The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
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Transcript of The Eastern Origins Of Western Civilization Editted
The Eastern Origins of Western CivilizationChapter 4 - The East Remains
Dominant:the twin myths of oriental despotism and
isolationismin India, South-east Asia and Japan, 1400-1800
Class: Periwinkle
Central and South AsiaJohn Estrella
Alexis FelicianoKate Heaney
The East over the West, 1200-1800
Proof that the East was ahead of Europe in economics, trading, and standard of living
Statistics & (Paul Bairoch) Data
Eastern income was 220% of Western in 1750 West only got ahead in 1870
Eurocentric scholars focused on per capita income Population differences
The decline of the Eastern economy was explained by colonial exploitation
1750 - World manufacturing output: East contributed 77% West contributed only 23%
East Ahead in Global Economy
High European demand for Asian products Low Asian demands for European products Europe sent bullion exports to make up
difference Bullion: gold or silver not in coin form
Europe had trading deficits with other powers besides Asia
The twin myths of Indian isolationism and oriental
despotism
Examples disproving the myths
Key Terms
Oriental despotism: single authority ruling with absolute power (depicted as brutal)
Isolationism: characterized by: legal barriers to control trade and exchanges
avoidance of alliances & wars with other nations
The Indian state as growth permissive:
anti-Eurocentric propositions
The Mughal state did not crush capitalism Especially supported Gujarati merchants,
granted autonomy Support of traders increased trade in India—
esp. Surat area Mughal rulers promoted peace (esp. with
Persian Shahs & Uzbeck Khans) to maintain trade relations
Map of the State of Gujarat (including Surat)
The Indian state as growth permissive:
anti-Eurocentric propositions Merchants became extremely wealthy Low tariffs on foreign trade & local transit Claims about scale of Indian trade before
colonization proven false: Not only luxury goods, textiles made for mass
market Pulses, wheat, rice, oil traded throughout
Indian Ocean Trade not only by town merchants
(banians), but also by long-distance merchants (banjaras)
Goods of the Trade
The Indian state as growth permissive:
anti-Eurocentric propositions
India was not isolated from international trade Complementary role in Indian Ocean trading system Indian villages linked to global economy
Indian economy: great levels of productive power Major Brit. Industrial Revo. industries: cotton & steel/iron However, up to 18th century, India actually led the way Produced Wootz steel - exported to Persia - become famous
Damascus (Damask) steel Indian steel was cheaper & superior to steel produced
elsewhere Foremost cotton-textile producer; also produced silk textiles
Khaki, pyjama, sash, shawl
A South-east Asian appendix
Eurocentric View/Claims Eastern Support/Justification
Eurocentrism reduces: South-east Asia to Straits of MelakaMelaka to an appendix in mainstream Western trade
Viewed merely as a transit point between Europe & China Melaka was allegedly dominated by Portuguese after 1511 & Dutch after 1641
Region involved in trade & expeditions that go back to early yrs. of common era
Kingdom of Srivijaya in Sumatra – global economy Voyages of Chinese (Muslim) admiral Cheng Ho
Portuguese & Dutch: unable to monopolize South-east Asian trade
Straits of Melaka/Malacca
Cheng-Ho’s Expeditions (1405-33)
Cheng Ho’s voyages falsify the assumption that Melaka was only significant after 1511
Silk Road
Series of trade routes connecting the East and West – cultural & intellectual interactions
Indian Ocean Trade Routes
The myth of Japanese oriental despotism and
isolationism: Japan as an ‘early developer’, 1600-1868
Even though Eurocentrics portray Japan as a backwards country, Japanese economic
growth rates that were experienced in the post-1868 Meiji period exceeded those of
almost all the European economies.Much of the relative ease of the Meiji
achievement is now attributed to the start which that the Tokugawa gave it.
How it all really began in Japan: economic dynamism in the Tokugawa
era, 1603-1868 Tokugawa enjoyed per capita income growth Japanese enjoyed high living standards Significant growth rate in agricultural production The Tokugawa state sought to undermine the
power of the samurai Castle towns caused rapid development & rapid
commercialization Credit institutions
Advancement of Industry Proto-industrialization
Fishing, textiles, paper making, sake & soy sauce brewing, iron & other metalworking, agricultural and marine product processing
Japanese Industry: Goods & Professions
The myth of Japanese isolationism:
the post-1639 continuation of foreign trade
Myth: Japan withdrew and became isolated from international trade
The policy of Sakoku taken too literally State sought to regulate foreign trade
Tokugawa fundamentally committed to maintaining trade Eradicate influence of Catholic Christian ideas
Japan’s desire to counter the dominance of Chinese rather than Western merchants
ConclusionEurocentric ideas have influenced many viewpoints
and attitudes of nations & historical events, but through the strong verifications presented, one
can see that the East was more dominant & independent than it was accredited for.
Of course, Eurocentrism is one point of view; this
source is still one point of view as well…
Looking at the world through one perspective leads to subjective views and claims.
In order to learn about the world as a whole, you must see the world as a whole.