Worlds of History; A Comparative Reader, Volume One: To 1550

by Kevin Reilly

• ISBN13: 9780312402013
• ISBN10: 0312402015
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2004-02-23
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Introduction	vii
1. Prehistory and the Origins of Patriarchy
Gathering, Agricultural, and Urban Societies, 20,000-3000 B.C.E.	1	(28)
The agricultural revolution ten thousand years ago and the urban revolution five thousand years ago were probably the two most important events in human history. Did they "revolutionize" the power of women or begin the age of male domination? Thinking in "stages" can be more useful than thinking in years.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	1	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Thinking about History in Stages	2	(1)
1. Natalie Angier, Furs for Evening, But Cloth Was the Stone Age Standby	2	(8)
2. Marjorie Shostak, From Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman	10	(6)
3. Elise Boulding, Women and the Agricultural Revolution	16	(5)
4. Gerda Lerner, The Urban Revolution: Origins of Patriarchy	21	(5)
Reflections	26	(3)
2. The Urban Revolution and "Civilization"
Mesopotamia and Egypt, 3500-1000 B.C.E.	29	(40)
The urban revolution created writing and interpretation, war and law, individuality and anonymity, money and taxes, paupers and kings. Did Mesopotamia and Egypt undergo the same development and changes? We have primary as well as secondary sources to find the answers.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	29	(1)
MAP 2.1 Early Civilizations: Egypt and Mesopotamia	30	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Distinguishing Primary and Secondary Sources	31	(1)
5. Kevin Reilly, Cities and Civilization	32	(9)
6. From The Epic of Gilgamesh	41	(10)
7. From Hammurabi's Code	51	(3)
8. Zahi Hawass, Love and Marriage in Ancient Egypt	54	(8)
9. The Instructions of Ptahhotep	62	(5)
Reflections	67	(2)
3. Identity in Caste and Territorial Societies
Greece and India, 1000-300 B.C.E.	69	(38)
Ancient Greece and India developed with different ideas of society. Does who we are depend on where we are or who we know? While finding out, we explore the relationship between facts and opinions, sources and interpretations.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	69	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Interpreting Primary Sources in Light of a Secondary Source	70	(1)
10. William H. McNeill, Greek and Indian Civilization	70	(7)
11. From the Rig-Veda: Sacrifice as Creation	77	(2)
12. From the Upanishads: Karma and Reincarnation	79	(2)
13. From the Upanishads: Brahman and Atman	81	(1)
14. From the Bhagavad Gita: Caste and Self	82	(5)
15. Aristotle, From The Athenian Constitution: Territorial Sovereignty	87	(3)
16. Thucydides, The Funeral Oration of Pericles	90	(6)
17. Plato, From The Republic	96	(10)
Reflections	106	(1)
4. Women in Classical Societies
India, China, and Rome, 500 B.C.E.-500 C.E.	107	(32)
Classical societies were largely patriarchal, but the experiences of women varied greatly both within and between the cultures of India, China, and Rome. Reading classic texts often reveals more than their authors imagined.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	107	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Using Classic Texts as Primary Sources	108	(1)
18. R.K. Narayan, From The Ramayana	108	(5)
19. From the Devi-Mahatmya	113	(5)
20. Ban Zhao, Lessons for Women	118	(5)
21. Roxann Prazniak, Ban Zhao and the End of Chinese Feudalism	123	(5)
22. Livy, Women Demonstrate against the Oppian Law	128	(5)
23. J.P.V.D. Balsdon, From Roman Women	133	(4)
Reflections	137	(2)
5. Empire and Officialdom: Bureaucracy, Law, and Individuality
China and Rome, 300 B.C.E.-300 C.E.	139	(34)
Two thousand years ago the Chinese Han dynasty and the Roman Empire spanned Eurasia. But they governed their vast realms according to different principles and with different personnel. What does the experience of individuals tell us about the history of empires?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	139	(1)
MAP 5.1 The Qin and Han Empires	140	(1)
MAP 5.2 The Roman Empire, at 264 B.C.E. and 117 C.E.	141	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Relating the Individual and History	142	(1)
