In the text The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci, the author Jonathan Spence compares images or pictures based on topics related to the Ricci’s encounters with china and its way of culture and society. The aspects that will be identified are religious conversion, financial crisis with trade and expansion, and how both of these issues relate to what was explained in class this semester. Thus, taking these factors into account, the issues that are present in each chapter will be analyzed. Firstly, chapter 4 represents the second image. The main issue in this chapter was religious conversion of the Hindu. For example, as explained in the text, “…the Hindus had been forced into subjection by the dominant Christians.” This is explaining that the Jesuits were trying to force their religion on the Hindus or in other words, the HuiHui. The Hindus tried to resist but, they couldn’t. whenever the Hindu children went to a mission school and taught them the lords prayers and …show more content…
other Christianity traditions. Likewise, if anyone spoke the name of their former gods they spat on the ground in disrespect. Secondly, not only did the Jesuits force one religion onto another, but also the other actions that were required for the priest of old.
For instance, they had to let their hair grow out and let the shaved head be abandoned because of the Jesuits. To support this claim of religious change with high priest Spence explains, “The paradoxical man appears paradoxical in comparison to other men, but he is a companion to heaven.” Thus, this is introducing a fact that Ricci thinks he is a companion to heaven. Chapter 6 represents the third image. The main issue in this chapter was financial crisis with the Jesuits. Mainly the Jesuits thought that they would make great profit off of Macao and sell silver between china and japan. The only problem with this was the fact that in japan silver was plentiful and in china it was scarce. For example, Spence explains, “…in china silver was the dominant metal of exchange, was scarce, and was in constant demand, whereas in japan silver was less popular as
currency.” Also, another link to the problem in chapter 6 was the prohibition laws china had for direct trade with japan. The reason this came to be was because of the constant raids on Chinese shipping. Due to this inconvenience, the Macao merchants affected the Jesuits goal for expansion of their religion and their hope for wealth. While, other casualties with the loss of the cargo ships from being ship wrecked made their financial issues worse. Spence indicates this, “…the Jesuits suffered twice as it were.” Thus, the Jesuits were financially unstable by this time and have realized this was a mistake. Both of these chapters have a feeling based on religious evolution and its importance. For example, earlier this semester the class was learning about the warring states period and how each civilization was different, but as they went down into the years of each civilization the religion changed slightly. In chapter 4 and 6 of Spence’s book they are doing the same thing but instead of it changing naturally they are forcing it onto the people. As Spence clarifies Mainly in chapter 6, “Chinese non-Christians were trying to make a bit of extra cash.” Thus, the Jesuits were using the bible to manipulate the people of china and illegally trading items for profit. Given these points, the main issues of each chapter were identified and clarified. The main issues were religious conversion and financial crisis. On the whole, the Jesuits were very unstable and almost went bankrupt from thinking that they could make a profit from this new foreign land. Hence, they saw that they were wrong and suffered greatly. Not only did the Jesuits suffer, but in the end the Macao merchants suffered as well as the Hindus from their vicious enforcement of Christianity.
The global flow of silver effected the mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century economically because silver made the world go round, socially because everyone was dependent on some sort of trade, and politically because silver was a high priority to important world powers. In this document based assignment, it would have been convenient to have a document about the opinion of either a Potosi Indian or a peasant from the commercial city of Hangzhou because both points of view would give further insight into the negative side of this time periods lust for silver, and how the insanity ruined lives.
Francesco Pegolotti was a Florentine merchant and politician. He wrote the The Practice of Commerce in which he expressed the personal qualities he believed that merchants were most needed to survive, which were compliancy and the skill to work with others, and have understanding. Pegolotti’s history was based on the sensitivity to local rules and customs was the key to survival. In this paper it will argue that the personal qualities that was needed to succeed in the Silk Road trade.
Europe’s monopolization of the silver trade did not provide the continent with as much wealth as it had hoped, yet it still was the backbone of many european economies. The desperation of Europe to hold on to said industry led the nations involved to change their tactics from not only gaining wealth from Asia, but extracting it too. One of the main contributors to this shift in the pattern of the silver trade was Spain, as it monopolized the industry until the 17th century. The purpose of document 2 was to show others in the silver business that Spain was a strong and dominant force over the silver industry and perhaps to discourage chinese sale of goods in order to protect spanish domestic production. Spain did so by creating artwork that showcased Spanish technological advancement (doc 2) and by increasing the flow of information about Chinese affairs in the colonies to the Spanish crown (doc 4). Both of these tactics send a message to others in the silver business - Spain is best equipped to run the silver industry and any funny business will be reported to the crown. This set a precedent of unity and centrality, one of the most threatening features a civilization can possess. If a nation is unified, it can conquer others and protect itself. Circa 500 B.C.E., The Persian empire also utilized the flow of information to protect its
“I’ll be out of here and away from all you knaves for one time anyway, as not a month will pass before you’ll see whether I’m nobody or a somebody.” The story of Bianco Alfani reflected the nature of 14th century Florentine society where, as Alfani remarked, the election to public office could make or destroy a person. In late 14th century and early 15th century Florence, decreased population and expanding commerce provided a favorable environment for ambitious individuals. The real life examples of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati demonstrated the positive role of ambition in Florence. Pitti, a nobleman had an extremely successful career, partaking in military campaigns, holding public office in Florence and being an ambassador to foreign courts. Gregorio Dati, the grandson of purse venders, engaged in commerce, rising in social standing which culminated with his election to public office. Holding office was a definitive sign of success and recognition in Florence. In contrast was the tale Bianco Alfani, a deemed man unworthy of office. As told by Piero Veneziano, Alfani was the chief jailor in Florence who was duped into believing he had been named captain of the town of Norcia. Alfani publicly made a fool of himself, spending all his money and creating a great fanfare over his supposed appointment. Comparing the lives of Pitti and Dati to the story of Bianco Alfani illustrates how economic and social change in 14th century Florence produced a culture centered on reputation and commerce. For men like Pitti and Dati, who flourished within the constraints of Florentine society, their reward was election to office, a public mark of acceptance and social standing. Those who were ambitious but failed to abide by the values o...
