Modern World History - Are There Significant Differences In How Civilizations Spread Their Influence

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Modern World History - Are there significant differences in how civilizations spread

their influence?

Archaeologists have described man’s history in various ways including dividing it

into three distinct groups: ancient, medieval and modern (The Heritage of World

Civilizations). However, after 1860, there was a new description in the way the past was now

being described. The period before man’s written documents appeared was termed as

prehistory. Archaeologists can now provide for the study of prehistory. Using the remains, we

can now figure out on how the ancient man lived and how they gradually improved in all that

they were doing (The Heritage of World Civilizations). The archaeologist can now provide

sufficient information on how man lived, the early cultures, the nature of the tools and also

how he stored food. Additionally, we can now learn the social life, the relationship between

man and woman, the economic organization, and the religious practices that had existed.

When we talk of ancient, we often think of the Greeks, Romans and the Hebrews. From this

hint is where we get the idea of how civilization came into existence in Mesopotamia before

the Greek or Rome. Therefore, in this essay we are going to answer the question, Are there

significant differences in how civilizations spread their influence? The discussion is going to

base on the different ways in which civilization was spread.

Based on the diversity of the research conducted, civilization is the process in which

human society gradually advances, and this encompasses the developments in the

government, human culture and the process of industrialization together with other relevant

social norms ("Internet History Sourcebooks"). However, many scholars have a contrary

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definition and that which suits their context. Civilization is believed to have spread around

the globe gradually and what I call civilization may be a different thing to you. For this

reason, civilization is not static and familiar to everyone.

The spread of civilization is influenced by different factors depending on the factors

affect civilization. The age, culture, and location of a certain civilization categorically control

the spread of their ideas, traditions, cultures, and inventions. Additionally, civilization has its

effects vary significantly in every institution (The Heritage of World Civilizations, Ch. 15).

Researching on the various ways in which civilization can influence each other, these are

some of the common ways that have been used from the ancient days, and they are the most

efficient way.

Conquest

According to chapter 17 of The Heritage of World Civilizations, conquest was the

dramatic way in which culture was spread. Conquest is the process through which another

country or nation takes control over another there by controlling them. The dominating

country, therefore, will control them economically, politically and socially. Research

indicates that this method of spreading civilization was standard in the third world countries.

Today we see all the independent African countries still seeking help from their colonizers.

For example, most of the French colonize in West Africa still depend on France as far as

civilization is concerned. Another good example is the Roman Empire that demonstrated the

idea of conquest more efficiently (The Heritage of World Civilizations, Ch. 16). This was

evidently seen with the spread of Roman ideas, tradition and history in parts of North Africa

and Europe. Modern researchers indicate that effects of the Roman Empire were remarkably

evident when The Traditional Ancient Egypt was altered forever the moment the Romans

started to concur nations and empires.

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Additionally, Roman religion and economic practices were introduced along with

their learning and literacy. This lead Egypt through series of success for certain duration of

time. It also results in the change of the original Egypt civilization forever. Another conquest

that resulted in the spread of civilization included, the Chinese dynasties, Mongol Empire and

the Colonial Empires (such as the British Empire) ("Internet History Sourcebooks").

Trade.

Trade is the process in which goods are exchanged for a valuable monetary substance.

However, trade started in the past with people trading goods for goods known as batter trade.

Before barter trade people had traded on gold and the blacksmith products. Trade has been

identified as one of the gradual processes in which civilization had successfully evolved over

the years. During the civilization through trade goods, services and materials people often

shared ideas, philosophies, and religion. Research indicates that goods moved from one

region to the other for example, the Arabs who traded in Africa, exchanged their clothes for

ostrich feathers, minerals and even access to the coastal areas. During the trade, people

studied each other, and they ensured that whatever was good for their generation was

adopted; civilization was on those that were adopted. The improvement of goods and services

improved gradually though it was a very significant step ("Internet History Sourcebooks").

For example, we see the introduction of Christianity to Asian and the Middle Eastern

countries that were well accompanied by the introduction of North America foods and

cooking into Europe. Another example we also see the Islamic culture spread in Africa

through the trade and commerce routes. The presentation of silk and other materials in both

America and Europe cultures also changed the meaning of civilization this began to establish

certain social norms and price individual commodities. A good number of researchers agree

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with my school of thought that trade was the primary source in which civilization was spread

(The Heritage of World Civilizations, Ch. 17).

Culture and Religion.

Trade and conquest were also dependent on culture and religion. The magnitude in

which trade occurs entirely depends on the similarity and the differences between the two

cultures. The Empires also had their religions, and during their time for the conquest, they

actively ensured that their religion was dominated and through this, they could easily impact

a lot to the society. In history, there exist a saying the goes, “if someone wants to control you,

he/she will either change your name or change your religion and beliefs.” It is believed that

the ideology was used by many of the ancient religious and cultural leaders (The Heritage of

World Civilizations, Ch. 16).

In conclusion, trade, conquest, religion, and culture are the main ways in which

civilization spread their influence. There are more other ways are like war, and people are a

good percentage are well conversant with this (The Heritage of World Civilizations, Ch. 15).

For example, the world wars and the cold war. However, civilization has its main pillars laid

on trade and conquest. The eastern civilization preferred trade and other means while the

western civilization preferred conquest.

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Work Cited

The Heritage of World Civilizations. Ch. 15-17. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.

"Internet History Sourcebooks." Sourcebooks.fordham.edu. N.p., 2017. Web. 15 Aug. 2017.

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