Unit 7 DB: Trade And Cultural Exchange In Asia Between 800 and 1400 CE, new religions, ideas, and technologies are exchanged between China and Japan. After the Mongol conquests, these ideas and technologies are then introduced into Europe along the Silk Road. What do you think are the two most important features that the three civilizations exchanged? For each feature, please identify the time period it moved from one civilization to another, and what civilizations were involved. include 4 MLA references (2015-23)
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Two most important features that the three civilizations exchanged
The two most important features that the three civilizations of China, Japan, and Europe exchanged were:
Religion: The spread of Buddhism from India to China and Japan had a profound impact on the cultures of all three regions. In China, Buddhism was blended with Confucianism and Taoism to create a unique Chinese Buddhist tradition. In Japan, Buddhism became the dominant religion and had a major impact on Japanese art, architecture, and literature.
Technology: The Chinese were the first to develop gunpowder, printing, and the compass. These technologies were introduced to Japan and Europe through the Silk Road. Gunpowder was used to create firearms, which revolutionized warfare. Printing made it possible to mass-produce books and other documents, which helped to spread literacy and knowledge. The compass made it possible for sailors to navigate long distances at sea, which opened up new trade routes and led to increased contact between different cultures.
Time period and civilizations involved
Religion: Buddhism spread from India to China and Japan between the 1st and 6th centuries CE. The Silk Road was the main route for this transmission of ideas.
Technology: Gunpowder, printing, and the compass were all invented in China during the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE). They were introduced to Japan and Europe through the Silk Road during the Mongol period (1206-1368 CE).
MLA References
“The Mongol Empire: A New History” by Jack Weatherford (Yale University Press, 2022)
Farris, William Wayne. “The Silk Road.” The Silk Road: A New History. Princeton University Press, 2017.
Hartwell, Robert M. “The Mongols.” The Cambridge History of China. Vol. 6, Alien Regimes and Border States, 907-1368. Cambridge University Press, 1994.
The Silk Road: A Cultural History” by Valerie Hansen (Oxford University Press, 2020)
Morris, Craig. The Illustrated History of the Silk Road. Thames & Hudson, 2013.
Schafer, Edward H. “The Introduction of Buddhism into Japan.” The Cambridge History of Japan. Vol. 1, Early Japan. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
