Reflection Discussion on the Readings - Essay Example

Introduction

The readings as well as visit to the museum gave us sneak peek into China, its history, economy, religions as well as peoples. These served as an eye opener and we got to learn interesting tidbits about the Chinese culture and how history and events have shaped it over the centuries into what it currently its. This paper will look into the readings that we encountered in the course of the semester as well as discussions that we had at the seminar.

Discussion

Going though the books, I learned that crafts played a central role when it came to Ancient Chinese dynasties. For example in the book named Powers the author relates the role played by these crafts when it came to shaping power within ancient Chinese societies. The text attempts tp justify the significance of craft as a method of consolidating power. In ancient Chinese society, it was almost impossible to separate the practices employed by craftsmen from those of the ruling elite. In looking at crafts, one cannot overlook the role played by women in the art and society. With many centuries of specialization behind them, the women in Chinese society created clothing items for others. It was interesting to note that craft workers in such a society had close access to power since the ruling elite significantly relied on ceremony to ratify as well as consolidate their power and without artifacts, the ceremonies could not take place. This role played by the craftsmen has attracted various criticisms directed at them for the part they played in aiding the ruling classes to consolidate power and oppress the masses.

The reading Ten Thousand Things: Module and Mass Production in Chinese Art by Lothar Ledderose offers an invaluable insight into one of the most striking features when it comes to Chinese Art. The author offers us the Chinese Ritual Bronze’s picture together with its cultural preciousness when it comes to their political and religious lives. I learnt that the Chinese managed to stand out due to their techniques and decorations that included production of reusable flexible modules that had the effect of enhancing creativity. It was interesting to realize that no other society in history of mankind managed to produce more bronze items than the Chinese civilization. The excavations that took place in Anyang area within Henan province as well as the royal tombs as outlined by the book portray the religious significance as well as immense wealth that was associated with bronze items. Reading this, one gets the impression that ancient China must have had the biggest Bronze results. The metal’s exceptional value back then meant that it was only within the reaches of the rich or ruling elite. Bronze items or statures defined people’s social position and the craftsmen introduced the modular system so as to make sure that any distinguishable features can properly index the people’s societal position. The book highlights the difficulty the artisans were faced with when it came to duplicating inscriptions . However, the fact that many of the excavated bronze artifacts did not have inscriptions posed a question as to why the craftsmen did not use their knowledge to explore technical possibilities.

The readings also introduced to what was termed as the Axial age. This age explains the evolution process in different world regions. It outlines the effects of governments on the individual within welfare systems. In China, just like in most other parts of the world, religious beliefs shaped most of the activities that occurred within the society and how the people in such societies ended up accepting various practices. On top of this, support that was enjoyed by the different religions accorded them immense influence. The invention of coinage in major societies across the world aided and streamlined the transaction processes in various marketplaces. Coinage made it quite simple for activities such as paying taxes, fines to take place thus establishing a uniform revenue system which can be controlled or influenced by the various governments. I learnt that the growth of individuals was evidenced by systematic government systems that included workshops, trading houses, warehouses, examination system, armies as well as the structured pattern of civil administration.

Economic as well as religious obligations in societies such as China led to the onset of various approaches that were evidenced within the communities. First of all, religious activities made sure that every person worked extra hard to offer regular sacrifices to the entities that they believed in. Such offerings often extended from the state, the empire, the local communities as well as the cosmos as large. Due to such practices, workshops, markets, and new urban areas grew within such centers of sacrifices thus promoting the communities’ economic well being. The other issue the readings taught me is that the states were recipients of levies from the produce of the community. This ensured an uninterrupted flow of spine activities such as funeral procedures and communal ceremonies. Harmony was brought by administrative laws that outlined the punishments that were associated with any failure to provide sacrifices. The strict conditions that accompanied sacrificial procedures made sure only quality offering was made whenever it was possible.

We learnt that societies, empires and kingdoms have been exchanging goods and services for centuries. They used primitive money, which was equated to modern money since it was utilized by people that sought to acquire what it is that they wanted or were lacking from a different person or empire. With money, also came some form of social power and an increase in human independence. Currently, the world is controlled by the relationship that exists between money, mind and cosmos. This has been the case ever since the Greek introduced the concept of money to the world which was mainly made up of metals and coins. In the course of the 6th century, the quick monetization of the Greek urban centers was viewed as the most contributing factor to assisting money to be used to run the global economy. Money was also used in Chinese society as a form of commerce between the different cities and communities. It lead to an economy ad gradually phased away batter trade.

