More handpicked essays just for you.
Mongol impact on the islamic world
The Mongols Interaction with Europe
Impacts of the Mongols on the modern world
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Cultural exchange in the eleventh to fourteenth centuries was revolutionized by new forms of contact and stronger connections between civilizations. The documents provided demonstrate facets of cultural diffusion that formed each culture, and ultimately the future. The explosion of the Mongol empire, accounted for in documents 1 and 4, tied together the entire continent of Eurasia, linking one end to another and creating ties to spread culture and technology. Documents 1 and 3 demonstrate the inestimable value of religion in the spread of regional ideas, from missionaries to crusades. Finally, commerce and adventure provided another key road to expansion in documents 2, 4, and 5, expanding the scope of Christianity and the culture that …show more content…
accompanied it. Analysis and synthesis of these documents indicates that the spread of culture in the later postclassical period was propelled by Documents 1 and 4 help to show just how expansive and impacting the Mongol empire was in creating cultural links and the spread of new ideas. The empire received missionaries and supplicants from all over the world, such as John of Monte Corvino, who wrote document 1 and described his founding of a new church and the conversions taking place in Cathay. The document demonstrates how a person sent to the Mongol frenzy of expansion could be easily accepted and flourish with his new concepts, thanks to their great tolerance. However, being a Christian priest, John does not speak of any other facets of the civilization (such as trade) other than religious tolerance, which enabled the spread of Christianity and Islam and their accompanying cultures. On the other hand, document 4 discusses in far greater detail one of the most advanced characteristics of the Mongol society and the magnitude of this achievement: the way houses for messengers. Demonstrating an outsider’s awe at the wonderful innovation, never before seen on such a wide scale, the document shows that the Mongols were a very advanced and connected civilization, as opposed to the barbarians they are commonly considered to be. The author of this document, the esteemed Marco Polo, is certainly a more legitimate source than the Christian priest John, for he provides a more (though not entirely) objective view of the system and its efficiency, though he does not provide facts about the actual amount of trade that occurred within the empire. For a better understanding of the Mongols’ full effect, a useful document would be a road authority’s record book of the travelers passing through, so that a true appreciation of the scope of the contact could be gained. Another way that cultural contacts were enhanced during the late postclassical period was through religion and the clashes and combinations that ensued, as documents 1 and 3 show. In the steady spread of Christianity, wealthy cities like Constantinople and later Moscow sent out bushels of Christian missionaries (John from doc. 1) bent on converting people, but carrying their own culture and innovations with them. Document 1 shows the massive effect that just a few missionaries can have on a population: he personally converted over 6,000 people, and each of those people (as well as the khan) now knows of any new technology or innovations he might have brought. However, he does not accurately capture the percentage wise impact that missionaries such as he had on populations, or the conflicts between missionaries of rival religions. In further support, document 3 provides a view of the Crusaders coming to Constantinople en route to the Holy Land, where they would contact much new technology and deport it back to Europe. This account illuminates the impact that a large force like that, bent on religious conquest, would have on a city in its path, from the exchange of goods and passing off of foods from one to another, but also the simple exchange that occurs from proximity. The point of view is unique both in that it is the view of a woman, Anna Comnena, and that in it is the view of an indigenous person observing the effects of cultural change brought to her people. However, neither of these documents show the viewpoint of a convert to a new religion and the true scope of technology that was passed off from new to old. For greater insight, it would be most helpful to consider an account from the view of a court vassal in the Holy Roman Empire who shows the king’s reaction to his first sight of some new impactful technology brought from the conquered Muslim lands, such as Arabic numerals. Lastly, cultural connections were improved greatest in the period by the growth of adventurous individuals in the name of commerce, as seen in documents 2, 4, and 5.
Ibn Battuta describes one of his many stops across the world in document 2, in this case, the state of Mali. As Ibn Battuta explored and chronicled the world that he traveled, he exchanged knowledge of his homeland, all the places he had already been to, and gained local culture. However, he was a Muslim, and so was likely to have a very strict view of regional culture that he disapproves of, such as the nudity of their women. Document 4 describes the preparation of the Mongol Khans in creating well-developed and protected routes that would be available to caravans. The document would have been a very helpful tool for future merchants, who could plot their journeys and feel more secure, while also showing the organization that was developing in the international trade system then. However, Marco Polo does not discuss the effects that the spread of culture and ideas would provide. Finally, document 5 is the account of Francesco Pegolotti concerning the things a traveler or merchant would need to know about China. Simply having such an account shows the depth to which international knowledge had permeated, all the way from China to Italy, and the ideas of those cultures had been exchanged (such as paper money). However, Pegolotti does not describe to what extent the new technologies are assimilated into the new cultures; e.g., how China uses glass or how the west used paper. As a final source of illumination, an account from a Chinese bureaucrat with the task of implementing new production and distribution of some of the imported goods would be very helpful. Owing to the Mongol trade network and contacts, the expansion of worldwide religions, and the explosion of trade, the world became a much smaller and closer place in the first half of the second
millennium.
