Transcript Diffusion of Cultures

Diffusion of Cultures
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spread of ideas from central points
adaptation of ideas to local needs
creative additions
Africa
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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
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causes the isolation
5,000 B.C.
from grasslands to desert
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10-50 times as much rainfall as now
gradual drying
splits sub-Saharan Africa from
Mediterranean and Near East
Africa
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short sea coast
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1/3 of Europe
few navigable rivers
Early History: Agriculture and
Iron
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may have developed independently in
Africa
most likely: diffusion
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Egypt
Middle East
Climate change
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drying Sahara pushed people south
ancestors of blacks of Africa
hunting and gathering groups
settling near lakes and rivers
Agriculture
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reached them from the Near East
first domesticated crops from Near East
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not Africa
but through Egypt and Ethopia
soon domesticated their own crops
cattle, sheep and horses from Asia
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camel introduced about 100 A.D.
Iron working
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from Asia
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through Carthage and Egypt
technology shift = social changes
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iron tools and iron weapons
Egyptian influence
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New Kingdom
Kush
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the modern Sudan and nearby areas
Kush
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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
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expansion south by 730 B.C.
more diverse African population
weakening Egyptian influence
iron-working technology
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spread to other parts of Africa
Kush, con’t
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writing system, based on Egyptian
hieroglyphics
strong monarchy (king as god)
extensive, sub-Saharan trade
capital: Meroe
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pharaohs of Egypt at one point
250 B.C. to 50 A.D.
Axum
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replaced Meroe
300 A.D.
Christian kingdom, post 350 A.D.
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monasteries and churches
connections with King Solomon
Ethopian highlands
influence from Arabia
Axum, con’t
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immigration from Arabia
writing system, based on Arabian
Semitic language
rulers also spoke Greek
controlled Red Sea and Horn of Africa
Influences
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series of successive kingdoms
each further south
spreading technology and culture
The Bantu Dispersal
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migrations of proto-Bantu people
spread of agriculture and iron
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from Eastern Nigeria
that is, West Africa
cause?
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over population
climate shift
Bantus, con’t
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most sub-Saharan languages are Bantu
migration
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peaceful?
conquest?
time-frame: app. 1000 years
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to cover most of the continent
Original Culture
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farming and fishing
goats and cattle
villages organized along kinship ties
villages led by a council of elders
Meanwhile, back to Axum...
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defeated leaders of Meroe move west
established kingdoms
Ghana
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old and powerful
controlled the gold and salt trade
adopted Islam: 985 A.D.
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generated further conversion to the west
posperous
conquered by Berbers and Tuaregs
Mali
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successor state
fell heir to most of the territory and
commericial enterprises of Ghana
Japan
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four main islands
volcanic
little arable land
primary food: rice
population on the coastal plains
Japan
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few natural resources
mild climate on most islands
great natural beauty
Migrations
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around 5000 B.C.
from Asia: Korea and Manchuria
also from South Asia and Polynesia
Earliest culture
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Jomon
hunters and gatherers
lived in pit houses
earliest pottery
the Ainu: earliest people
Main influence
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China
language and culture
but institutions are adapted and
simplifed
more compatible with Japan
Example
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writing system
boost to intellectual activity
and political complexity
Another Example
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Buddhism
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influencing both religion and art
blends with Shinto
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the indigenous religion
Political structure by 400 A.D.
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hundreds of clans
warrior aristocracy
90% of population: peasants
Social structure
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rigid social distinctions
clothing and personal decorations as
status symbols
strong position of women
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shamans
leaders of clans
empersses
Creation Epic
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sun goddess Amaterasu
becomes Shinto religion
gods, demons, spirits, etc.
Yamato Clan
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developed the imperial cult around
Amatersau and Shinto
gradually extends political control by
war and diplomancy
Continuing trade with China
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introduction of Buddhism
officially adopted by the Yamato clan in
580’s
monks contributed to the growth of
learning and political structures
Yamato rulers
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proclaimed emperors by 7th century
emperors of the Rising Sun
encouraged a merchant class
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introduction of new techniques
introduction of Chinese medicine:
beneficial to all classes\
controversy over foreign influences
Polynesia
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peopled by migrations out of Asia
during the late Neolithic period
lasting several thousand years
Polynesia, con’t
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30 different languages
Austronesian language group
not the first immigrants 4000 years ago
First inhabitants
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dark skinned
settled in New Guinea and Australia
38,000 years ago
Australian aborigines
– the Dream Time
Great Migrations
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big, double-hulled canoes
island to island
sophisticated navigation
Hawaii
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as “paradise”
eight major islands
– volcanic
– tropical climate
– considerable wildlife, most hunted to
extinction
Hawaii, con’t
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settled in two major waves
beginning 300 A.D.
good soil
support a large population
700,000 people by 1700’s
Settlement patterns
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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
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commoner supported the culture
viewed as virtually a separate people
subject to all sorts of taboos
– violation meant death
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life highly ritualized
– including human sacrifice
New Zealand
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not “paradise”
two major islands
not tropical, not particularly fertile
200,000 people by 1700’s
Early Settlement
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few edible plants
animals: bats, birds, people
fishing and some crops
Maori Culture
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tribal
subdivided into village-groups: hapu
land owned communally
– distributed by a council
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each village leader a great warrior
Maori Society
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lived by war
fought regularly and seasonally
proof of manhood
legitimized positions of chiefs
defeated enemies were eaten