Trade in the Eastern Hemisphere - Essay Example

Q The development of long distance trade in the Eastern Hemisphere came about mainly due to the need for goods, which various regions in this hemisphere did not have. To acquire these goods traders had to travel long distances, either to the east or to the west in search of them. This led to the development of a network of routes whose main purpose was for the moving of commodities from one part of the Eastern Hemisphere to another. Since most of the goods came from the east, the trade routes in this region were quite extensive as the goods were moved from different areas to the places where there was a strong demand for them. This ensured that the trade continued to grow as the growing demand for the goods could not be satisfied. Traders in the region realized the profitability of undertaking long distance trade, and this encouraged many to join it; thus, ensuring the further expansion of trade. From the east, especially China was a demand for products from further westward such as gold, ivory, and perfumes, which were extremely rare in that country. On the other hand, there was a demand for various eastern products such as silk and spices to the west, and these products fuelled the increase in the number of traders on the eastern long distance trade. This was not the case with the Western Hemisphere because this region was not thought of as being as developed as the East. Moreover, those who were involved in trade in this region only did it on a small scale because of the high insecurity within it. Bandits whose main aim was to kill and take loot to the trade goods that were being transported haunted most of the trade routes in the Western Hemisphere. The dangers involved in such trade discouraged it in the Western Hemisphere, and only few courageous people ever ventured into long distance trade. In fact, a majority of European traders preferred being involved in the long distance trade of the east because of safety that was guaranteed to them. In addition, the success of the long distance trade can be attributed to some of the powerful empires that developed along the trade routes. Some of these, such as the Mongol empire occupied almost the entire trade route, and because they derived taxes from the trade conducted, the Mongol administration ensured that all the trade routes were cleared of bandits. This immensely encouraged more traders to get involved in the trade because there was no fear of them being robbed or killed in the process of conducting their activities (Prazniak 177). Therefore, it can be said that the demand for exotic goods coupled with the relative safety along the trade routes ensured that the trade in the Eastern Hemisphere was sustained for an incredibly long time. The long distance trade that took place in the East was conducted under the knowledge that the good would reach their destination with little or no problems. This was not the case in the Western Hemisphere where there was little opportunity for the development of long distance trade; hence, ensuring that it was left behind. Q 2 The Tang and Song dynasties of China resembled the Han dynasty in various ways, one of which was the fact that they all rose with the intention of restoring order after a period of chaos in the country. The stability, which these dynasties brought to China ensured periods of development that were only interrupted when the dynasties collapsed. During the periods when these dynasties ruled, there was a noticeable improvement in the technological development in China, although the biggest developments took place during the Tang and Song dynasties (Pruech 14). Furthermore, there was a marked improvement in government, as strong administrations were developed to govern the country effectively. However, the system of administration of the Tang and Song differed quite significantly when compared to that of the Han. While in both systems, the emperor was at the apex of all political and social life in the country, the governments within them differed. In the Han rule, China was partitioned into kingdoms each of which was governed by a relative of the emperor. Moreover, the bureaucracy of the Han was made up of the nobility who were exceedingly aware of their rank and guarded their privileges fiercely. In addition, the class was rigidly hierarchical with remarkably little opportunity for individuals to move up from the class within which they had been born. This was not the case with the Tang and Song dynasties where the bureaucracy was made up of well-educated people and had to pass examinations in order to acquire their positions. Under these dynasties, China was not partitioned into kingdoms and was instead ruled as one state. The social hierarchy was not as rigid as had been in the Han dynasty because the system of exams ensured that all people were given an opportunity for the advancement, no matter how humble their origins. Many have referred to the Tang and Song dynasties as the Chinese golden age, and this is indeed true because these periods saw the development of China in industry, agriculture, and commerce among others. The production of useful metals such as iron, silver, bronze and tin increased, and in order to cater for the demand, the mining of these metals was increased massively. Moreover, the production of coal was also increased, and this was because there was a high demand for heating purposes (Ottens 5). It was during this period that a new breed of rice called Champa was introduced in China and this had more yields than the other types of rice that had been planted before and this ensured the food security of the entire population of China for a long time to come. It was these developments among others, during the Tang and Song dynasties, which led to their being considered as the golden age of China. The period of their rule ensured that China was well on its way to become one of the most powerful nations of that time. The economic, social, and political changes, which took place during these dynasties, were to remain intact until 1911 when the Chinese monarchy was overthrown. References Ottens, Berthold. "MINING IN CHINA: A 3000-Year Tradition." Mineralogical Record 36.1 (2005): 4-11. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. Prazniak, Roxann. "Siena on the Silk Roads: Ambrogio Lorenzetti and the Mongol Global Century, 1250-1350*." Journal of World History 21.2 (2010): 177-217. Pruech, Margarete. "The Han Dynasty." Dig 2011: 14-. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. Read More