Message from sperez

[Anonymous]

I like to introduce medieval China (if I may use that term simply for chrononlogical reference) by showing parallels to the fall of Rome, and to the rise of feudalism in Europe. I also try to show common themes and methods of political, economic, and cultural development when I teach Islam, Africa, and other units as well. Of course, I also spend time on the unique characteristics and contributions of each culture. However, helping students see the common larger themes that are present in all civilizations not only provides a familiar schema for students to use, but also allows them to see the shared humanity of all cultures.

In Across the Centuries, this is particularly effective for its chapters on China. I cover China after I have covered Rome, Islam, Africa, and early medieval Europe (up to the rise of towns about 1100.) Hopefully, by then students understand the progression of creating order, then economic development which creates the time and wealth for cultural achievements. They can also predict problems which will lead to a collapse, since internal problems almost always precede invasions.

Starting on p. 192, I ask students to find similarities between the causes of Rome's and the Han Empire's collapse. They can see a corrupt, selfish, upper class, invasions from the north, landowners refusing to pay taxes, and army generals fighting each other. Of course, there were some other different problems, such as floods, which I also ask students to note down as well. Comparisons like this can be done in a Venn diagram, or the new "Y" chart, with similarites forming the bottom part of the Y.

On p.194, I ask students to compare the second paragraph under "A Period of Unrest" to the time in Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The paragraph is almost a perfect description of feudalism in medieval Europe. I ask students to use the terms they learned for feudal Europe as they write on their comparison charts (knights, lords, peasants, castles.) Since I spent time on the methods Charlemagne used to try to bring order and culture back to Europe (not all of these are in Across The Centuries) I also ask students to find parallels to these in Emperor Wen's policies (collecting and hand copying classics, regional governors, travelling inspectors.) Of course, here the differences are even more important (more organized system of administration, large public work projects, encouragement of different belief systems, etc.), and I ask students to explain how these might have affected the success and endurance of Wen's policies even after he died.

Students are often surprised to find so many similarities, especially if they had thought of China and other Asian civilizations as very strange and different from the West.[Edit by="sperez on Mar 25, 1:58:27 PM"][/Edit]