World History Encounters and Adaptations

Peter Stearns' approach to world history

Historians must 'dare to omit' endless facts and focus on comparisons, interactions, and larger global patterns.

Adam Clulow's challenge to the 1492 Schema

He argues that strong Asian states limited European power, challenging the automatic narrative of Western global dominance.

European encounter: Americas vs. Asia

In the Americas, Europeans often conquered and claimed land; in Asia, powerful states forced Europeans to negotiate and petition.

Matteo Ricci's concept of 'accommodation'

Adapting Christian stories, language, clothing, and images to make them make sense to Chinese audiences.

The central question of Matteo Ricci's accommodation

When does adaptation become distortion of the original religion?

Missionaries' failure in Japan in Shusaku Endō's Silence

Some missionaries failed by insulting Japanese customs, disliking local food, and treating Christianity as superior.

Ferreira's 'Swamp' argument in Silence

Japan is a 'swamp' that changes religion, demonstrated by converts interpreting the Christian Deus as Dainichi.

Matthew Perry's 1853-1854 expedition to Japan

Used 'gunboat diplomacy' with powerful steamships to pressure Japan into opening for trade, supplies, and shipwrecked sailors.

Visual representations in Black Ships & Samurai

Both Americans and Japanese 'othered' each other in art, portraying the opposing culture as strange, exotic, or threatening.