Diffusion of Cultures
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Transcript Diffusion of Cultures
Diffusion of Cultures
spread of ideas from central points
adaptation of ideas to local needs
creative additions
Africa
3 times the size of the U.S.
20% of the earth’s surface
grasslands and deserts
rainforests: 10%
isolated from Europe and Asia ?
Sahara Desert
causes the isolation
5,000 B.C.
from grasslands to desert
–
–
10-50 times as much rainfall as now
gradual drying
splits sub-Saharan Africa from
Mediterranean and Near East
Africa
short sea coast
–
1/3 of Europe
few navigable rivers
Early History: Agriculture and
Iron
may have developed independently in
Africa
most likely: diffusion
–
–
Egypt
Middle East
Climate change
drying Sahara pushed people south
ancestors of blacks of Africa
hunting and gathering groups
settling near lakes and rivers
Agriculture
reached them from the Near East
first domesticated crops from Near East
–
–
not Africa
but through Egypt and Ethopia
soon domesticated their own crops
cattle, sheep and horses from Asia
–
camel introduced about 100 A.D.
Iron working
from Asia
–
through Carthage and Egypt
technology shift = social changes
–
iron tools and iron weapons
Egyptian influence
New Kingdom
Kush
–
the modern Sudan and nearby areas
Kush
southern part of the Nile
first African state after Egypt with an
historical record
emerged as an independent kingdom,
1000 B.C.
strongly influenced by Egyptian ideas
Kush, con’t
expansion south by 730 B.C.
more diverse African population
weakening Egyptian influence
iron-working technology
–
spread to other parts of Africa
Kush, con’t
writing system, based on Egyptian
hieroglyphics
strong monarchy (king as god)
extensive, sub-Saharan trade
capital: Meroe
–
pharaohs of Egypt at one point
250 B.C. to 50 A.D.
Axum
replaced Meroe
300 A.D.
Christian kingdom, post 350 A.D.
–
–
monasteries and churches
connections with King Solomon
Ethopian highlands
influence from Arabia
Axum, con’t
immigration from Arabia
writing system, based on Arabian
Semitic language
rulers also spoke Greek
controlled Red Sea and Horn of Africa
Influences
series of successive kingdoms
each further south
spreading technology and culture
The Bantu Dispersal
migrations of proto-Bantu people
spread of agriculture and iron
–
–
from Eastern Nigeria
that is, West Africa
cause?
–
–
over population
climate shift
Bantus, con’t
most sub-Saharan languages are Bantu
migration
–
–
peaceful?
conquest?
time-frame: app. 1000 years
–
to cover most of the continent
Original Culture
farming and fishing
goats and cattle
villages organized along kinship ties
villages led by a council of elders
Meanwhile, back to Axum...
defeated leaders of Meroe move west
established kingdoms
Ghana
old and powerful
controlled the gold and salt trade
adopted Islam: 985 A.D.
–
generated further conversion to the west
posperous
conquered by Berbers and Tuaregs
Mali
successor state
fell heir to most of the territory and
commericial enterprises of Ghana
Japan
four main islands
volcanic
little arable land
primary food: rice
population on the coastal plains
Japan
few natural resources
mild climate on most islands
great natural beauty
Migrations
around 5000 B.C.
from Asia: Korea and Manchuria
also from South Asia and Polynesia
Earliest culture
Jomon
hunters and gatherers
lived in pit houses
earliest pottery
the Ainu: earliest people
Main influence
China
language and culture
but institutions are adapted and
simplifed
more compatible with Japan
Example
writing system
boost to intellectual activity
and political complexity
Another Example
Buddhism
–
influencing both religion and art
blends with Shinto
–
the indigenous religion
Political structure by 400 A.D.
hundreds of clans
warrior aristocracy
90% of population: peasants
Social structure
rigid social distinctions
clothing and personal decorations as
status symbols
strong position of women
–
–
–
shamans
leaders of clans
empersses
Creation Epic
sun goddess Amaterasu
becomes Shinto religion
gods, demons, spirits, etc.
Yamato Clan
developed the imperial cult around
Amatersau and Shinto
gradually extends political control by
war and diplomancy
Continuing trade with China
introduction of Buddhism
officially adopted by the Yamato clan in
580’s
monks contributed to the growth of
learning and political structures
Yamato rulers
proclaimed emperors by 7th century
emperors of the Rising Sun
encouraged a merchant class
–
–
introduction of new techniques
introduction of Chinese medicine:
beneficial to all classes\
controversy over foreign influences
Polynesia
peopled by migrations out of Asia
during the late Neolithic period
lasting several thousand years
Polynesia, con’t
30 different languages
Austronesian language group
not the first immigrants 4000 years ago
First inhabitants
dark skinned
settled in New Guinea and Australia
38,000 years ago
Australian aborigines
– the Dream Time
Great Migrations
big, double-hulled canoes
island to island
sophisticated navigation
Hawaii
as “paradise”
eight major islands
– volcanic
– tropical climate
– considerable wildlife, most hunted to
extinction
Hawaii, con’t
settled in two major waves
beginning 300 A.D.
good soil
support a large population
700,000 people by 1700’s
Settlement patterns
no towns or cities
small villages along the coast
divided islands into wedge-shaped
territories
controlled by powerful families
– power of chiefs was absolute
– few constraints on their behavior
Social classes
commoner supported the culture
viewed as virtually a separate people
subject to all sorts of taboos
– violation meant death
life highly ritualized
– including human sacrifice
New Zealand
not “paradise”
two major islands
not tropical, not particularly fertile
200,000 people by 1700’s
Early Settlement
few edible plants
animals: bats, birds, people
fishing and some crops
Maori Culture
tribal
subdivided into village-groups: hapu
land owned communally
– distributed by a council
each village leader a great warrior
Maori Society
lived by war
fought regularly and seasonally
proof of manhood
legitimized positions of chiefs
defeated enemies were eaten