Cultural Diffusion Through the Spread of Paper Money and Christianity in the Middle Ages
The spread of ideas through contact, whether it being trade, war or even conquering, is known as cultural diffusion and have lead to many great innovations. Due to this spread of ideas, places, which are not remotely close, have been able to share religious, technical, or cultural advancements. Some of these cultural diffusions can be seen during the Middle Ages when many significant ideas were shared. Some of the best examples of cultural diffusion during this time include the spread of paper money, and Christianity to different societies.
The spread of China's invention of paper money through trade was a significant part of the Middle Ages. It first spread to the Muslims, due to their power over the Silk Road, which gave them higher contact with the Chinese merchants. The Muslims saw the Chinese use the paper money and its effectiveness, soon after decided to adopt it and spread it further. Another factor that is said to have helped the spread of paper money is the battle of the Talas River. The Abbasid army, from the Abbasid Caliphate, captured and exploited many skilled Chinese artisans including Tou Houan. Through artisans like Tou Houan, the Muslim world and soon after the rest of Europe learned the art of papermaking, and thus learned how to make paper money. The antiquated Muslim coin system was replaced with Chinese paper money even though they are very far away demonstrating the power of cultural diffusion.
Christianity is also a very good example of cultural diffusion over long distances using war. Christianity spread initially from Jerusalem throughout the Near East, into places such as Syria, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, Jordan and Egypt. It began to spread rapidly due to Constantine, because he forced his army to follow this faith after having a vision with the cross, which won him a battle. Soon he became ruler and made Christianity the religion of the Roman Empire in 380. As the Roman Empire conquered more people, they forced them to follow Christianity. Soon it became common to all of Europe in the Middle Ages and expanded throughout the world during Europe's Age of Exploration from the Renaissance onwards to become the world's largest religion.
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Although some societies where miles apart, the slightest contact they had led to the expansion of their culture. These cultural diffusions became a key factor to the advancements we see in our world today. Christianity and paper money are just two of the many things adapted by these Middle Age societies, each adaption of a new idea/technique improved their lifestyle immensely. And China's invention of paper money through trade was a significant part of the Middle Ages. Because best examples of cultural diffusion during this time include the spread of paper money, and Christianity to different societies. And Christianity spread initially from Jerusalem throughout the Near East, into places such as Syria, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, Jordan and Egypt. And rest of Europe learned the art of papermaking, and thus learned how to make paper money.
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