Development of the World Wide Web - Coursework Example

Your Course Date International Area Studies Survey of World Studies Humans have evolved to be a species that dominates the earth, and it has to be accepted that this remarkable feat has been because of the webs or networks that bind human. Webs or networks are a set of connections that link people to one another. Through this essay we will see how the Old World web was created during 3000 BCE and 1500 CE and how this old world web expanded and led to the creation of a World Wide Web between 1450 and 1800. While discussing the creation of Old World Web and World Wide Web, we will discuss the development of China and Japan in particular. We will discuss the political development in China after 1600 and in Japan after 1600. Development of Old World Web and subsequently the World Wide Web Africa was the first haven for our apelike ancestors, since then humans have spread far and wide conquering almost every part of land that’s habitable. The reason for the survival of human beings has been their capability to adapt to the changes. As has been explained by John McNeill and William McNeill, “protohumans were unusually versatile”. Besides, the savannas, the first habitat of human, provided an opportunity for human survival. Savannas are dry and grassy plains with drought resistant trees which provided secure sleeping places and the alternating rainy seasons provided for the source of water. As humans spread out from their basic haven to different places about a million year ago, they started adapting to the various conditions they faced. The basic factors that led to the growth and adaptability was their ability to communicate which was the main reason for our ability to form networks and hence to get organized. Their ability to communicate in abstraction and to store memories and pass on technology allowed humans to survive. Also, the fact that our cranial capacity grew steadily meant we became more intelligent and hence the many discoveries that we made in the meantime about fire and the ability to use tools ensured our survival. Agriculture was another important tool that ensured continuous source of energy for humans. As the humans continued to survive by developing various means, they also developed binding with people in their own groups and with other people in other groups. The earliest form of interaction included the hunter-gatherer societies. The human menstrual cycle changed which allowed humans to produce more offspring. However, this also meant that females had lesser contribution in the production of food, further with the onset of agriculture and domestication, the condition only grew worse. The various bands met during times of plenty and merged to form larger groups. The interaction between various bands also ensured that there was continuous flow of information. These encounters and subsequent development of human intellect accompanied by the various emotions humans developed in order to interact with each other ensured the formation of various civilizations throughout Eurasia and much of Africa during by 200 CE. This is called the Old World Web. As McNeills explained, with the development of old world web even though communities remained vital but they became less autonomous. There was development of webs of elites, and a growing tension between village traditions and metropolitan luxuries meant people turned to something that would help them cope with the growing pressure and tensions. This something was religion, thus the growing complexity of human emotions and hence human webs which led to growing tensions were the main reason for the development of religion. About 6000 years ago, came the “metropolitan web.” Over time, this web took the form of smaller bundles of web connected to each other, and reached from Europe-N. Africa into Asia – this was the “Old World” web. The main Metropolitan webs included Nile-Indus Corridor (3000 BCE), East Asia (3000-2000 BCE), and Meso-America (1300-1400 BCE) (McNeill and Mc Neill). The extension of Old World Web into new areas of Asia, Africa and Europe occurred during 200-1000 CE. Also, India and South East Asia increased in wealth and power. Religion grew in these regions, and at the same time the web increased between Peru and Mexico. Between 1000 and 1500 CE the American web and Old world web combined to form a single unit. The time saw growth of capitalism and decline of agrarian communalism. The spread of web ensured that technology developed in a certain part spread to other parts as well. Competition and cooperation played important roles in the spread of the web. As the Old world Web integrated with other webs, a World Wide Web was created in 1450-1800 CE. There was an increase in globalization and growth in world culture which was a result of the expanding web. Further, the expansion of web meant there was greater flow of information, which in turn meant exchange of ideas about religion as well as information about technology spread quickly. Besides the discovery of printing press during the same period meant spread of information at a lower cost, which means that people could connect with each other faster than before and this also meant spread of information from one part of world to another. It was not just flow of information that marked the growth of webs; the stronger bonding between people from their own clan, nation or race meant growing conflicts between various nations and a struggle for power. This led to the military revolution and growth in ammunition power of countries. Technology, religion and war are the three elements that in fact are very closely related in a web. With advancement of technology, the weapons of destruction have become better which means that they can kill enemy, who are humans from different race or with a different background, in an efficient manner. Wars between nations became a matter of pride and the technologies developed were used to aid the nations in wars. At a time when the tension grew, religion played a prominent role in people’s lives, as a means to calm their curiosities and provide a vent for their frustrations and tensions. Thus, expansion of webs or networks were a result of the need of humans to survive by interacting with other groups, this ensured flow of information which was essential for humans as they learned about various tactics to remain in the top of the hierarchy. At the same time, the webs created affected the development of views and ideas as well. An Overview of China After 1600, China saw change in rule from Ming dynasty to Qing dynasty. Ming dynasty ruled from 1368-1644 and Qing dynasty ruled from 1644-1911. Ming dynasty is known to have restored the Chinese tradition after the heavy influence of Mongols during the Yuan dynasty. It was under Ming rulers that the Great Wall of China, a symbol of pride and hard work for Chinese, was established. Despite the attempts of earlier Ming rulers, unfortunately, the later rulers submitted themselves to opulence and ignored the needs of people. With the invasion of Manchus, the empire came to an end in 1644, and the foundation of Qing dynasty was laid. China grew stronger under Qing dynasty and was influential in the rest of East Asia. The main influences and changes under the two dynasties were increase in patriarchy, proper cultivation techniques like intensive farming and introduction of new crops which led to surplus increase in food supply, and Confucian ideas enjoyed the support of the emperors. However, the merchants enjoyed lesser liberty compared to their counterparts from other countries, besides the emperors’ aversion to technological developments caused them to lag behind Europeans technologically. An Overview of Japan Prior to 1600, Japan had been known to be in a sengoku (the country at war) period, since the country had to deal with civil wars, with incessant warfare among the nobles (daimyo). Tokugawa Ieyasu brought stability to the country and is became the most powerful man in Japan. Ieyasu brought the country under control by careful and clever redistribution of land among the daimyo. Further, he limited the powers of daimyo by implementing the policy of ‘alternate residence’. Even though Ieyasu promoted foreign trade, he curbed the promotion of Christianity from 1614 onwards. In the 1630s, the link from the rest of the world was completely disconnected by establishing the policy called sakoku. Under the policy, the shotguns expelled European merchants and missionaries and prevented the Japanese from visiting foreign lands. The main influences and changes under the Edo period had been increase in food supply, influence of merchants saw a steep rise, and in the earlier period Neo-Confucian views were emphasized. Thus, even though Japan was isolated from the rest of the world, it gained strength because of the end of warfare and restoration of pride in people about being Japanese. Conclusion The development of webs has been influenced by many factors and the webs in turn have influenced many factors that are associated with humans, as has been already discussed. The political developments of the two countries show how the empires and the emperors affect a state. Human webs are not just global but they influence the development of a particular nation as well. Japan for example remained a charred state because of its nobles, the network between whom involved a higher degree of conflict than cooperation. Similarly during the Edo period it got disconnected from the rest of the world, thus its network with the rest of the world was lost, which influenced its own development. Thus, webs or networks are very important in the development of a society and have played an important role in human development. Bibliography McNeill, John R. and McNeill, William H. The Human Web: A Bird’s Eye View of World History. New York: Norton, 2003. Read More