Coffin, Judith G., and Robert C. Stacey. "CHAPTER 18 PAGES 668-669." Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. 16TH ed. Vol. 2. New York, NY: W. W. Norton &, 2008. N. pag. Print.
During this era of global history from 632 to 1352 C.E, it is seen that the societies began to interact with other cultures leading to cultural diffusion which would have both positive impacts, such as new trade goods, on societies along with negative effects, such as being conquered, on these societies as well. The documents provided show these benefits and harmful factors of cultural diffusion during this global era. Documents one, two, four, and five show some of the negative effects of global interaction. Within this group document one, four and five shows how societies have a direct negative impact on each other. On the other hand document three and six show how global interaction can have a positive impact on societies.
...s misused their common material interest to overcome the political fault diving them, while giving up political unity they had conserved a combined cultural and commercial empire. The connection that the Mongol Empire relied on was the quick and constant motion of people, goods, and information around the empire.
Through analyzing the five given documents, factors affecting cultural exchange through civilizations during 1000 and 1400 A.D. are noticeably those which result in the bringing of new ideas to a different area, such as missionary work, commerce, war, and travels. As new religions sprouted throughout Europe on other expansive areas, missionaries were sent out to foreign lands. Document 1 comes from the viewpoint of a Roman Catholic missionary attempting to spread his faith by presenting a letter from the pope to the emperor of the Tatars. This shows that by converting a powerful leader to your faith, such as an emperor, it is easier for others to follow said faith. Documents 2 and 4 also emphasize how travel can be accountable for the exchange of ideas between cultures. Both Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo traveled extensive distances, stopping in various cities. Throughout their journeys, they carried their ideas with them, but were also introduced to the ideas of the people in the places they were visiting. Document 3 presents what is most likely the culprit for the increase in cultural diffusion during 1000 to 1400 A.D. War is often the reason for major cultural diffusion because, as new lands are conquered and the people of that land are put under the rule of a different people, the beliefs, traditions, and cultures of the conquerors mesh with those of the conquered. Document 5 also introduces a driving force in cultural diffusion – commerce. During this time period, many people were traders. Products made by a people are characteristics of their culture, whether it is the skill, intelligence, cleverness, or religious inclination of those people. As traders made their way to foreign lands to conduct business, whole empires were int...
The Mongols, or as the Western Europeans called them, the Tartars, were a nomadic, militant people that dominated the battlefield during the pre-industrial time period (“Tartars” 7). Over the span of the 13th century, from the Central Asian steppes in the east to the Arabian lands to the west, the Tartars subdued the unfortunate inhabitants and expanded their empire vastly. To the fear and dismay of the Western Europeans, the Tartars desired to triumph over all of Eurasia; therefore, the Western Europeans were to be conquered next. News of the imminent Tartarian attack rapidly spread through West Europe like a wildfire, and the powerful Holy Roman Church contended to prepare a strategy against the onslaught. In the year 1245, Pope Innocent IV, the head of the Church at the time, sent a group of Friars led by Giovanni da Pian del Carpini to gather some knowledge about the Tartars. It was a dreaded mission, one that would probably end in a terrible death, since the Tartars were a cruel people towards outsiders. Nevertheless, Carpini valiantly ventured into the unknown darkness, and returned to his homeland with valuable information about the Tartars. Through the insight he gained during his travels, he wrote his account of the Tartars in a report called the “Historia Mongalorum” (“Tartars” 19), which is known today as “The Story of the Mongols Whom We Call the Tartars”.
Part One, “The Formation of Eurasian States” introduces the three major powers in central Eurasia, China, Russia, and the Zunghar State. Perdue describes central Eurasia as an “unbounded” land stretching from “the Ukrainian steppes in the west to the shores of the Pacific in the east, from the southern edge of the Siberian forests to the Tibetan plateau” populated by nomadic tribes who had no clearly defined national boundaries . Historical sources concerning Central Asia people in Central Eurasia are scares due to the lack of writing ability in the vast majority of the nomadic population. Writers from the “civilized” world such as China described these people as exclusively nomadic and “universally greedy, primitive, and poor” . Despite the lack of historical records in the area, the area has historically played an important role in linking the eastern civilizations to the western civilizations, which played a major part in global trade up until the sixteenth century . Although the nomads of the steppes in Central Eurasia has long been accused of constant raiding of “civilized” settlements such as in north western parts of China, Sechin Jagchid argues that peace was possible if the nomad’s needs were satisfied by trade, so that the they did not have to take supplies by force in order...
