Cultural Diffusion High and Low

When reading epoch one and two, I started to see a reoccurring theme that after a civilization takes a step forward in terms of culture (economy, politics, religion, etc.), another civilization always interrupts the new establishment and injects their indigenous culture’s characteristics to create something new; i.e. cultural diffusion. Establishments across Asia realized the need for a rising economic system, and implemented the significance of trade in society. Their central method of doing so was through the populated trade route of the Silk Road. On the Silk Road, trade is exactly what happened, although in different forms. Trade among cultures took place in every exchange someone made with each other, as intimate as a swap of goods, or as simple as looking at one’s clothing, or what they have in their hands or on their backs. When making a trade with someone, one can understand what people value in their civilizations, such as silver (if that is what their offering for higher prices). Also, when making a trade, cultural swaps occur when speaking with one another from different places. Trading could spark a conversation which goes into their ideals, beliefs, methods, etc., that the other individual participating in the trade can learn from and therefore understand parts of other cultures which were out there. Although, when just walking along, if someone, for example, coming from a semi-religious culture passes someone who is wearing an extensive and foreign-looking headdress, one could observe and potentially absorb a taste of what a religious culture is like. Answering the “how” part of the question is simple, but to answer whether or not cultural diffusion is a positive or negative aspect of history, one must weigh out the good and bad effects as a result of the merging of cultures. Obviously, interaction between civilizations did not turn out to benefit anyone as the Black Death swept across the region, beginning on the path of trade from city to city. Also, ideas of rebellion or war could have began while trading as conflicting opinions or agreeing ideas to act irrationally could of potentially arisen, and go on to begin bloodshed or debate that could shake the fundamentals of a culture and start panic. Although, there are many more positive effects on society that stem off from the culmination of different cultures. Without the exchanging of one’s goods, no individual could of easily acquired the materials needed in order to have, fix, or construct something that could significantly effect the greater population. Many inventions that revolutionized the world and were created during the era of intense trade among the Silk Road and other routes probably originated from materials, concepts, and hopes which found their way to be on the trade route; many creations, such as the printing press (in this case, a concept), was probably a collaboration of people from different civilizations. Individuals all came together while trading to informally share aspects of their culture which led to the discussing of their visionary concepts. From there, one only had to have the perseverance and knowledge to produce something which could considerably alter their own and other’s cultures. Cultural diffusion may have had its lows in spreading ideas, commodities, and disease which would go on to have a negative result on worldwide communities, but also had extraordinary highs. It went on to influence collaborations and partnerships that resulted in extremely positive outcomes that would eventually change the foundations of some cultures.