Discussion – Shrinking the Afro-Eurasian World
Shrinking the Afro-Eurasian World
Readings:
Tignor, Chapter 6
Foltz, Chapter 3: Buddhism and The Silk Road.
Online Materials:
PDF Slide Show: Images of the Silk Road
Discussion Questions:
1. How did Hellenism and Buddhism create linkages – interactions and connections – across
the diverse cultures and societies in the Afro-Eurasian World?
2. What can you tell us about the origins of Buddhism?
3. What role did merchants play in shaping cultural transmission – did economic exchanges
have a greater role than simply selling and buying commodities? Explain.
4. How was Alexandria (on the coast of Egypt) a cosmopolitan entrepôt?
5. What is Hellenism and what influence did it have on the social-cultural worlds of Afro-Eurasia?
6. The phenomenon of empires was new during the 1st Millennium BCE, what were the political and geographical motives for empires to build road systems? Tignor, Current Trends in World History: Building Roads, pp. 216-217, is of use for this question.
7. What was significant about the formation of the “Silk Road,” which was not one road,
but a variety of routes (both overland and maritime)? Give an example of cultural
transmissions over the Silk Road.
8. Where did Buddhism originate and how was it different than Hinduism?
9. What is the historical significance of Hellenism and Buddhism? It is interesting to note
that Buddhism and Hellenism expanded and had such a level of influence – why was this
the case?
10. Other impressions and comments?
Image preview for”what can you tell us about the origins of Buddhism?”
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