Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times [Paperback]

Jerry H. Bentley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 7, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0195076400 | ISBN-13: 978-0195076400

This innovative book examines cross-cultural encounters before 1492, focusing in particular on the major cross-cultural influences that transformed Asia and Europe during this period: the ancient silk roads that linked China with the Roman Empire, the spread of the world religions, and the Mongol Empire of the thirteenth century. The author's goal throughout the work is to examine the conditions--political, social, economic, or cultural--that enable one culture to influence, mix with, or suppress another. On the basis of its global analysis, the book identifies several distinctive pattern of conversion, conflict, and compromise that emerged from cross-cultural encounters. In doing so, it elucidates that larger historical context of encounters between Europeans and other peoples in modern times. _Old World Encounters_ is ideal for students of world geography, religion, and civilizations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent! Very interesting parallel reading for [an] undergraduate course in medieval history."--Paul R. Waibel, Belhaven College

"An outstanding example of cross-cultural methodology that adds relevance to the usually Eurocentric World History course. Provides a rare glimpse at the ways in which European civilization was enriched by contact with the Middle East, Asia and Africa."--Prof. James A. Brown, Tougaloo College

"[A]n excellent survey of a central subject....It is eminently suitable for...classroom use. My international affairs graduate students, who have only a modest background in history, grasped its messages easily and rated it very highly both for enjoyment and for intellectual provocation. I found it a smooth read, finely proportioned, and a most useful survey of its subject."--J.R. McNeill (Georgetown University) in Journal of World History

"Will be very useful to my teaching of medieval trade and travel, and encounters between East and West."--Olivia Constable, Notre Dame University

"...themes are treated by the author with skill, clarity, and, above all, brevity....Old World Encounters is a good introductory textbook for general courses on world history or Asian history."--The International History Review

"Bentley uses a wide range of sources, but he wears his learning easily, so that even beginning undergraduates can profit from this book."--Teaching History

"Useful to introduce students to cross-cultural contacts."--Lydia M. Garner, Southwest Texas State University

"A marvelous survey of cross-cultural networks in Afro-Eurasia."--Peter Arnade, California State University at San Marcos

"Looks like a wonderful global study of a process fundamental to world history. Will certainly enrich my course significantly."--Stephen Morillo, Wabash College

"Eloquently shows trade and religion as the binding forces among Eurasian civilizations in the pre-1500 era. The book is a fine supplement in our world civilization program."--Steven F. Sage, Middle Tennessee State University

About the Author

Jerry H. Bentley is at University of Hawaii.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 7, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195076400
• ISBN-13: 978-0195076400
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A cultural contact, April 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times (Paperback)

Jerry Bentley argues against the popular Eurocentric belief that the world began with Christopher Columbus. In other words, before 1492 cross-cultural encounters did not exist. The book analyzes the dynamics of these pre-modern encounters, and seeks to understand cross-cultural conversion. Bentley argues that cultural and religious traditions faced much opposition in foreign territory, and that they rarely won converts unless there were political, social, and economic encouragement. More importantly, was the need for aid from the syncretic process which allowed traditions to gain support in other lands. Bentley offers illustrations to support his argument, however, he often uses sources of bias when they support his argument. Unfortunately, sometimes his arguments seem to contradict each other.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT Clash of Civilizations but contact and mutual borrowing, June 12, 2002

By 

L. F Sherman "dikw" (Wiscasset, ME United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times (Paperback)

At least until recent times major civilizations gradually shared, adapted, borrowed, and sometimes transfromed material elements of civilization and even ideas. A wonderful overview of history before European colonialism introduces eaxamples and processes for a valuable perspective that should be read by area specialists and others tending to see things from the view of a single nation, faith, or culture. The pace and shock of change increased with modern communications and powerful force producing perhaps a different story from the period after that so well reviewed in this book. One might start with Phillip Curtin and Wolf's "peoples without history' for this later period.