China's Golden Age of Renaissance

China's renaissance is known as the Golden Age and some have said it is equal to or even greater than the renaissance experienced in Europe.  During this time, the Sui Dynasty, China regained it's sense of unity unlike the Roman Empire.  A great feat to help unify Northern and Southern China was a canal system that extended over 1,200 miles.  As the Dynasties collapsed the country did not disintegrate.  The Tang and the Song dynasties only added to the unity brought on by the Sui.  Politically these dynasties built a state structure that lasted for a long time, while they also created six ministries, including personnel, finance, rites, army, justice, and public works.  These ideas can still be seen in society today.  While this was all happening, wealthy people slowly began to encroach on poor people's lands, and an economic revolution was taking place.  So since renaissance means rebirth, it is hard to say China's golden age was a renaissance since their ideas were new.  Many ideas were similar to the European renaissance and since China's is lesser known it can always be argued it had less significance on the world.

#10

Throughout time there have always been empires that expand a wide range.  As Columbus discovered America, we see the paleolithic era had not ended for native Americans.  Agriculture remained a key part of civilization in the Americas, and even now is still relevant.  We are also told about the Chinese and European relationship.  Each civilization and culture helped assist the other, most likely due to the silk road giving people access to each place.

blog post 9

There was a birth of a new religion known as Islam.  The homeland of this was the Arabian Peninsula, and Mecca more specifically.  Muhammad Ibn Abdullah was the founder of the religion and was known as a prophet who spoke to God.  As Arabia transformed it became a great empire encompassing Egypt, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Mesopotamian, and Indian civilizations.  As this empire grew, it spread Islam farther throughout the world.  Going back to the silk road it can be assumed this aided in the transfer of religion and beliefs of Islam as well. 

Blog post #8

The Byzantine Empire built off the Roman past, and the fall of the latter.  There was no clear starting point of this empire, but it is widely known as a Christian affiliated region.  The region Byzantine covered is surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, but they were unable to recover the Western Roman empire.  Christianity legitimized the absolute power given to the Emperor. 

Chapter 7 blog post 7

A key part of chapter seven was the growth, development, and exchange of the Silk Roads.  These were land based trade routes that allowed Europe and Asia to trade goods.  Camel caravans often took goods from one place to the other, and the luxuries were topped by the silk traded.  The Middle east specialized in trading berries and nuts, the forest lands of Siberia and grasslands of central Asia specialized in livestock, while India sent textiles and medicinal herbs.  It was interesting to see how disease was also spread along the silk road.  There were also sea roads used to exchange goods. 

In the Americas the Mayan and Aztec Civilizations are most well known, with the Incas coming to mind after in South America.  Teotihuacan was the main city in these civilizations spreading it's dominance throughout Central America.  This city was known for having a large city street going straight down it, and having the temples for the sun and moon Gods.  The Mayans were known to use a system of pictographs and phonetic symbols as writing.  Mayans were known for capturing their enemies in combat so they could sacrifice them to the Gods.