The writings of Xuanzang, Marco Polo, and Leo Africanus shed light on the third wave civilizations of India, China, and West Africa, but historians have also met several of their claims with skepticism. Third wave civilizations thrived between 500 C.E. and 1500 C.E. and had well-developed writing systems which allowed people of the period to leave behind first-hand documentation on their experiences. A series of trade networks known as the Silk Road in Eurasia, the Sea Road in the Indian Ocean, and the Sand Road in West Africa made it possible for these three scholars to travel abroad. Information gleaned from these historic first-hand accounts have been invaluable in understanding Indian, Chinese, and West African societies despite the
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to 645 C.E. in hopes of finding answers and resolving disputes which had arisen in the Buddhist community of China. Descriptions from Xuanzang’s writings have shed light on seventh-century India’s Buddhist practices. In Indian Buddhism, there are eight different schools and all are governed by “the Vinaya discourses” which are a series of books that provide rules for life in the monastery. Monks received boons of higher rank, increased privileges, servants, elephant carriages, and escorts for the number of these books they can thoroughly explain. On the topic of the Indian justice system, Xuanzang’s skewed views are prevalent due to his Chinese background. He describes the ordinary people as light-minded and believes the justice system is considerate and does not enforce severe enough punishments for money …show more content…
West African was made up of many smaller Kingdoms with numerous villages. The region yielded grains, cotton, and contained domesticated cattle which provided meat, milk, and butter. Some valuable resources such as salt and horses were not available in the region and societies were forced to trade with other civilizations to obtain them. Slaves were present in West African societies and often traded for that of luxury goods and livestock. Leo Africanus’ predisposition stems from his Muslim background and Italian audience for which his writings were published. People of the region who followed the ways of Muhammad were described as having wit and civility. Additionally, the inhabitants of Timbuktu were portrayed as exceedingly rich, and their King possessed many gold plates and scepters of which some weighed up to 1,300
to 645 C.E. in hopes of finding answers and resolving disputes which had arisen in the Buddhist community of China. Descriptions from Xuanzang’s writings have shed light on seventh-century India’s Buddhist practices. In Indian Buddhism, there are eight different schools and all are governed by “the Vinaya discourses” which are a series of books that provide rules for life in the monastery. Monks received boons of higher rank, increased privileges, servants, elephant carriages, and escorts for the number of these books they can thoroughly explain. On the topic of the Indian justice system, Xuanzang’s skewed views are prevalent due to his Chinese background. He describes the ordinary people as light-minded and believes the justice system is considerate and does not enforce severe enough punishments for money …show more content…
West African was made up of many smaller Kingdoms with numerous villages. The region yielded grains, cotton, and contained domesticated cattle which provided meat, milk, and butter. Some valuable resources such as salt and horses were not available in the region and societies were forced to trade with other civilizations to obtain them. Slaves were present in West African societies and often traded for that of luxury goods and livestock. Leo Africanus’ predisposition stems from his Muslim background and Italian audience for which his writings were published. People of the region who followed the ways of Muhammad were described as having wit and civility. Additionally, the inhabitants of Timbuktu were portrayed as exceedingly rich, and their King possessed many gold plates and scepters of which some weighed up to 1,300