Personal Development and Reflection - Essay Example

Effects of trade on human development Human development greatly relied on trade for development. Trade is the only factor that made human development become one important factor in the 1750. Every community in this century relied on trade for survival. According to Bernier trade between different nations was also significant in the creation of relationship between states (316). The author further argues that these relationships were also significant in human development. Such factors associated with trade made it possible made are possible for human development to grow at a high rate. In the 1750s nothing material was held with so much significance apart from ornaments and weapons. This two commodities were the most highly commodities. A community’s strength was measured by its ability to produce high quality commodities in the market. Communities which could produce gold, silver or diamond controlled much of the trading markets. This strengthened kingdoms as the disadvantaged communities played second fiddle to these factors. According to Bernier the division of labor was the also significant to human development and creation of leadership figures (316). In his notes Bernier also claims superiority in trade defined the way a dynasty will lead other factors towards a certain direction (316). These leadership traits created what are the common day trade controlling nations. This factor was significant in human development in how trade boundaries and rules were created. Apart from this influence on human development, trade had other ways in which it influenced human development in the 1750. One significant factor on trade was the trade of people. This particular was viewed as an inhumane act that involved strong dynasties and obsolete communities mostly in Africa and South America. However, this trade was significant in the creation of the great civilization that the globe experienced. In an argument by Bernier human trade is responsible for revolution that brought change in human development (316). The author highlights the American Revolution that was greatly initiated by the trade of people from Africa to America. If the trade was not carried out the revolution would have not taken place (Origins of civilisation, 94). Trade had also negative effects in the 1750. There was rampant spread of diseases and constant war fares that were mostly brought by trade disagreements. This was a great hindrance to human development. In words by Bernier diseases and war fares in 1750s was the great enemy to what civilization wanted to achieve (316). In trade in the 1750 not all civilizations were compensated at the same rate. Compensation was greatly dependent on the way a community or a civilization was valued in the social circles. For instance, human trade merchants usually did have so much value in the trade market. Depending on the value of slaves after purchasing, human merchants were never compensated significantly for their product (Origins of civilisation, 94). This was not the scenario in powerful dynasties and civilizations. This was mostly in civilization that controlled most valuable products in the trade market. For instance, trade civilizations that controlled trade of people gold, silver, ivory and shells received greater compensation that the other civilizations (Origins of civilisation, 94). works cited Lecture notes. Bernier, Francios. Travels in the mughal empire. n.d. Print. p. 316 Lecture notes. The origins of civilisations: Cicero on the laws. n.d. Print. p. 94 The influnce of religioin in the growth of states The influence of religion was significant in the growth of states. In ancient years religion was significant in ensuring that communities and civilization had a sense of belonging. This is because communities had the need to have a social hierarchy and religion provided one of the possible options for this achievement. However, not all civilizations have so much regard on religion. Many viewed religion as an extra tool of social circles that people believed in instead of war and other factors. In an argument by the Koran religion was more of a cult that people enrolled in search of alternative social status (123). The author further argues that powerful dynasties had little or no belief at all on religion. These dynasties only believed in the power influenced by their leadership abilities (Origins of civilisation, 307). Regardless of the less regards, religion still found its way in the social lives of the people. People wanted something passed the normal to believe in. the wanted a deity figure in which they could lay their hopes and ambition. This was the creation of religion in the ancient years (Origins of civilisation, 307). With time religion became a factor that all dynasties and civilizations believed in and held so close to them. However, many civilizations had their own ways of acknowledging religion. They believed in different deities, they prayed by different means, they offered sacrifices in different forms and had different expectations from their supreme beings. Regardless of these differences, they believed the social and state success were due to their religious acquaintances. This fact made religion a strong influence on the social lives of the people (Origins of civilisation, 307). The main issue on religion is the fact that different civilizations had so much belief in their religion that they disregarded the existence of other religious beliefs. This fact created trade barriers between different religions. In a argument by Koran religious competitions were huge barriers in terms of relationships between dynasties (123). The author further explains in some cases some dynasties used their religious powers to destroy their trade enemies. At this point, communities realized how much significance religion had in their lives. The rise of the true religion stated in the southern parts of America. Christianity had strong roots in these parts and communities in these communities had so much faith in the Christian religion. This strong belief made the people disregard their social status and focus more on their spirituality. In an argument by the Koran their strong belief in religion was also significant in their realization of social standards (123). The same scenario was seen in Rome. Rome was one of the strongest dynasties in ancient centuries. Many traditionalists may argue that their expansion in authority may be because they had a strong religious culture that held the dynasty together. The religion belief in Rome was strong and it was viewed as an alternative authority. This fact made the expansion of the Roman Empire a blessed project as its success was above the normal achievements of other civilizations. works cited Lecture notes. The koran. n.d. Print. p. 123 Lecture notes. The origins of civilisations: letters between Sultan Selim and shah Ismail. n.d. Print. p. 307 The discovery of the Americas The discovery of the Americas was a significant chapter in the world history. This was the most critical invention in terms of realization of alternative settling grounds. At the time of this discovery, European nations controlled the entire global trading market. Before its discovery, all significant states and civilizations were under the control of European nations. They had strong influence based on their social and economic superiority. The European nations were the only dynasty with complete civilizations that had the power to control the global market through ruling from the mother states. The case was not different in after the discovery of the Americas. The land was vast, with different natural resources that could be of great importance if they were used for economic purposes. The richness of the land could not be compared to other captured places in the globe (Gonzalez 266). The author further argues that the resources in the region were not exploited and there were limited number of inhabitants. This created a lot of interest to already established dynasties in Europe. European nations had power but they were in great need of resources that the Americas presented to them. In an argument by Waley this invasion of the European nations in the Americas marked the beginning of the Europeanization (chap 8). At first Europeans nations faced stiff resistance from its original inhabitants. They were referred to American Indians who had no taste of civilization. In an argument by Smith & Isserman these inhabitants stood no chance in preventing the European nation s from capturing their land (65). This was the first significant change of the whole process. Many of these inhabitants were taken as slaves and detained under colonial rule (Gonzalez 266). Then there was the exploitation of resources in the region. The rich economic resources were of great significance of these European dynasties. This success lured other nations to exploit this opportunity. The number of European settler in the region increased. This vast settling of European nations forced then to divide the Americas into region each nation would rule. After a while the Americas changed from an unknown continent to a region of constant misunderstandings between colonies and vast economic activities. The original inhabitants of the region had no influence of what they had originally owned (Gonzalez 266). This invasion of the Americas had also great influence on other continents. In Europe there was a significant growth in the economic levels and the resources from the Americas made them successful. Additionally, Europe tried to create one common rule that would the whole colonization process of the Americas (Gonzalez 266). In Asia the ease of invasion from Europe had eased. Asia did not have much resources as the Americas so many European nations abandoned their colonies in Asia. However there was an increase in the trade of humans. This was the same case in Africa. The activities starting in the Americas required great human labor which was the lacking factor. The only source for this form of labor was from slaves and they could only be obtained in Africa. It is for this reason a significant number of the black communities found their way in America (Waley chap 8). works cited Lecture notes. Gonzalez, Mendoza. The history of the great and mighty kingdom of china. N.d. Print. p. 266 Waley, Author. Chinese civilisation. London: george allen & Unwin. 1958. 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