Chapters 7,8 & 10

In this reading, we saw the progression of specialization. Earlier, we read about the specializations within a group. Now, the groups began specializing within a larger society. For instance, in earlier history, individuals would specialize in things like hunting, gathering, or tool making. Later, whole groups of people began specializing, becoming experts in one or two fields and then trading the items they could provide to obtain the things they were not specialist in. Overall, this provided all with benefit, however there were drawbacks. Strayer noted "...trade, the vehicle for the spread of religious ideas, technological innovations, disease bearing germs, and plants and animals to regions far from their places of origin." (P.317)

As indicated here, goods weren't the only things to go along with the caravans. Cultural systems and technologies took the ride too. Also, and to the detriment of the societies, illnesses made the journey also. These illnesses were introduced to peoples who had never had the opportunity or need to develop immunities to them and as such wreaked havoc on communities. Strayer, true to form, took this opportunity to also point out that the early trading systems were more balance than the western European controlled system to come later. Surely, there were no cheats, no liars, no group with the upper hand, and surely the groups or individuals with the upper had would not have taken advantage of their position in the earlier trading systems. No doubt, the earlier traders would certainly have sacrificed all advantages they may have had in order to make "fair" trades.

Strayer mentions a turn toward xenophobia and the upper classes wanting to return to a "purer" time before the insertion of foreign ideals, religions, and cultures. This is interesting point for Strayer to mention for it seems to be in stark contrast with what I gather Strayer's own views are. It seems that there is a contemporary American self hatred movement. The movement looks to return to a time before America was America and despises the principles that this nation was founded on. The movement centers around a hatred for limited governmental control, individual freedoms, and capitalism. Hopefully, the pendulum will swing the other way, taking steam from this movement, and slowing the spread of this internal negativity.