Han Empire (Ancient China) - Essay Example

History Q1 Han Empire (Ancient China) Han Empire was located at the eastern part of Asian continent in northern china around the central plains and referred to as Eastern Eurasia. Ancient China is the longest lasting empire in world history. It united entire China under one rule of Qin dynasty in 221 BC. It ruled China for at least 2000 years before its collapse. At first, its farmlands existed under the rule of the feudal system before civil service officials took over. Civil service officials also collected taxes and did law enforcement. Han Empire had three religions namely Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, which greatly affected the art and way people lived. However, Chinese did not live peacefully in the empire because they had enemies called Mongols. The empire had to build thousands of miles long walls that it used to keep Mongol invaders away. The Mongols even managed to conquer china for some time. Ancient Mesopotamia Empire Mesopotamia Empire existed in southwest Asia. The empire is a fertile green land and occasional rainfall attracted growth of many plants. Due to the rich plants, many animals also found suitable habitat in the region. People who lived around the empire were consequently hunters and gatherers of animals and plants respectively. The empire also received supply of fresh water from Euphrates and Tigris rivers that sustained animals and plants during dry spells. The empire also depended on the rivers for its irrigation. Ancient Mesopotamia Empire also referred to cradle of civilization or Fertile Crescent. Kush Empire Nubian people broke away from the rule of Egyptians to establish their own independent kingdom in 1000 BC. The kingdom was located around southern part of Egypt in a region that later came to be known as Nubia. In the eighth century, the kingdom became so powerful that it conquered Egypt. Due to Assyrians invasion, the Kushites moved up to around Meroe city. They were the first people to use practically iron after learning iron working. Powerful nomadic people weakened the empire later over its own territory. Q2 Dawn of Modern World History and Columbian Exchange Columbian exchange refers to a period marked with biological and cultural exchange that took place between the modern and ancient worlds. During the exchange period, there was massive transfer of animals, human populations, culture, communicable diseases, ideas and technology between afro Eurasian and American halves. There was significant transformation between Native Americans and Europeans ways of life. Columbu’s discovery begun in 1492 and it lasted between many years of discovery and expansion. Some of the effects of Columbian advancement include change in social and cultural make up, evolution of warfare, expansion in education systems, agricultural production advancements, and increased mortality rate. There was also significant exchange on both Native Americans and Europeans. Cultures crisscrossed from Europeans to Native Americans. Similarly, Europeans also adopted some ways of life by the Native Americans. Q 3 The plantation complex was based on African slavery. It started in the southern areas of North America region. European women migrated to North America early. That resulted in less effects of racial mixing. Further, there was less tolerance towards mixed bloods. A distinctly defined racial system emerged because of the plantation complex. That reduced the harshness that was experienced because of slavery. By 1750, slaves in America increased in population through reproduction. There were vast opportunities available to free blacks in Brazil, for instance. In Latin America, though, color only formed a criterion that defined the social class. Q4 Slavery is a condition in which servants work under harsh conditions to serve their masters with little returns. Slavery started in ancient Greek society in which Romans served as masters. A slave worked under dictatorial or harsh circumstances, and regarded as properties of their masters. Slavery and civilization had common emergence. First slaves were prisoners who were captives from war. They served in fields and mines. Different places experienced diverse variations in slavery. Ancient slavery was different from the current situation because slavery was not dependent on race or factors such as skin color. Although there was slavery in Chines and Indian countries, the slaves were fewer compared to their population in Greeks and Romans. In any society, however, slaves ranked least in the hierarchy of social interactions. Atlantic Slavery resulted from an immensely important trade, the Atlantic slave trade. The stared shaped most world economies and trade between 1450 and 1750. During the trade, Europeans used the Indian Ocean to transport slaves from Africa, mostly the west. The American silver enabled participation of European nations in the trade in East Asia. The slave trade took an estimate of 11 million Africans to southern parts of North America. Q 5 The industrial revolution in European countries was a key contributor towards technological innovation. It also contributed to military and naval power in relation to other parts of the world. The revolution involved the initiation of new energy sources. A remarkable success was attained in the use of steam technology in the textile and other production industries. It further caused the transformation of agriculture. The innovation culture that spread across Europe was a major cause of emerging military and naval power. By the eighteenth century, societies such as Japan had developed naval objects of war. Britain was the most commercialized society across Europe. Britain was among the first to gain military and naval power. The political environment in Britain supported the culture of innovation. Most pioneers of the revolution encouraged scientific revolution. Industrial revolution later spread to Western Europe. Q6 The 17th century marked military revolution that involved inventions and creativity in designing superior weapons. The improved weapons like the lighter firearms replaced the spikes, which were cumbersome in nature. The spikes also had limitations in its longer duration of reloading led that lowered efficiency in war. However, technological advancement during the modernization era of 18th century led to the introduction of more improved and new firing weapons. The new weapons were easier to maintain and presented a higher rate of firing, efficiency, and precision.\ Military revolution that marked this era led to the advancement in design of the new firearms that aided war. The naval developments during this period marked the spread of European power. The technological advancement during the revolutions led to the discovery and design that supported naval navigation on the seas. The ocean and sea navigation vessels could carry along war machineries that aided war. The sea vessels gave the American military advantage over other European counterparts who had no ships. The 18th century’s technological advancement led to the design of modern and superior weapons that boosted military and naval warfare. Q7 Modernization refers a model of progressive changeover from a pre-modern to a modern society. The onset of modernization in the Western culture dates from the 15th century through to the 18th century. It is the societal transformation from primitive and subsistence economies to intense technological and industrialized economies. The Western modernization meant cross over from subject political cultures to participant cultures. The modern society characterizes with improved and high quality of education, mass communication, literacy, and better health care services. The improved services come about due to technological advancement that aids research, inventions, and innovations in the given fields. New discoveries and explorations marked the early modern era. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, and navigator discovered America through his voyages. Between 1775 and 1848, during the age of revolution, a number of significant revolutionary transitions occurred. The American government revolutionized from absolutist monarchies to constitutional states. Attainment of independence for thirteen colonies of British America occurred during this span of modernization. The early periods of modernization marks the age of enlightenment the societies emphasized on reason and analysis over authoritarianism. Works Cited Strayer, Robert. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. Print. Read More