Chapter 7

One thing that I learned about was the Silk Roads. I learned about the "inner" and "outer" Eurasia. China, The Middle East, and the Mediterranean, had urban centers, states, and empires that were known as "outer" Eurasia. Between these areas of particular land was considered "inner" Eurasia. One religion that was mentioned was Buddhism. Buddhism was on the spread along the Silk Roads. The Silk Road had some diseases that included smallpox and measles. There was also the Bubonic plague that occurred between 534 and 750 C.E. This plague could killed thousands of people in a single day. We then move to the West Africa. We see caravans of camels that carried gold and salt. Camels had a big influence on how products were transported. Men were satisfied with positions of "patriarchal" power, while women were involved in agricultural and crafting work. Lastly, wealthy western African cities made trade centers, and structures of culture, education and religion.

Chapter 6

Something that I learned from this chapter was about Agricultural revolutions and complex societies. The fact that new products  were emerging through agriculture made complex societies become possible. I also learned about Egypt and Nubia. The Nile river made connections with Egypt and Nubia last long. Both of these cultures were influential to one another. At one point Nubia conquered Egypt. I found fascinating how obelisks were as high one hundred feet and how the Romans recognized Axum as a powerful empire. I also found interesting how people with skills in crafting with iron were considered important. Then we moved on to the Maya. The Maya had a flourishing empire between 250 and 900 C.E. Staying in the region, I learned about Teotihuacan. I learned that this city had impressive and sophisticated architecture, and how it mysteriously collapsed in 650 C.E.

Culture and Religion/Eurasia and North Africa

 As one of the first civilizations, China believed in legalism. legalism is the concept of rules and laws through "a system of rewards and punishments." I find this interesting because to keep the people in order, they provided high rewards. To keep them from staying out of trouble, they provided heavy punishments if necessary. What I also found intriguing was the Confucian answer to restoring order. Confucius was from a aristocratic family. He suggested that strong moral people should teach people how to behave, and that goodness should be part of all relationships. The text mentions Siddhartha Gautama. We read a book ab out him senior year of high school. Basically he taught that to end suffering we have to get rid of desire.