We also read Andre Gunder Frank’s The Five Thousand Year World System. His claims about the world system were also pragmatic and came across being contradictory to the ones made by Wllerstein (1974). Frank makes certain allegations including the fact that he world is system as is currently constituted extends to more than five millennia. Capital accumulation played a critical role when it came to the shifts that are being observed within the global system. This accumulation ensures its continuous expansion to grow into a global phenomenon. He also uses an example that touches on the role played by the central-periphery structure that has been influenced by the dependency factor with the notable example of Latin America. In making this claim, Gunder assumes the alteration of rivalry and hegemony as a core aspect to the historic transformations that have been witnessed in the world structure. These alterations could not be discussed without touching on the short and long economic cycles of alternatively descending and ascending phases that have also give shape to the modern world framework.

These claims may be quite radical but they still provide a unique understanding of the global system as it is currently observed. Reading through the book, my preconceived notions and beliefs were greatly challenged with rational justifications to gain a new perspective to the ensuing phenomenon. For example the world system theory that has been proposed by the author reveals the numerous dynamics that are present in the modern human society. These dynamics were previously unknown to many. The book gives a lucid outline of not only the factors that are linked with the world system but at the same time seeks to rationalize the manner it is connected to come up with a complex chain of this phenomenon.

We also read Marshall Sahlins Stone Age Economics who states that domestic stranglehold may just organize for the expiration of the society. This means that almost all the families that live completely on their own subsistence eventually ends up not having the means for living. This is because such a household does not create any surplus to be directed to the public economy. It also does not create any demand for the creation of technical and large tools. When we look at it from the other hand, the inherent underproduction and under population that results from domestic production may end up condemning to the victim’s role within the political sector. The domestic system’s economic or financial defects get overcome thus implying that the society has been overwhelmed.

According to this book, the overall production empirical process has been arranged as a contradictions hierarchy. When it comes to following this much further, it can be noted that there is an opposition between the various involved forces as well as relations. In such a case, any forms of internal controls end up being developmental bottle-necks regarding the means of production. This bottleneck can however be minimized by imposing on it another one between the society at large, the domestic systems and the greater institutions where it is inscribed together with the household economy. The wider economic intensification strategy tends to include a civilization’s social structure, family and cultural superstructures as well as productive practices. The final material product when it comes to the hierarchy of contradictions, any technological potential is deemed to be beyond basic domestic propensity. It is thus crucial to determine the whole theoretical inquiries’ line and the perspectives that have been unearthed through DMP analysis.

The readings also introduced to what was termed as the Axial age. This age explains the evolution process in different world regions. It outlines the effects of governments on the individual within welfare systems. In China, just like in most other parts of the world, religious beliefs shaped most of the activities that occurred within the society and how the people in such societies ended up accepting various practices. On top of this, support that was enjoyed by the different religions accorded them immense influence. The invention of coinage in major societies across the world aided and streamlined the transaction processes in various marketplaces. Coinage made it quite simple for activities such as paying taxes, fines to take place thus establishing a uniform revenue system which can be controlled or influenced by the various governments. I learnt that the growth of individuals was evidenced by systematic government systems that included workshops, trading houses, warehouses, examination system, armies as well as the structured pattern of civil administration.

Economic as well as religious obligations in societies such as China led to the onset of various approaches that were evidenced within the communities. First of all, religious activities made sure that every person worked extra hard to offer regular sacrifices to the entities that they believed in. Such offerings often extended from the state, the empire, the local communities as well as the cosmos as large. Due to such practices, workshops, markets, and new urban areas grew within such centers of sacrifices thus promoting the communities’ economic well being. The other issue the readings taught me is that the states were recipients of levies from the produce of the community. This ensured an uninterrupted flow of spine activities such as funeral procedures and communal ceremonies. Harmony was brought by administrative laws that outlined the punishments that were associated with any failure to provide sacrifices. The strict conditions that accompanied sacrificial procedures made sure only quality offering was made whenever it was possible.

We learnt that societies, empires and kingdoms have been exchanging goods and services for centuries. They used primitive money, which was equated to modern money since it was utilized by people that sought to acquire what it is that they wanted or were lacking from a different person or empire. With money, also came some form of social power and an increase in human independence. Currently, the world is controlled by the relationship that exists between money, mind and cosmos. This has been the case ever since the Greek introduced the concept of money to the world which was mainly made up of metals and coins. In the course of the 6th century, the quick monetization of the Greek urban centers was viewed as the most contributing factor to assisting money to be used to run the global economy. Money was also used in Chinese society as a form of commerce between the different cities and communities. It lead to an economy ad gradually phased away batter trade.

We also read Andre Gunder Frank’s The Five Thousand Year World System. His claims about the world system were also pragmatic and came across being contradictory to the ones made by Wllerstein (1974). Frank makes certain allegations including the fact that he world is system as is currently constituted extends to more than five millennia. Capital accumulation played a critical role when it came to the shifts that are being observed within the global system. This accumulation ensures its continuous expansion to grow into a global phenomenon. He also uses an example that touches on the role played by the central-periphery structure that has been influenced by the dependency factor with the notable example of Latin America. In making this claim, Gunder assumes the alteration of rivalry and hegemony as a core aspect to the historic transformations that have been witnessed in the world structure. Read More