Chapter 11Chapter 11

Contending with Contending with Isolation: Isolation:

ca. 1000-1200ca. 1000-1200

Focus QuestionsFocus Questions

HOW DID geography influence the spread of culture and state-building in North America and Mesoamerica?

WHY WAS the Indian Ocean so important for the spread of culture?

WHY WERE the land routes across Eurasia less significant than the sea routes across the Indian Ocean?

WHICH AREAS of India were most prosperous in the tenth and eleventh centuries and what was the basis of their prosperity?

HOW DID their relative cultural isolation affect Japan and

Western Europe during these centuries?

Geography and the AmericasGeography and the Americas American isolation: sporadic contact w/Asia, Europe in pre-Columbus American isolation: sporadic contact w/Asia, Europe in pre-Columbus

eraera N/S travel inhibited by mountain ranges, riversN/S travel inhibited by mountain ranges, rivers Civilizations develop in Andes (S. America), Mesoamerica, N. American SWCivilizations develop in Andes (S. America), Mesoamerica, N. American SW Dramatic shifts in climate/geography inhibit contact with other regionsDramatic shifts in climate/geography inhibit contact with other regions

Arctic RegionsArctic Regions Thule Inuit (indigenous peoples of Arctic) migrate across Arctic and Thule Inuit (indigenous peoples of Arctic) migrate across Arctic and

North Atlantic oceans using walrus skin boatsNorth Atlantic oceans using walrus skin boats Inuit settle Greenland, Western North America (Alaska)Inuit settle Greenland, Western North America (Alaska) Migrations by Scandinavians (Norse) to America, Iceland, Migrations by Scandinavians (Norse) to America, Iceland,

GreenlandGreenland Exploitation of sea resources, transformation of Greenland’s Exploitation of sea resources, transformation of Greenland’s

environment: farming, grazingenvironment: farming, grazing Isolation, changing climate dooms settlementsIsolation, changing climate dooms settlements

Southwest and Mississippian Regions: 800 to 1300 C.E.Southwest and Mississippian Regions: 800 to 1300 C.E. Large scale residential, ceremonial centers in SW: Chaco canyon, Pueblo Large scale residential, ceremonial centers in SW: Chaco canyon, Pueblo

Canyon culturesCanyon cultures Cahokia, mound cultures of Northern Mississippi regionCahokia, mound cultures of Northern Mississippi region Mixed agriculture, trade: extensive networks reaching to SW, Mixed agriculture, trade: extensive networks reaching to SW,

Mesoamerica, Northern plains, SEMesoamerica, Northern plains, SE

The Indian Ocean Trading SystemThe Indian Ocean Trading System

Richest and most diverse system of the timeRichest and most diverse system of the time Spices, textiles, precious metals and stones, Spices, textiles, precious metals and stones,

animals, agricultural goods, etc.animals, agricultural goods, etc. Monsoons made navigation across thousands of miles Monsoons made navigation across thousands of miles

easy.easy. Rise of the Khmer EmpireRise of the Khmer Empire

Angkor Wat: 12th centuryAngkor Wat: 12th century Writing system, ideas about Buddhism and Writing system, ideas about Buddhism and

HinduismHinduism Chola kingdom in southern India: 11th-12th centuryChola kingdom in southern India: 11th-12th century

Clearing forest, combining agriculture & commercial Clearing forest, combining agriculture & commercial tradetrade

Maritime imperialism: merchants with private armiesMaritime imperialism: merchants with private armies EthiopiaEthiopia

Trade, but identifies more with Judeo-Christian traditions, Trade, but identifies more with Judeo-Christian traditions, as opposed to the Islamic traditions of its neighbors.as opposed to the Islamic traditions of its neighbors.

What is different about American cultural What is different about American cultural regions as compared with the Indian regions as compared with the Indian

Ocean?Ocean?

Trade not impossible, but more difficultTrade not impossible, but more difficult More variety in climatic zones, terrainsMore variety in climatic zones, terrains Easier for communications to be brokenEasier for communications to be broken Widely dispersed populationsWidely dispersed populations Mixed nomadic hunter/gatherer and farming Mixed nomadic hunter/gatherer and farming

communitiescommunities Lack of technologies more common in Lack of technologies more common in

EurasiaEurasia

Does Everyone Wants Does Everyone Wants to be Connected?to be Connected?

JapanJapan Borrows from China: Confucianism and Borrows from China: Confucianism and

Buddhism, ideas about government and religion, Buddhism, ideas about government and religion, system of writing, literature, architecture, etc.system of writing, literature, architecture, etc.

Reaction in 838 C.E. with suspension of tradeReaction in 838 C.E. with suspension of trade Development of these ideas in unison with native Development of these ideas in unison with native

Japanese practiceJapanese practice Why would a society want to look inward in such Why would a society want to look inward in such

a fashion?a fashion?

Western Europe: On the Margins Western Europe: On the Margins with Few Resourceswith Few Resources

Develops a siege mentality and military solutions to Develops a siege mentality and military solutions to opening up tradeopening up trade The Reconquest of Spain and Sicily from MuslimsThe Reconquest of Spain and Sicily from Muslims Crusades in the Levant and into Eastern EuropeCrusades in the Levant and into Eastern Europe

Crusades open Mediterranean trade networks with Crusades open Mediterranean trade networks with the Levant and Egypt, more cultural influencesthe Levant and Egypt, more cultural influences

Northern trade networks tie in with developing Northern trade networks tie in with developing trade/travel networks on the Volga River (Novgorod).trade/travel networks on the Volga River (Novgorod).

With influx of new goods and technologies, Europe With influx of new goods and technologies, Europe develops manufacturing in finished tools and textiles develops manufacturing in finished tools and textiles that gives it more to trade with the Eastthat gives it more to trade with the East

Today’s QuestionToday’s Question

Are gender preferences in culture inevitable?Are gender preferences in culture inevitable?

Consider Consider Various forms of art, including the novel, arose as “women’s art”: Various forms of art, including the novel, arose as “women’s art”:

either for women or, as in Heian Japan, by women.either for women or, as in Heian Japan, by women. Divisions in the arts reflected inequalities in the status of women and Divisions in the arts reflected inequalities in the status of women and

the limited opportunities available to them in traditional societies.the limited opportunities available to them in traditional societies. But gendered differences in artistic taste—from “chick flicks” and But gendered differences in artistic taste—from “chick flicks” and

romance novels to the heavily male audience for many video games—romance novels to the heavily male audience for many video games—persist in the modern world.persist in the modern world.

Do these facts suggest that inequalities persist?Do these facts suggest that inequalities persist? Or is “sexual stereotyping” in childhood is responsible, with parents Or is “sexual stereotyping” in childhood is responsible, with parents

inculcating different values in children of different sexes?inculcating different values in children of different sexes? Or are there underlying biological differences, which really do pre-Or are there underlying biological differences, which really do pre-

dispose men and women to contrasting preferences in art and life?dispose men and women to contrasting preferences in art and life?