Reading Response 3

Reading Response 3

How would I respond to the idea that China was self-contained or an isolated civilization?

            Prior to reading Chapter 8 on China I’m totally honest when I say that I don’t think I knew anything about them during this time period. The only thing I can say for sure is that I knew the Great Wall of China was built during this time period. By who or why I had no idea. After reading the chapter I came across the question I copied at the top of the page. I would have to say that the Chinese were not an isolated self-contained civilization.

            The Chinese relied on different cultures for the success of their own. For example, as Strayer points out the nomadic people of the North had the ability to master horse riding. This skill not only was crucial to the success of the Chinese military, but these horses were only coming from this land North of China. Without these horses the Chinese military although large in number, would not have been able to protect its borders on foot alone. If China were self-contained, they would not have needed horses from the North to help their cause.

            In my opinion, Strayers strongest examples of how China was neither isolated nor self-contained are the effect China had on neighboring countries. Korea, Vietnam and even Japan after several hundred years began to simulate parts of Chinese culture into their own. Japan did this on their own accord. As Strayer pointed out, the hundred or so miles of sea separating the island nation from Mainland China help to prevent any conquering efforts. Vietnam and Korea were not as fortunate. Conquering efforts by the Chinese and the occasional colonization of Chinese settlers helped to bring Chinese influence to these areas. Again, in my opinion, if China was a self-contained isolated civilization, we would not see their influence anywhere else. Whether it is by force or by the decision of another country.

            Finally some of the goods and inventions of China go to show that this is not an isolated civilization. The ability to use silk by the Chinese was later picked up by other civilization. For example, Islamic robes were a very sought after item. Without this craft being brought from China these beautiful works of art may have never been created. The early forms of the printing press which were used to mass-produce works of the Buddhist religion made there way across the Eurasia continent. As pointed out by Strayer most cultures benefited from this with the exception of Muslims who made the choice to write each Surah in the Quran by hand. Finally we see the invention of gunpowder. We can see even today that every country across the world has used and still uses gunpowder in all forms weapons.

            In conclusion, it is apparent that the Chinese were not an isolated civilization. In fact, there inventions helped to shape the classical world.