Ben's World History Blog

Over past century, Muslims have had to overcome European humiliation  From 600-1600 people allied to Islam represented highly successful, prosperous, and expansive civilization  Buddhism was cultural anchor for for East Asia, as well as Christianity for Europe, but Islam connected both Islam started in the Arabian Peninsula Muhammad, the man turned prophet who spread Islam, lived from 570-632                          Arabia 

Silk Roads: Eurasia was the starting place of one of the world's biggest and sustained trade networks. This network was named the Silk Roads after Eurasia's most famous product. The Silk Roads linked pastoral and agricultural peoples alike, as well as large civilizations of Eurasia's outer rim. Sea Roads: The start of oceanic commerce offered transformation to all members, but the greatest appeared in Southeast Asia and East Africa. Both regions experienced political change and aspiring rulers used incoming wealth to build larger, centrally governed states or cities. Sand Roads: These trade routes linked North Africa and the Mediterranean with interior West Africa. The North African costal regions created cloth, glassware, weapons, books, and other goods of manufacture. African commercial life saw a major turning point in trade with the introduction of the camel. The animal could go ten days without water and made the long trek across the Sahara finally possi...

200 B.C.E China Social Structure Landlord Class- During the unification of the Qin dynasty the bulk of the land was owned by small-scale peasant farmers. Impoverished peasants had to sell their land to wealthier landowners. Due to this landowners avoided paying taxes and put tax burdens on the poorer farmers. Peasants- Throughout China's long lasting civilization, the bulk of it's population consisted of peasants who represented two or three generations, and who lived in small households. The lives of these peasants were extremely vulnerable due to nature, landlords, and the state. During Han dynasty China many poor and desperate peasants sold their land to large landlords and were employed as tenants or sharecroppers. Merchants- Although peasants were oppressed and exploited, they were also praised by the social elite as the backbone of the society. Merchants didn't favor this praise because they were seen as unproductive for making shameful profit from others...