Chapter 8: China and the World

In this chapter, it is discussed the successes of China's powerful government. China influenced the world, but also changed with its many interactions with non-chinese people. They influenced their ideas to other civilizations, which they improved and made their own. China regained it unity under the Sui Dynasty. With the vast expansion of the country's canal system, connected North and South China. The canal stretched 1,200 miles in length. With China's uprising, there established arts, literature, paintings and so much more! They also came to an examination system, which gave the ability to print books for the first time in world history. Young men prepared for exams which was essential. These exams gave ability to higher positions, keeping in mind that cheating was completely off limits. Official positions went to sons of privileged, even if they had not passed the exams. It was very important for men to pass these exams. They pretty much determined there future.

Women in the Song Dynasty were separated from men. They were often viewed as a distraction. The remarriage of widows, though legally permissible, was increasingly condemned. They were only able to receive education that had to do with how to properly teach their children, especially boys. This made sure that their boys had a better understanding on how to become a man before staring school. Foot binding was later spread within the Chinese society. It consisted of tight wrapping of young girls feet, usually breaking the bones of the foot and causing intense pain. This associated a new image for female beauty. Also, it served to distinguish Chinese women from the "barbarian" counterparts and elite women from the commoners and peasants.

Intro to Part Three and Chapter 7

This chapter discussed the ways in which civilizations became to connect with one another. Trade became a huge part of the societies. Three different types of trade routes are discussed in this chapter. Such being, Silk roads, Sea road, and Sand road. The Silk road was a very interactive and popular trade route. It started with indirect trade between agricultural people and pastoral people in Eurasia. The Silk road was very important in Eurasia because many luxuries were traded, such as spices, silk, tea, dine china, fabric, etc. The way that the silk road worked was that there were multiple paths. Though, no path was actually paved. In the roads there were posts, like stops, were travelers would trade with people at the posts. Saving them time from reaching the other end of the road. This way products moved quickly. People took smaller distances based on what they could support. Still being able to receive goods from the other side. Products also marked up along the way. Because of this type of trading system, philosophy, culture and religion were able to move across the road. 

Another trading system was the Sea roads. This made it possible to exchange across the Indian Ocean. Although, there was no one specific road. Since it was at sea, there were different directions to get to the same place, or other places. The majority of people who consumed goods from this trading system were shopkeepers and merchants, and the middle class. This type of trading made it possible to trade larger amounts of goods, such as spices, tea, textiles etc. People were also transported through boats and ships. It is not the best system, because it was dangerous. People never really knew who was on the sea ready to attack and take there goods. There was no protection. It also was the method of transporting diseases, like smallpox, measles, and bubonic plague. 

Last but not least, there was the Sand road. The Sand roads helped exchange across the Sahara, which began among agricultural people. When using the Sand road, usually camels were used to carry a variety of goods. The types of things traded were copper, silver, gold, metals, textiles, salt, dates, and coffee grain. Also, slaves, music and instruments, language, and disease were traded among the sand road. The people who most consumed from this trading system were, landowners and wealthy, merchant workers, and religious leaders.