Worlds Apart Abdulrahman Albasari Dr. Dana M. Reemes History 110A-04 05/13/16 In the ninth and early tenth centuries, after the collapse of Teotihuacan, the central valley of Mexico was divided between many powers. It was only the emergence of Toltecs and Mexica that delivered unification in the area again. The Toltecs started migrating in Mexico at around eight century. They came from an arid land and settled in a new area called Tula. Tula is an important place for the Toltec’s development of their weaving poetry, and obsidian work. The place served as their center of trade between Toltecs and the other places in Mesoamerica. By the end of twelfth century, many civil conflict and nomadic incursion destroyed Tula and eventually caused the destruction of the Toltecs. One of the migrating groups that entered Tula is Mexica. Its people are also often called Aztecs for being part of the alliance that built the Aztec empire. In 1345, the group settled in a “marshy region of Lake Texcoco and found that city that would become their capital –Tenochtitlan.” The Mexica defeated many of its opposing tribes and started its empire. It conquered nearby cities including those in the gulf coast. The group then formed an alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan creating a powerful empire called Aztec empire. The Mexica society was formal and “rigidly hierarchical.” The power division is so defined that they were able to establish good warriors who strictly follow orders. The same goes with the priests of the group. They have defined roles and power structure. Having a strong sense of spirituality, the Mexica society put utmost importance to their priests. They bear many rituals which includes bloodletting and sacrificial killing. Also, women in their society do not hold big power and are only limited for child-bearing. On the other part of the globe, North American societies developed “rich variety of political, social, and cultural tradition.” They depended so much in agriculture and fishing making their people mastered the craft of cultivating and fish catching. Through woodlands and mound of earth they created infrastructures meant for dwelling and burial. The trade system in the region is also well-developed through rivers. Through these rivers, they also developed communication between nearby areas. There are also empires in South America that developed their own social system. After the twelfth century, the “kingdom of Chucuito dominated the highlands region around Lake Titicaca. The group depended on the cultivation of potatoes and herding of llamas and alpacas. Another group is the Kingdom of Chimu which is a powerful society. Both the Chucuito and Chimu ruled Andean South America. Yet, the two kingdoms eventually fall under the domination of the societies of Incas. The Incas started to be one of the many people inhabiting the region around Lake Titicaca. In 1438, the group launched military campaigns and expanded its authority. Under the Inca admin.

1. Worlds Apart
Abdulrahman Albasari
Dr. Dana M. Reemes
History 110A-04
05/13/16
In the ninth and early tenth centuries, after the collapse of
Teotihuacan, the central valley of Mexico was divided between
many powers. It was only the emergence of Toltecs and Mexica
that delivered unification in the area again. The Toltecs started
migrating in Mexico at around eight century. They came from
an arid land and settled in a new area called Tula. Tula is an
important place for the Toltec’s development of their weaving
poetry, and obsidian work. The place served as their center of
trade between Toltecs and the other places in Mesoamerica. By
the end of twelfth century, many civil conflict and nomadic
incursion destroyed Tula and eventually caused the destruction
of the Toltecs.
One of the migrating groups that entered Tula is Mexica. Its
people are also often called Aztecs for being part of the alliance
that built the Aztec empire. In 1345, the group settled in a
“marshy region of Lake Texcoco and found that city that would
become their capital –Tenochtitlan.” The Mexica defeated many
of its opposing tribes and started its empire. It conquered
nearby cities including those in the gulf coast. The group then
formed an alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan creating a
powerful empire called Aztec empire.
The Mexica society was formal and “rigidly hierarchical.” The
power division is so defined that they were able to establish
good warriors who strictly follow orders. The same goes with
the priests of the group. They have defined roles and power
structure. Having a strong sense of spirituality, the Mexica
society put utmost importance to their priests. They bear many

2. rituals which includes bloodletting and sacrificial killing. Also,
women in their society do not hold big power and are only
limited for child-bearing.
On the other part of the globe, North American societies
developed “rich variety of political, social, and cultural
tradition.” They depended so much in agriculture and fishing
making their people mastered the craft of cultivating and fish
catching. Through woodlands and mound of earth they created
infrastructures meant for dwelling and burial. The trade system
in the region is also well-developed through rivers. Through
these rivers, they also developed communication between
nearby areas.
There are also empires in South America that developed their
own social system. After the twelfth century, the “kingdom of
Chucuito dominated the highlands region around Lake Titicaca.
The group depended on the cultivation of potatoes and herding
of llamas and alpacas. Another group is the Kingdom of Chimu
which is a powerful society. Both the Chucuito and Chimu ruled
Andean South America. Yet, the two kingdoms eventually fall
under the domination of the societies of Incas.
The Incas started to be one of the many people inhabiting the
region around Lake Titicaca. In 1438, the group launched
military campaigns and expanded its authority. Under the Inca
administration, people were compelled to pay taxes. Through
this money, the Incas constructed networks of roads that made
trade and transportation easier. Their roads are considered as
one of the best ever constructed roads before modern times.
They were helpful in the quick spread of the Quecha language
as well as the religious cult of the Incas focusing on the sun.
Although the empire created splendid roads, “Inca society did
not generate large classes of merchant and skilled artisans.”
Also, the empire’s ruling elites are rulers, aristocrats, religious
leaders and even peasant cultivators. They see a deep
connection between their politics and religion. The chief ruler
of the empire is considered as a deity born by the sun. The
ruling class of the Incas venerated their gods. They associate

