2.5 Cultural Exchange

Why did goods and people travel freely through the networks of exchange from 1200 CE to 1450 CE?

Mongols provided stability by giving protection to merchants and travelers and punished bandits. Also Pax Mongolica took place.

What was diffused by trade that made the known world “a larger place?”

Technological developments

• Gunpowder and paper from China 

Literary and Artistic Interactions 

• Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta cultural exchange.

What is it meant by “The known world became a larger place?”

Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo shared the wonders they saw and the extraordinary people they met.

Religion diffusion

Arrival of new religions could unify people → unify

• Gave justification for leadership → loyalty 

• Influenced art and literature → creativity 

Other areas it fused or coexisted (blend/join) with the existing native religions.

How did Buddhism impact East Asian culture?

Spread to China, Japan, Vietnam, and Korea.

Zen Buddhism

Buddhist doctrines fused with Daoist traditions forming a syncretic belief.

Neo Confucianism

Abstract ideas of Daoism fused rational thought with Buddhism. Another syncretic faith originated in China. Tang→Song

China

Decreased China’s native religions, making Zen Buddhism popular among ordinary Chinese citizens. 

Japan/Vietnam

Adopted Neo-Confucianism making it widespread.

Korea

Neo-confucianism became Korea’s official state ideology.

• Elite= Confucian

• Peasant= Buddhist

How did the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism impact Southeast Asia?

Spread through trade to~

• Srivijaya- Hindu

• Sinhala- Buddhist strong influence advised Monarchs in gov matters

• Majapahit- Buddhist

• Khmer- Buddhist then Hindu most powerful in Southeast Asia

Syncretic evidence that shows both religions?

Royal monument located in Angkor Thom {Khmer Empire} has sculptures of Hindu Gods and Buddhist art work.

Islamic impact on Africa?

Swahili- Batu+Arabic

Timbuktu- Center of Islamic Learning

African leaders- Deepend spread of Islam through pilgrimage to Mecca.

Islamic impact South Asia?

Buddhist converted since Priest were corrupt.

Hindus lower class converted for equality.

Urdu- Hindi+Arabic+Persian

Bhakti poet link Hindu + Islam

Architecture- Hindu+Islam patterns

Islamic impact in Southeast Asia?

Combined Indian features, local traditions, and Chinese-Buddhist and Confucian trait.

Islamic scholars preserve and spread knowledge?

Translate Greek→Arabic

Concept of zero in math from India

Paper came from China 

Medicine from Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Greeks

• Led to advancements like hospital care and surgery.

Agricultural improvements lead to growth of industries and cities?

Use of Champa rice spread India→Vietnam and China.

Reliable food source increased population causing production like porcelian, silk, steel, and iron to increase too.

How did papermaking lead to growth in literacy?

Led to printing technology

• Leading to rise in literacy and books

How did seafaring technology impact trade and cultural diffusion?

Lateen sails 

• Helped ships sail through high winds?

Stern rudder

• Made ship stable 

Astrolabe 

• Let sailors determine their position based off of the stars.

Magnetic Compass

• Chinese invention that aided navigation by showing which direction was north.

Cultural diffusion- increased long distance trade connected diverse religions.

How did knowledge of gunpowder/guns impact warfare?

Influenced weaponry like-

• Explosive canon rocket

• Catapult

• Stirrup

• Siege machinery

How did Marco Polo preserve knowledge of Hangzhou?

Marco Polo shared witings that gave positive image of Huangzhou.

Describe the city at the time of Marco Polo’s visit

• Large had 1 million people

• Located south of Grand Canal

• Center of culture /trade

• Home of poets Lu Yu and Xin Oiji

• How did trade lead to growth, which in turn led to diversity?

Novgorod in Russia

Timbuktu in Africa

Calicut in India

→ Merchants exchanged goods increasing population

These cities brought diversity to Hangzhou including Arab communities

What were Samarkand and Kashgar?

Known for centers of Islamic schlorship, bustling markets, & source of water and food.

Factors contributing to growth of cities?

Political stability and decline of invasions

Safe and reliable transportation

Rise of commerce

Plentiful labor supply

Increased agricultural output

What could cause a city to decline

Invasion/attacks

Plague/diseases

The decline of Kashgar

Serious of conquest from nomadic invaders and also Tamerlane caused severe damage.

Decline of Constantinople

Series of traumatic setbacks from Crusaders attack and the arrival of the bubonic plague.

Impacts of Crusades Cultural-

Increased global trade because of the knowledge they acquired from Byzantium and Islamic culture.

Impacts of Crusades Environmental?

The bubonic plague was introduced through trade routes affecting city populations.

Impacts of Crusades Economic

Economic activity had decreased but later the Renaissance took place after taking new ideas from Byzantium and Muslim world.

Marco Polo

• Italian native from Venice

• Visited court of Kublai Khan

• Wrote book after he was impressed by the Mongols

• 24 year journey finally convinced people China is innovative

• Urbanization (Hangzhou) paper money, silk, and other fine art.

• Ibn Battuta

Muslim scholar from Morocco

Wanted to learn about Islam

Traveled to Central Asia, S.E. Asia, South Asia , China, Spain, North Africa, Mali.

Wrote book named

"A Gift to those Who contemplate the wonders of cities and the marvels of Traveling"

Shared his journey of cultures he saw.

Margery Kempe

English Mystic

Dictated an autobigraphy named The Book of Margery Kempe (coulch't read/write)

Mainly wrote about pilgrimmage to Jeruslam, Rome, Germany, and Spain

• First hand account of middle class medieval womans life.