Chapters 7, 8 & 10

Chapters 7, 8 and 10

I most definitely got the sense that the world and its peoples were learning to get along with one another from Chapter 7 and gaining knowledge from one another during this time period of the 3rd wave.  The wars and conquering as seen in previous years had subsided - for now. 

The Silk Roads and camels caravans allowed them to become traveling salesmen, or merchants, from one country to another.  They were also learning where to grow crops and where best to raise livestock.  I get a sense of how commerce developed on a small scale as they dealt with just luxury items.  They were very innovative and not sitting back waiting for something to happen.  They were getting out there and hustling their products. They were doing well.

The trade industry was so prosperous that it transformed people’s lives as well as  political life.  As life was being transformed by this new wave of commerce, then government needed to take a look at any controls, taxes or guidelines that needed to be put in place.  That mirrors today’s experience as well, and I now know were the concept of taxation at all levels came from.   For us, if we have an income then we can buy what we need from the local store or online.  We all prosper.  However, if part of that circle of commerce gets disrupted then we are all impacted in a negative way.  We just saw that in the housing market and the financial markets of 2008.  A handful of people who should have known better just about tanked the whole global economy and many innocent people are paying the price for the avarice of a few.  As they were all interconnected during the 3rd wave, so are we today.  

Merchants not only transported goods, but also different religions along the Silk Roads. This fascinated me.  It was a win-win for the Buddhist merchant.  As people chose to convert to   Buddhism, it led to monasteries being built and support of the monks.  The monastery also became the merchant’s hotel to rest and “resupply” for his trading along the route.  The monks did well also in receiving gifts from wealthy merchants that negated their having to beg for their daily meals.   

The one downer for many people back then was the spread of diseases their bodies had no immunities to.  Some of these diseases were fatal and disseminated certain regions of the world.  We experience this still today with the spread of certain diseases our bodies may have a hard time fighting.  There has been a scare about the bird flu in recent years and there is another one that popped up recently, but don’t recall the name.  I did a little research on the internet and chose this Website on diseases and infections: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/whats-new-in-infectious-diseases. They had an overview report of healthcare-associated infections.  It stated that based on data gathered in 2011, around 648,000 people admitted to hospitals may have developed an infection from surgery or developed pneumonia.  My late husband also developed an infection from his surgery and survived it.  Hospitals often try to get you out as quick as possible lest you develop an infection or exposure to some other contagious disease.

I found it interesting that silk manufactured by the Muslim world and purchased by Christian churches, had passages inscribed on the silk from the Quran in Arabic.  The Christians had no idea.  Guess you could say it had no impact on one’s Christian faith since they couldn’t read Arabic (p. 321).  What were the Arabs thinking?  They should have given reading lessons.

What a huge jump from small camel caravans to shipping of large amounts of goods that cost less in transportation costs.  All this was happening and the United States wasn’t even a glint in anyone’s eye yet.  The Indian Ocean basin connected all of these developing countries who continued to prosper.  It was a more balanced time in the world of commerce.  Whatever commerce occurred in the Americas was small compared to the Indian Ocean commerce.

China is quite fascinating to read about and then look at what is has become in today’s world.  Chapter 8 lays out a China that is not only an old civilization, but a very creative and innovative one that has gone through its share of iterations  What came across is the desire to operate with some level of integrity if at all possible.  If a country such as Korea didn’t want to be conquered, then China decided to set up a tribute system with them.  Good idea, should have done that first.  China comes across as an advanced country and other countries had no problem copying their ways. Even so, Korea, Vietnam and Japan all kept certain aspects of their culture their own.  I never knew the influence China had many centuries ago or I forgot it.  When I was growing up, I believe they were run by a communist philosophy already.  Today when I look at China and what they have accomplished, it doesn’t surprise me.  I would make an uneducated guess that if the United States hadn’t developed as it has, perhaps China would be the most globally strong country and leader.  And even though the U.S. has played a prominent role among nations, China may become a bigger player in the near future.  

On the negative side, I personally would like to see China redevelop a level of integrity that has been missing from their business deals.  I prefer not to buy Chinese manufactured goods because they take shortcuts that hurt others, including their own people.  They need to earn my trust. And in fact, I would like to see that not just from China, but other countries too and right here in the U.S. Inform the public of the mistake, ask for forgiveness, and then come through on the promise on doing no harm.  

I now have a better understanding from Chapter 10 of what the Crusades were about: holy wars supposedly commanded by God and authorized by the pope on behalf of Christ.  It was also a time when Islam spread throughout various countries.  

After 1000, things changed for the West.  It was a time that was referred to as the High Middle Ages (1000-1300).  More professions were opening up for men and women.  Restraints once again, however, would be placed on women.  Church desired to control women’s activities. I’m getting a complex by all this control being desired by men towards females.  Wonder what the world would be like if women were in control?  Would we be a kinder, gentler place?  Or just as warring and competitive?  It was also during this time that Europe recognized they had some growing to do and took steps to learn from their neighbors.  They did so well, they surpassed some of their neighbors in improved agriculture, water mills as a power source, sailing, military and canons.  Proud they caught up as I’m sure they didn’t want to be considered barbarians as the Muslims found them to be.  How ironic that we now find some of the Islamic religious traditions barbaric, especially towards women.