3. the natural world with a deity. The group also have strong
concept of morality. They believe that sin is disastrous to the
divine and mortal world. Hence, they ask forgiveness of sins
through their priests.
Another group of societies formed is found in Oceania.
Inhabitants of the region “did not interact with peoples of
different societies as frequently or systematically as did their
counterparts in the eastern hemisphere.” The societies in the
region were able to develop their own resources. They resorted
to nomadism as a method of survival. The mobile lifestyle of
the aboriginal Australians allowed them to interact with groups
from neighboring society. They traded with products such as
pearls, boomerangs, skins, and fibers. They were also able to
trade with root vegetables.
The nomad people of Oceania started to migrant to island
groups in Pacific Ocean. In order to maintain trading, people
have to resort to long-distance voyaging to reach islands.
During the voyages, societies learned agriculture and fishing to
supply large quantity of food needed. People eventually needed
to settle down to cultivate crops. Hence, they were able to
increase their population. They then created chiefly states and
religions when they started to settle down.
Albasari 2
Abdulrahman Albasari
Dr. Dana M. Reemes
History 110A-04
05/13/16
Cross Cultural Interactions
Cross cultural interactions started way back when nomadic life
was the norm of the day. As they moved from place to place,
they provided safe roads that would be used by diplomats,
merchants, missionaries and other types of travelers. Apart from
the contribution made by the nomadic life however, there was
also the aspect of improved maritime technology. This led to

4. improved traffic in the sea, especially in the South China Sea
and the Indian Ocean. As a result of this, long distance travel
began to pick up as people went to explore new area, either for
trade or settlement.
Merchants and travelers who moved to various regions would
exchange more than just their trade goods. They also exchanged
other factors like technology and faith. On the flipside, they
also exchanged diseases, something that explained the eruption
of deadly diseases during this period. It was during the mid 14th
century that deadly pandemics like the bubonic plague rocked
the region. This pandemic had systematic spreading routes that
followed the trade routes from west china to central Asia,
southwest Asia, Europe and North Africa. During its initial
stages, this plague led to thousands of deaths since it was not
yet understood what caused it. This would continue for the next
three centuries and beyond.
With time however, these regions started to recover from the
plague. By the end of the 15th century, Western European
peoples and the Chinese had already charted their way and
started re-establishing their own cross cultural contacts. The
effort that was seen in Europe would later be the beginning of
modern world history. As the European mariners sought to enter
the Asian markets, they established direct connections with
Asian and African peoples. They also made their way to the
western Pacific Ocean and the westerns hemisphere. As a result
of their travelling patterns, they brought together the Eastern
and the western hemisphere into a permanent and sustained
interaction. It would however be important to note that that
cross cultural interaction that was seen between 1000 and 1500
was leaning towards global interdependence, something that was
seen to have contributed to the modern world history.
However, it is interesting to note the patterns that were being
used by the long distance traders. To start with, they depended
majorly on two main networks of trade routes. When it came to
luxury goods that were of high value, they would transport these
over road. Bulky goods on the other hand would be transported

5. through the sea routes in the Indian Ocean. With the increase in
trade, there was an eruption of trading cities along the trade
routes. These would later grow to become cosmopolitan cities
that led to more interactions.
Apart from the travel that was meant for trade purposes
however, there was also political and diplomatic travel. For
instance, Khubilai and other Mongol leaders of china did not
fully lay their trust in their Chinese subject. They would
therefore appoint foreigners to deal with administrative duties.
This led to diplomatic travels from one region to another. This
can be seen from the emergence of the Mongol Christian
diplomacy and the travels of Rannan Sauna and Ibn Battuta.
Missionary campaigns also led to cross cultural interactions
among people from various regions. The Sufi missionaries for
instance spread Islamic values through sufi mystics. The Sufis
would spread Islam by targeting recently conquered lands. They
would later win popular following in South East Asia, India and
sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile Christian missionaries would
also travel for miles with the aim of spreading Christianity.
As a result of the long distance travel there were various goods
and technologies that would move from one place to another.
One of this was the spread of crops. The long distance travels of
the Muslim missionaries saw them introduce new food and
commercial farming in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the same
case on the introduction of sugarcane in North Africa and
Southwest Asia.
With the recovery In Europe it would be easier to understand
the impact of cross cultural interaction. The demographic
recovery that was realized in this region helped strengthen the
European states just like it did in China. Europe however did
not have a centralized empire. By the end of the 15th century,
states in Spain, Italy, France, Russia and England had come up
with techniques of government that helped enhance their power.
It is interesting to note that the demographic recovery that was
realized in Europe would coincide with renaissance, a
remarkable cultural development in Europe.