24. Valerie Hansen, The Creation of the Chinese Empire	143	(7)
25. Confucius, From The Analects	150	(4)
26. Sima Qian, The Annals of Qin	154	(4)
27. Nicholas Purcell, Rome: The Arts of Government	158	(3)
28. Plutarch, Cicero	161	(3)
29. Cicero, Letter on Provincial Government	164	(4)
30. Paul Veyne, The Roman Empire: Where Public Life Was Private	168	(3)
Reflections	171	(2)
6. Tribal to Universal Religion
Hindu-Buddhist and Judeo-Christian Traditions, 1000 B.C.E.-100 C.E.	173	(29)
Two religious traditions transformed themselves into universal religions at about the same time in two different parts of Asia as each became part of a more connected world. Their holy books reveal the changes as well as the desire to hold on to the tried and true.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	173	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Detecting Change in Primary Sources	174	(1)
31. Svetasvatara Upanishad	174	(4)
32. Buddhism: Gotama's Discovery	178	(4)
33. The Buddha's First Sermon	182	(2)
34. Buddhism and Caste	184	(2)
35. The Bible: History, Laws, and Psalms	186	(8)
36. The Hebrew Bible: Prophets and Apocalypse	194	(3)
37. Christianity: Jesus according to Matthew	197	(3)
Reflections	200	(2)
7. Encounters and Conversions: Monks and Merchants
Expansion of Salvation Religions, 400 B.C.E.-1000 C.E.	202	(36)
Christianity, Buddhism, and later, Islam, spread far across Eurasia often along the same routes in the first thousand years of the Common Era. To understand their success, we explore the evolution of religions in a larger context.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	202	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Studying Religion in Historic Context	203	(1)
MAP 7.1 The Silk Road	204	(1)
38. Jerry H. Bentley, The Spread of World Religions	205	(9)
39. Pliny Consults the Emperor Trajan	214	(3)
40. Eusebius, From Life of Constantine	217	(4)
41. Buddhism in China: From The Disposition of Error	221	(4)
42. Richard C. Foltz, The Islamization of the Silk Road	225	(7)
43. Richard W. Bulliet, Religious Conversion and the Spread of Innovation	232	(4)
Reflections	236	(2)
8. Medieval Civilizations
European, Islamic, and Chinese Societies, 600-1300 C.E.	238	(42)
Three great civilizations spanned Eurasia between 500 and 1500. Of the three, China and Islam were the strongest, Europe the weakest. But their differences can be best understood by looking separately at the social structure, economy, politics, and culture of each.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	238	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Distinguishing Social, Economic, Political, and Cultural Aspects	238	(1)
44. Feudalism: An Oath of Homage and Fealty	239	(3)
45. Manorialism: Duties of a Villein	242	(2)
46. From the Magna Carta	244	(5)
47. From the Koran	249	(5)
48. Sayings Ascribed to the Prophet	254	(2)
49. J.J. Saunders, Civilization of Medieval Islam	256	(10)
50. Ichisada Miyazaki, The Chinese Civil Service Exam System	266	(8)
51. Liu Tsung-yuan, Camel Kuo the Gardener	274	(2)
52. Rules for the Fan Lineage's Charitable Estate	276	(2)
Reflections	278	(2)
9. Love and Marriage
Medieval Societies and Cultures, 1000-1200 C.E.	280	(35)
Love and marriage make the world go 'round today, but not a thousand years ago. Love meant different things in Europe, India, Japan, and Africa, and we use cultural comparisons to find out more.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	280	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Analyzing Cultural Differences	281	(1)
53. Kevin Reilly, Love in Medieval Europe, India, and Japan	282	(9)
54. Jack Goody, Love, Lust, and Literacy	291	(8)
55. Andreas Capellanus, From The Art of Courtly Love	299	(6)
56. Murasaki Shikibu, From The Tale of Genji	305	(8)
Reflections	313	(2)
10. The First Crusade
Muslims, Christians, and Jews during the First Crusade, 1095-1102 C.E.	315	(34)
The First Crusade initiated a centuries-long struggle and dialogue between Christians and Muslims that would have a lasting impact on both. Wars are windows on cultures, but they also make moving narratives. Using the selections here, put together your own version of the story.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	315	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Analyzing and Writing Narrative	316	(1)