Baxandall, Michael. “Conditions of Trade.” Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-century Italy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
When presenting ‘A Place in Tuscany’ the perspective changes to that of a young man. Compared to the house in Brisbane, more use is made of the conversation and there is a more sophisticated and advanced vocabulary and knowledge of the area. This gives the reader a more adult insight into the area.
He said what Ricci had done was a “slip”. Disagreed with Spence, Brook said “such a characterization underestimates the conscious intentionality of work and Ricci’s exploitation of his subject matter for Christian purpose.” (Brook, p.832)That meant because Ricci had his own Christian purpose to tell the story in such a way, it was not respectful to Ricci’s original intention when Spence told the reader the facts. Despite those small shortcomings, Spence did a really good job in portraying the historical figure Ricci. He provided the background and early life of Ricci to tell us why he was determined to preach outside.
Finally, when it came down to the types of ceremonies and views both civilizations had, they were on two different pages. The Natives believed happiness was the key to good fortune. So, in order to get that fortune, they’d do sacrifices, and rituals to please the “mighty ones”. Then, as stated in the book “A History of Latin America”, it says, “Jews publicly converted to Christianity to avoid the torture…”, In which, this showed how religion and the spiritual views were forced upon people in the Spanish civilization.
...commodiousness of the private houses is, that the ancients, like the modern population of Rome and Naples, lived more abroad than in the house" (292). The painting on the facades of the palaces of Genoa are not described in visual detail, which may have been one approach, but instead prompt an argument about the institutes of art and the nature of public demand (306). A visit to the Museo Capitolino in Rome breeds the remark that "plunder was ever the principle of the Romans" (115). She solidifies the Coliseum in the reader's memory as "the last and noblest monument of Roman grandeur, and Roman crime" (125). A memorable representation of Naples, encountered as her first view of the city from some distance, is Morgan's imaginative construct of it as "some fabled city of the east, the dream of Arabian poets" (278). In this way her Italy is very much a mediated Italy.
A rediscover of their history and recognition of early Greek philosophers changed the way that the influential families and Princes, in Italy, considered themselves. Their way of thinking of the Devine and need to promote one’s own aspirations through sponsorship of the arts, as well as, civic duty became not only fashionable but important to progress in the city states. Although Donatello’s David and Botticelli’s Primavera are master pieces in their own right, their influence on future generations of artists cannot be ignored. The spark that ignited the fire which we call the Renaissance was a transformation of societies thinking and values to a Humanistic approach to one duties to society and the church. These two works are a reflection of the changing attitudes which would eventually change all of
Douglas Reynolds, China, 1898-1912: The Xinzheng Revolution and Japan. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1993.
“Philips, Sony, and Toyota factories are popping up all over—to the self congratulatory applause of the nation’s governors and mayors, who have lured them with promises of tax abatements and new sewers, among other amenities.” (Paragraph 17) People are born into their jobs, and are doomed for their economic boats. IN other countries such as China, it has been proven that the families with the moneys are the ones with the money, are the ones with the economic power. “Many wealthy Chinese and western residents moved their money abroad and some actually left the colony. By 1971, the Cultural Revolution in China had ended in failure and conditions in Hong Kong calmed,” (Lannom) such as Gloria Lannom states, yet it took a while for Hong Kong to rebuild its economic standings because of this
Interestingly, he also refers to Donatello as a ‘craftsman’. The correlation between the artist or sculptor and craftsman is an important aspect in Italian Renaissance art. The craftsman was something more than just an artist. This person was talented and considered by others in Italian Renaissance society as exceptional or as Vasari’s title suggests, ‘the most excellent’. They were also tradespeople rather than just artists. This is because they created works for other people, which often meant they expressed other people’s ideas. Through an analysis of Vasari’s biography on Donatello, this essay will explore the importance of culture in Renaissance Italian society, an examination of Vasari’s biography of Donatello as a historical document and the ways in which Vasari portrays Donatello, which ultimately was significant for future Renaissance craftsmen. This paper will analyze the life of Donatello through Vasari’s The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects to show the importance of Donatello not only as an artist but also as a
Baxandall, Michael. “Conditions of Trade.” Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-century Italy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
The purpose of the present paper is to discuss a very interesting piece of art, Fra Filippo Lippi's “Portrait of a woman with a man at a Casement”. I will begin by the analysis of the formal qualities of the painting such as the composition, the color, line, texture, proportion, balance, contrast and rhythm. I will then discuss how the work fits a certain stylistic category. I will demonstrate that the painting reflects the social and cultural trends of the period in which it was created.