Samuel Huntington: The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
Samuel Huntington: The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
For several hundred years, however, [Europe] lagged behind many other civilizations in its level of civilization. China under the T’ang, Sung, and Ming dynasties,
For several hundred years, however, [Europe] lagged behind many other civilizations in its level of civilization. China under the T’ang, Sung, and Ming dynasties,
the Islamic world from the eighth to the twelfth centuries, and Byzantium from the eighth to the eleventh centuries far surpassed Europe in wealth, territory, military power, and artistic, literary and scientific achievements.
the Islamic world from the eighth to the twelfth centuries, and Byzantium from the eighth to the eleventh centuries far surpassed Europe in wealth, territory, military power, and artistic, literary and scientific achievements.
Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1997, p 50
Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity
Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity
Confucianism, Taoism -- religions or philosophies?
(T)he great Asian civilizations became dominated by religions that stressed harmony: for Hindus and Buddhists, it was harmony with the universe; for Confucians, it was social harmony;
(T)he great Asian civilizations became dominated by religions that stressed harmony: for Hindus and Buddhists, it was harmony with the universe; for Confucians, it was social harmony;
and for Taoists, it was harmony with nature. Thus, Asian religions encouraged people to cooperate rather than compete, to be agreeable rather than aggressive.
and for Taoists, it was harmony with nature. Thus, Asian religions encouraged people to cooperate rather than compete, to be agreeable rather than aggressive.
Glenn Blackburn, Western Civilization. A Concise History, St Martin’s Press, New York, 1991, pp 43-44
Certainly, religious distinctions cannot account for all the differences among civilizations,
Certainly, religious distinctions cannot account for all the differences among civilizations,
but it is significant that Western Civilization … developed a worldview that honoured human assertiveness and aggressiveness. This worldview originated with the Hebrews and the Greeks.
but it is significant that Western Civilization … developed a worldview that honoured human assertiveness and aggressiveness. This worldview originated with the Hebrews and the Greeks.
Blackburn, Western Civilization, p44
Sophisticated systems of government and administration
Sophisticated systems of government and administration
Bureaucracy
Foreign relations
National defence
Taxation
12th century city of Angkor (present-day Cambodia)
12th century city of Angkor (present-day Cambodia)
Population > 1 million
London: <35,000
South Asia tradition of sensuality in art and architecture
South Asia tradition of sensuality in art and architecture
Konarak, Kamasutra
Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
[The Taj Mahal is] the triumph of Indo-Islamic synthesis in art …. Commencing work in 1631, twenty thousand Hindus and Muslims laboured for twenty two years to finish it.
D P Singhal, India and World Civilization, vol 2, Sidgwick and Jackson, London, 1972, p 182
Mahabharata and the Ramayana
Mahabharata and the Ramayana
Almost every myth, allegory, and symbol familiar to the Indian imagination can be found in these epics. Religious beliefs and practices, cultural and social ideals, and philosophical convictions all refer back to or are illustrated by one or the other.
Almost every myth, allegory, and symbol familiar to the Indian imagination can be found in these epics. Religious beliefs and practices, cultural and social ideals, and philosophical convictions all refer back to or are illustrated by one or the other.
Handbook of India, p. 257
Entombed
Entombed
warriors
(Xian)
Writings of Mencius, Confucius, Sun Tze
Writings of Mencius, Confucius, Sun Tze
Calligraphy
Painting
Fine porcelain (‘china’)
Silk
Silk
14 BCE: Roman Senate bans men from ‘disgracing themselves with the effeminate delicacy of silk apparel’.
Seneca:
Seneca:
I see garments in which there is nothing to cover either the wearer’s body or her shame.
John E Vollmer et al, Silk Roads China Ships, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1983, p 24
Indian astronomers: the earth is round, rotates about its axis, eclipses the moon.
Year: 365.3586805 days
Lunar calendar
pi () = 3.1416
pi () = 3.1416
Decimal system of numbers
Zero
‘[Numerical system is India’s] greatest gift ... to the West, apart from religion.’ (O H K Spate and A T A Learmonth, India and Pakistan, Methuen, London, 1967, p. 183.)
It would not be an exaggeration to state that Arabic culture, enriched by many assimilated elements, was pre-eminent from the 8th through the 11th centuries. Arabic was the language of science.
It would not be an exaggeration to state that Arabic culture, enriched by many assimilated elements, was pre-eminent from the 8th through the 11th centuries. Arabic was the language of science.
Encyclopedia Americana, vol 2, p 493
Indo-European language family
Indo-European language family
Ireland to India
Sanskrit
The Sanskrit language … is a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either,
The Sanskrit language … is a wonderful structure; more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either,
yet bearing both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and in the forms of grammar, than could possibly have been produced by accident.
yet bearing both of them a stronger affinity, both in the roots of verbs and in the forms of grammar, than could possibly have been produced by accident.
Cited in David Crystal, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language, Cambridge UP, Cambridge, 1987, p 296; apparently published in Asiatic Researches, 1788
two: dwi
two: dwi
duo (Latin)
dual, duo, double, duet
tri
triangle, trio, triple, tripartite
tres (Latin)
panca
panca
punch
five
The theory and practice of a high cuisine were an integral part of every Asian civilization.
The theory and practice of a high cuisine were an integral part of every Asian civilization.
K N Chaudhuri, Asia Before Europe, Cambridge UP, Cambridge, 1990, p 176
On finer points of technical skills and the knowledge of ingredients and flavours, a Chinese cuisinier would have found few rivals in Asia…. The highest art of the cuisinier of China was no different from that of his counterparts in the rest of the world.
On finer points of technical skills and the knowledge of ingredients and flavours, a Chinese cuisinier would have found few rivals in Asia…. The highest art of the cuisinier of China was no different from that of his counterparts in the rest of the world.
A Ch’ing literary work which included a biography of the author’s cook stated the problem admirably. If the cook had the necessary skills, a piece of celery or salted cabbage could be made into a marvellous delicacy.
A Ch’ing literary work which included a biography of the author’s cook stated the problem admirably. If the cook had the necessary skills, a piece of celery or salted cabbage could be made into a marvellous delicacy.