57. Fulcher of Chartres, Pope Urban at Clermont	316	(7)
58. Chronicle of Solomon bar Simson	323	(5)
59. Anna Comnena, From The Alexiad	328	(2)
MAP 10.1 Routes of the First Crusade	330	(4)
60. Fulcher of Chartres, The Siege of Antioch	334	(3)
61. Raymond of St. Giles, Count of Toulouse, The Capture of Jerusalem by the Crusaders	337	(4)
62. Ibn al-Athir, The Conquest of Jerusalem	341	(3)
63. Letter from a Jewish Pilgrim in Egypt	344	(2)
64. Fulcher of Chartres, The Latins in the Levant	346	(1)
Reflections	347	(2)
11. Ecology, Technology, and Science
Europe, Asia, and Africa, 500-1500 C.E.	349	(37)
The most important changes since the Middle Ages have been technological. Did these changes originate in Europe or South Asia? In comparing two interpretations, can images offer clues?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	349	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY
Understanding and Evaluating Large-Scale Interpretations	350	(1)
65. Lynn White Jr., The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis	351	(11)
66. Lynda Norene Shaffer, Southernization	362	(14)
67. Image from a Cistercian Manuscript, Twelfth Century	376	(2)
68. Image from a French Calendar, Fifteenth Century	378	(2)
69. Fan Kuan, Image of a Chinese Landscape	380	(2)
70. Image of Chinese Feng-Shui Master	382	(2)
Reflections	384	(2)
12. "Barbarians" and Mongols
Mongol Eurasia, 1200-1350 C.E.	386	(40)
In the thirteenth century, the Mongols created the largest empire the world had ever known. Did they bring peace, as they claimed, or unrelieved terror, as those they conquered complained? How do you judge the past?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	386	(1)
MAP 12.1 Mongol Invasions in the Thirteenth Century	387	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Making Moral Judgments about History	388	(1)
71. Gregory Guzman, Were the Barbarians a Negative or Positive Factor in Ancient and Medieval History?	389	(7)
72. David Morgan, From The Mongols	396	(7)
73. From The Secret History of the Mongols	403	(10)
74. John of Plano Carpini, History of the Mongols	413	(6)
75. Guyuk Khan, Letter to Pope Innocent IV	419	(2)
76. The Journey of William of Rubrick	421	(3)
Reflections	424	(2)
13. On Cities
European, Chinese, and Islamic Cities, 1000-1550 C.E.	426	(39)
Has global urbanization made us more alike or different? You evaluate two theories about urban history as you wander through some of the great cities of medieval Europe, China, and the Islamic world.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	426	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Evaluating Alternate Theses	426	(1)
77. Fernand Braudel, Towns and Cities	427	(13)
78. European Guilds and Urban Autonomy	440	(1)
Guild Recognition: Oxford Cordwainers, 1175	440	(1)
City Charter: Dunwich, 1200	441	(1)
Guilds and Government: Florence, 1224	442	(1)
79. Aidan Southall, Guilds and the Chinese City	443	(4)
80. Marco Polo, From The Travels of Marco Polo	447	(8)
81. S.D. Goitein, Cairo: An Islamic City in Light of the Geniza	455	(4)
82. Al Omari, Cairo and Niane	459	(4)
Reflections	463	(2)
14. The Spanish Conquest of Mexico
Mexico and "The Indies," 1500-1550 C.E.	465
The meeting of Cortez and Montezuma was fraught with peril for both. Similarly driven, they understood almost nothing of each other. Eyewitnesses on both sides recounted the inevitable conflict. Later generations reinterpreted it for their own times. What does it mean today?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT	465	(1)
THINKING HISTORICALLY Understanding How and Why Events Are Reinterpreted	466	(1)
83. Bernal Diaz, From The Conquest of New Spain	467	(1)
Map of Tenochtitlán (Mexico City)	470	(1)
Detail of Central Square	471	(10)
84. From The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico	481	(5)
85. Bartolomé de las Casas, From The History of the Indies	486	(7)
86. Carlos Fuentes, From The Buried Mirror	493	(1)
Indians Mining Silver	494	(1)
Three Native Americans	495	(1)
Indians Retaliating	495	(5)
87. Alfred Crosby, From Germs, Seeds, and Animals	500	(4)
Reflections	504