Late Classical Era (Blog # 2)

Based on the interpretation of Robert E. Strayer, the political and economic power of the world of the third-wave civilization was more balanced than the modern era. No region clearly dominated over other regions even when some civilizations were specialized in the production of certain goods such as China which produced raw silk. During the age of accelerating connections, trade was the most significant mechanism to spread goods, ideas, religion, and diseases to other parts of the world. Each civilization contributed and gained from trading. The political and economic power was more equally distributed among China, Central Asia, India, Middle East, and the Mediterranean Basin. In America, connection among civilizations was less intensive than the connection in Eurasia and no region wanted to control other civilizations. Even, when there were strong social inequalities, the relationship among civilizations was more balanced than in present times. When, then, humans decided that what they produced and what they received from trading activities was not enough? When did they decide to control other nations and become the most powerful nation of all?

            Through history, we have observed that rich countries want to control their neighbor countries with the consistent idea of feeling superior. China, for example, intended to controlled Korea, Vietnam, and Japan not only to control their resources but because they believed to be superior contrary to their “barbarians” neighbors. Luckily, Korea and Japan resisted and maintained themselves as independent nations. Wouldn’t be beneficial to all if powerful countries help their neighbor countries to prosper? In the present, the economic and political power lies on one country leading to profound inequalities among other nations of the world. Perhaps, with the rise of economic powers as China and India that power can be distributed in more egalitarian way.