nubia vs. Mediterranean

Similarities in Changes  Infrastructure in common in all of these changes because in order to interact with someone else, you need a method of transportation.  There are other similar reasons for the change because every single change ties in with the other  Trade is both a reason for a change and a change because trade was at the basis of all interactions, as well as playing a very significant role on its own.  Since Egypt was one of the very first civilizations, it was very isolated, and therefore a main point of reference for isolation changes.

Terms  Long-distance trade—Silk Road; Indian Ocean Maritime System  Conquest—Rome, Persia; Macedonia/Alexander  Forced Culture—Helenization and Romanization  Persecution—Romans and Christians  Social Stratification—Brought on by Neolitic age

Terms  Inclusion of ethnicities—Persia, Assyria; Egypt  Colonization—Phoenicians and Greeks  Aggressive Nomads—Rome, India; Han China  Blending of Cultures—Southeast Asia, and India  Spread of technology—Horse, irrigation, farming; metallurgy.