Here's the link to my final project! Hope you enjoy!
www.silkroadtripping.tumblr.com
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Judaism In China and Last Remarks
Judaism in China? I guess I shouldn't be surprised given the fact that every other religion we have talked about this year is (or was) represented in some part of China at one time. It just goes to show; if there is a passable over-land route and people to trade with, merchants - regardless of ethnic or religious background - will definitely go there. Which raises an interesting point. If there are Jewish traders bartering and intermarrying with Han Chinese in China, are there Han traders doing the same in the Middle East?
Throughout this course - and I guess, since this is the last post, this is a good time for a retrospective - we have very much focused on the eastern portions of the Silk Road. This has to do with Prof. Goodman's expertise in Buddhism and Chinese issues... but one wonders what we have missed through this focus. We learned next to nothing about the Roman Empire, or the influence of Cyrus the Great. We did learn much about the effects of Hellenism on the development of the Buddha image, which was fascinating.
So Much is left to be learned. Why did the Silk Road meet its demise as a viable trade route? Or does it still operate at a fraction of its former self? How did trade between the Indian subcontinent and China occur... did it go over the Tibetan passes, or were there southern dendrites reaching into India via the Hindu Kush?
Regardless, this year has been extremely informative and thoroughly enjoyable... I'm glad to have shared it with you all!
Throughout this course - and I guess, since this is the last post, this is a good time for a retrospective - we have very much focused on the eastern portions of the Silk Road. This has to do with Prof. Goodman's expertise in Buddhism and Chinese issues... but one wonders what we have missed through this focus. We learned next to nothing about the Roman Empire, or the influence of Cyrus the Great. We did learn much about the effects of Hellenism on the development of the Buddha image, which was fascinating.
So Much is left to be learned. Why did the Silk Road meet its demise as a viable trade route? Or does it still operate at a fraction of its former self? How did trade between the Indian subcontinent and China occur... did it go over the Tibetan passes, or were there southern dendrites reaching into India via the Hindu Kush?
Regardless, this year has been extremely informative and thoroughly enjoyable... I'm glad to have shared it with you all!
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