Discussion:Compare Chapters 23 and 24

Tradition and Change in East Asia and the Islamic Empires

Compare Chapters 23 and 24

Discussion
Think carefully about the information you read in Chapters 23 and 24. Since the Islamic empires and East Asia were not explicitly compared in your text, this post is your opportunity to do so. In 2-3 paragraphs, compare one or more of the Islamic empires to either China or Japan in terms of how they were ruled, their patronage of the arts, the importance of religion to the structure of every day life, or ideas about the family and women. Did you locate any significant similarities? Why or why not? Then respond to two of your classmates.

Unit Overview

In this unit, you will read two chapters that between them cover a wide swath of Eurasia, from Japan in the east all the way west to Ottoman territories in Europe. In Chapter 23, you will read about the end of the Chinese Ming dynasty and the birth of the Qing dynasty in 1644. You will be introduced to the extensive economic and social changes that characterized the late Ming and Qing periods, as well as the revitalization of old ideas about the Confucian family. You will also learn about social, political, and economic changes that occurred under the Tokugawa shogunate beginning in 1600. As you read, think about the similarities and differences between Chinese and Japanese styles of rule in this period. What could account for these?
In Chapter 24, you will explore the vibrant societies and cultures of the three great early modern Islamic empires: the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire, and the Safavid Empire. Although each empire was distinct, their common roots in the steppe traditions of central Asia and their common religion allows for broad comparisons between them on matters of religion, family, trade, and patronage of the arts. Given their great power and wealth at their height, try to think carefully about the factors that caused all of the Islamic empires to weaken or disappear by the middle of the 18th century. Were these factors internal to the empires, or external?
Discussion

Think carefully about the information you read in Chapters 23 and 24. Since the Islamic empires and East Asia were not explicitly compared in your text, this post is your opportunity to do so. In 2-3 paragraphs, compare one or more of the Islamic empires to either China or Japan in terms of how they were ruled, their patronage of the arts, the importance of religion to the structure of everyday life, or ideas about the family and women. Did you locate any significant similarities? Why or why not? Then respond to two of your classmates.
Guidelines for Discussion Posts
Your posts should be between 2 and 3 paragraphs each. Because this is an academic course, you should take care to use correct grammar and to make sure your thoughts are organized and coherent. In addition, always be sure to answer the specific question(s) specified in the post. Your responses should be no more than 1 paragraph each and should relate directly to the content in your classmates’ posts. Please remember to write with civility and respect, even if you disagree with a classmate.
________________________________________