Aspects of Global Cultural Exchange Using Primary Sources - Research Paper Example

Aspects of global cultural exchange using primary sources Culture has been influenced by different civilizations and conquests. It has been observed that the darkest period of cultural decline in the history of the West dated from the fall of the Roman Empire. It was from this time, in 422 A.D., till the early medieval times, that Western history was not witness to any significant cultural growth (Cowen 6). This period coincided with the radical deglbanization. Moreover, during these times, there was immense reduction in the trade bring carried out between regions and investment across borders. This is also reflective of the relatively lower amount of cultural exchange that occurred during this time period. The effect of the Roman Empire was that it was responsible for establishing contact, like commercial transactions and cultural exchange, between the distant corners of Europe and the Mediterranean (Cowen 6). The development of roads under the Roman Empire resulted in a much extensive interstate system on the basis of mileage. However, with the decline of the Roman Empire, trade reduced greatly, cities saw a fall in their commercial and cultural activities and there was a marked increased in feudalism (Cowen 6). Furthermore there was a decline in architecture, writing, reading and visual arts. The glorious and grand buildings constructed during the Antiquity period started to steep into disrepair, and their furniture etc was plundered. The statues of Bronze were melted for obtaining metal and using it for other purposes. A number of writings of the Antiquity period were lost also. Development in the cultural lives of cities and increases in trade occurred with Renaissance, which led to the rise of the Medieval city. This was an impact of the process of reglobalization, when the West refreshed its contacts across the borders (Cowen 6). There was increased activity on terms of commerce and culture being carried out between the West and the Chinese and Islamic worlds. Also, trade increased significantly, greater activity was seen in the shipping lanes as well as on trade routes of the land that had been out of use since the fall of the Roman Empire (Cowen 6). This paper explores the various aspects of global cultural exchange. There are two primary sources that are being used for the purpose of comparison. Fulcher of Chartres: The Latins in the East (Chronicle, Bk III) was written regarding the Kingdom of Jerusalem (Krey). It discusses the cultural aspects of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the people living during that time in Jerusalem. The second primary source that is being examined is the Reginald of Durham: Life of St. Goderic [12th Cent]. This primary source discusses the cultural life before the 11th century. In the aforementioned period of globalization, the cultural exchange that occurred was not on the basis of equality. There was no fair play established in the various aspects of cultural exchange. The Greek city states did not rival each other on a level playing field. British culture progressed much earlier than the same cultural awakening occurred in North America. Christian and Graeco-Roman cultures happened to establish their roots in Europe partially by fiat. However it has been noted that the greatest advantages of cultural exchange have been derived from milieus which have a certain degree of turbulence to them rather than from markets functioning smoothly. The periods which saw great success of the empire ruling were not representative of the same type of cultural product being produced in greater quantities; rather, there were new cultural products being made, which replaced the old ones, at times with an abrupt and harsh way (Cowen 6). In the text about the Fulcher of Chartres, the author has written about the infiltration of the Latins into the East. The author talks about how the West has been relocated to the East, with the Occidentals now becoming the Orientals. People who were Romans or Franks were now Galileans, and inhabited Palestine. Citizens of Rheims or Chartres were renamed to become citizens of Tyre or of Antioch. The residents of Jerusalem had lost their identity with the influx of the West. The result of the influx of the Latins into Jerusalem was that locals were starting to marry women from Syria, Armenia etc. Marrying women who were already married was not a very common practice in the region; however people were now marrying women from other cultures, who already had sons. The children produced from such marriages speak a language that is a blend of idioms from both the local language and the Latin language, which was alien to the locals. With the passage of time, the author observes that even the locals have started to pick up the foreign language and faith has caused these two cultures to mix together, as is expressed in the idiom, the lion and the ox shall eat straw together. The author of the text Fulcher of Chartres speaks of how the changing cultural aspects of his way of life and other natives of the region. He states that people who were strangers are now natives; people who used to come for a short period of stay are now settled permanently. The author talks about how the Westerners have been bestowed with graces and made rich. The Latins drew a lot benefit and made a lot of money when they came to the East. The author observes that how could someone who has made so much money, return to where he came from when he is getting obvious benefits from the new place. In the middle ages, there was a rapid and significant upsurge in trade activities. By the 13th century, the number of towns and trade was dominant over the Western society, although they were still a small part of the population. This resulted in the monetization of life, the potential to produce art that was sponsored communally rather than aristocratically, and the possibility of urban subcultures (“Reginald of Durham”). The text, Reginald of Durham, reflects on the life of St. Godric. It is through the recollections of the Saint that one can assimilate the level of trade and cultural activity that was taking place in the region. The Saint aspired to the merchant’s trade as a young child. He had the choice to be a husbandman but he chose to pursue the life of a merchant. This is representative of the degree of cultural liberalization present in the region. In both the primary sources used in the paper, there is an increased emphasis on devotion to God. In the Fulcher of Chartres, the author talks about how the people from the West worship the God, and are rewarded with riches in the new land. St. Godric was also a staunch follower of his religion. He also visited Jerusalem as a pilgrim. From the account of the life of St. Godric, one can assimilate that Jerusalem was a major center for religious activities. The two texts also serve to establish the cultural influences that take place when travelling across the border. In the Fulcher of Chartres, there is an obvious and definite impact of the culture of the West on the East, as discussed above. The account of the life of St. Godric also tells of how the Saint used to travel to different lands and to worship different saints. The method of carrying trade is also different for both the scenarios presented in the primary sources. St. Gordin used to visit different regions and brought back commodities at a cheap price that were greatly valued in other regions. He used to sell these commodities at a high profit. On the other hand, the people of the West mentioned in the Fulcher of Chartres, also travelled great distances to reach Jerusalem, but they did not buy commodities and sell them in other regions like Gordin did; rather they stayed in the same place and made money. Thus, one can conclude that there was an increased level of commercial activity that took place at the time of St. Gordin and during the time period marking the influx of the Latins into the East. Works Cited August. C. Krey. Fulcher of Chartres: The Latins in the East (Chronicle, Bk III). Internet Medieval Source Book, 1997. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. Cowen, Tyler. The Promise of Global Culture. George Mason University, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. Reginald of Durham: Life of St. Godric [12th Cent]. Internet Medieval Source Book, 1996. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. Read More