In the course of approximately four hundred years, Western European colonists and prominent historical figures were particularly known for exploiting and devastating distant cultures and civilizations around the world. This included groups ranging from the Aboriginals and the Aztecs in the remote “New World”, to groups in East Asia such as the Chinese and the Mughals. However, historians today debate whether or not these prevailing and prospering Western European nations were as successful at influencing the cultures of nearer empires such as the Ottoman Empire. It is questionable as to whether or not the Ottoman Empire should be compared to other cultures devastated through their interactions with the West, largely due to the Ottomans’ vast success in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries and eventual internal problems. However, the Ottoman Empire’s inability to remain as successful as its adjacent Western neighbours indicates that they too, were a victim of Western dominance. As the Ottomans began its descent, much of the West continued its prevalence. Therefore, it is fair to say that the Ottoman Empire’s considerable interaction with the West led to the demise and alteration of its culture. The Western powers’ economic supremacy, exploitation of the Ottomans’ internal failures and influence on its religious state each significantly contributed.
In such a multicultural world, being knowledgeable and understanding of not only your cultural background, but that of others is essential. Building my awareness on cultures different from my own, and how it shapes an individual’s identity, will foster my personal and professional development. Subsequently, I conducted a cultural interview with an individual whose cultural background differed from my own. Several similarities and differences between our cultures were apparent in the interview, specifically in the areas of race, ethnicity, language, values, and worldview.
3. Jackson J. Spielvogel. Western Civilization Third Edition, A Brief History volume 1: to 1715. 2005 Belmont CA. Wadsworth Publishing
During the interval of time between the years 1000 A.D. and 1400 A.D., a multitude of events referring to cultural exchange transpired. In the given documents, In the sense that the Silk Road was brought under the rule of the Mongols, people felt that is was now safe to travel through the Asian continent. Most people would sometimes come all the way from Europe. A multitude of these people were merchants, missionaries, or travelers. They carried along with them goods, news, or cultures from the corners of the then ‘known’ world. These are people who contemplated a multitude of sights on their journeys, which usually ended in China or Cathay. These given documents state the many dissimilarities in politics, social status, religion, and economics which all affected the cultural exchange.
Coffin, Judith G, et al. Western Civilizations: Their History & Their Culture. 17th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Co, 2011. Print.
Over the years there have been many great nomadic groups, such as the Vikings and the Kievan, but no nomadic group has been more successful than the Mongols. The Mongols have had many lasting influences on Russia, China, and even Europe. The Mongols have left a mark on the European trading systems in technologies as well as in their trading systems trade routes. One thing that stayed the same throughout Europe was their many religion.
Various food crops, domesticated animals, and technology were spread across these trade routes. However, it was not just material things that spread, people moved to new areas and civilizations for hope of different or improved life, or they may move to spread religious and cultural beliefs. This is how many of the world’s major religions became as large and powerful as they are today.
The emergence and spread of the Christian faith influenced the Western civilization significantly, particularly between BC and AD when most civilizations based their leadership and divinity on Christianity. The Biblical truth was more pronounced in the Greco-Roman civilization than other previous civilizations. The present Western lifestyle and culture controls a significant chunk of the attributes that were derived from ancient Western civilization. This paper explores the evolution of the western civilizations in relation to the lineage attributes, influence of the Christian faith, and the impact of the contemporary West on the attributes of the western civilizations (Noble,
In The Silent Language, Edward Hall’s (1959) seminal examination of non-verbal communication, it is ambiguous asserted that “culture is communication and communication is culture,” (217). Though this statement is obviously lacks for broad explanatory power, Hall nevertheless aptly articulates the crucial roles that culture plays in communication research. From its role in theories of communication to its treatment as a both the independent and the dependent variable in experimental studies, culture shapes the nature of what communication researchers, and speaks to the very heart of what communication is. This literature review will first briefly mention the historical origins of culture in communication research, and identify what has become the primary area of quantitative communication research into culture: intercultural communication. Next, we will examine the definition of culture that intercultural communication researchers have adopted. Last, we will explore how this definition is applied through an exploration of the variables, levels of analysis, and other salient dimensions of communication.