Chapter 8-10 Trades, Cinderella's Shoes, and Extortion

TRADES

Silk Roads, Sea Roads, and Sand Roads in the post classical era contributed a great deal of change in the Afro-Eurasian world. Here's why:
---For one thing, long distance trade catered to the elite groups as most of the items were considered luxury products. So, possession of these prestigious goods signified a high level of social status.
--- Also, it helped religious ideas to spread voluntarily without the need to use any military enforcement, and more monasteries were built by Buddhist merchants as a place of rest for other traders.
--- Lastly, outbreaks of epidemic disease, like the spread of the Black Death, drastically wiped out about a third of the population of Europe.

Good or bad, change was bound to happen (though the effect of trade was different in the Western Hemisphere). In the Eastern Hemisphere, status in life, religion, and health was greatly impacted. It created wealth for some, but it caused death for many.
Just a very quick note on p. 229. It is mentioned that, "The capital city of Palembang was a cosmopolitan place, where even the parrots were said to speak 4 languages." Hmmm...so a human bilingual skill is no match to this multilingual parrot? : > )) I'm sure that they are referring to an "all-memorized" foreign language words, but that is still a talent! Or was it a hoax?

CINDERELLA'S SHOES

Ever wondered why Cinderella's story evolved around the search for the owner of that perfect small feet? Well, reading Chapter 9 made me assume that its idea was partly inspired by the foot binding practice. There's too many versions to the story, but a good example of this is, "Aschenputtel,"by the Grimm brothers. It is very graphic in details, and the 1st stepsister had to cut off her big toe while the 2nd stepsister cut off part of her heel just so they'll have the "perfect feet" and get a chance to better their lives. It did not work out for them in the story. However, it depicted a message that small feet is perfect feet. Clean, healthy, and pain-free feet versus stinky, broken, and painful feet...why sacrifice? For me, there should not even be an insane option. Shouldn't inner beauty and intellect be of higher value?

EXTORTION

I am very surprise with China's acceptance of extortion agreement (though China considers it as a Tribute System and not extortion). Based on its immense population and capability to produce war materials and tools, it would have been able to stage any war, but did not. Is it possible that the Buddhism religion had any influence on this issue? I am glad that diplomacy or skilled negotiation worked on this situation. China was taken advantage, but it was a better choice than to experience a blood bath. I just hope that its military strength would not be put to test again as it might entertain the opportunity this time...