Retarding Lead Essay, Research Paper
Many societies in the history of the world have undergone a period of development. Usually, an area goes from an underdeveloped region to a modern civilization. Outside influences are major contributors to a society’s development. Their acceptance and appreciation of these foreign assets enhance their culture. Eventually developed societies can not cope with rapid changes. Their difficulty in changing leads to their demise. Nothing fails like success. Anthropologists have coined a term for such a situation. The Law of the Retarding Lead is when the most successful societies have problems in changing and retaining their lead in a period of transition. On the other hand, less successful societies benefit form this period of transition. They forge ahead and become a prominent society. The Law of the Retarding Lead is evident in a few societies. Its effects are staggering. The Law of the Retarding Lead affects each country in the same manner. Ultimately, this law can change an entire civilization.
The Law of the Retarding Lead is strikingly obvious in the Moslem civilization. Until the seventh century AD, the people of Arabia had never played a major role in the development if the Middle East. They lived in an area that was mainly covered by deserts. In the sixth century, the Arabs had not yet reached the high level of civilization that the Hebrews, Egyptians, and other people of the Middle East had attained centuries earlier. However, in the seventh century AD, Mohammed was responsible for initiating significant changes within the Arabic civilization. During this period, the Arabs conquered Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and North Africa. Mohammed recruited followers and increased the wealth of his religion. Arabian armies continued their success in Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Spain, South France, and Central France. The Arabs were magnificent warriors. They were inspired by the attainment and the seizure of foreign land. The Moslems did not discriminate. The Muslims permitted Christians, Jews, and other people to maintain their customs and religion. During the next five hundred years, the Moslem civilization expanded and surpassed the European civilization in every aspect. The Moslems accumulated great wealth and prestige. Conversely, Europe was unable to flourish. The Moslem world truly advanced from 750 to 1258 for various reasons. Moslems had merchants purchase carpets from Persia, silks from China, steel from Damascus, cotton from Egypt, leather from Morocco, spices and dyes from India, ivory, gold, and slaves from Africa, honey, wax, and white slaves from Russia. The Moslem’s association with foreign countries contributed to their prosperous industry and commerce. The Moslems were deeply affected by the philosophy and science of Greece and India. Internally, the Moslems made great strides in medicine. Measles and small pox were identified. The Moslems established the first drugstores and schools of pharmacy. The Moslem’s knowledge of mathematics was enhanced by their interaction with India. The Moslem civilization was the most advanced society in the world for five hundred years. Ultimately, the Moslem civilization failed to evolve and declined. By 1600, the Europeans had superseded the Moslems. The Moslems lacked unity. The crusades caused considerable destruction in the Middle East. From 1097 to 1291, the Christians in Europe became stronger. The Europeans eventually invaded Spain. The Mongols assumed control of the Moslem territories in the thirteenth century. Cities were destroyed and governments were abolished. Trade routes were unsafe. Eventually, all trading was terminated. Industry in the Muslim world was eliminated. An all water route connecting Europe and India was found in 1497. The Moslems failed to recognize the significance of such an achievement. The Europeans, on the other hand, took advantage of the new venture. Hence, the end of the Moslem civilization. Europe was now a world power due to the Moslem decline.
After the Moslem’s reluctance to travel by sea around 1497, the Western European civilization was ready to begin. After Rome’s fall, a deterioration occurred in trade, city life, and political forms. Europe was revived by creating new institutions and styles to accompany their adoption of Greek traditions. Between 1450 and 1750, political, cultural, and economic shifts involved Western Europe. Traders and explorers in overseas colonies brought back new techniques and cultural values. Western Europe drew increasing wealth from its global contacts. The western Europeans established colonies in the Americas, Africa, Philippines, and Indonesia. The European expansion had more of an affect on Africa and Asia than the Islamic faith. The commercial expansion in Western Europe focused on improving a European manufacturing base. The European technology greatly improved as well. The wealth in Western Europe increased dramatically. On the whole, the wealth was not evenly distributed. The Western Europeans established cultural contacts with various parts of the Mediterranean. Due to Western Europe’s interaction with other countries, scholars gained an appreciation of Greek and Latin literature. Another example of Europe’s interaction was the printing press used in Mainz, Germany in 1455. The printing press was originally a Chinese invention. At this point in time, the Europeans believed that knowledge was power. The only way that a person could acquire knowledge was through travel. Around 1400, the Western Europeans were ready for change. Their time did not arrive until the 1500’s. The alterations in the medieval structures meant that the Western Europeans were a partially new society. Their thirst for knowledge led them overseas and helped established traditions that endured their society. The period of time before 1500 was a situation where social unrest and economic problems were normal. The Western European society was an example of how the retarding lead works. The Moslems were a prominent society for a long period of time. When the Moslems went into a decline, the Western Europeans rose from their unsuccessful society and became prominent due to the fall of the Moslems.
Unlike the societies of the Western Europeans and Moslems, the Chinese were not open to change. The Law of the Retarding Lead did not define the Chinese civilization, but it played a minor role in its history, The Chinese civilization reacted to one outside influence. After 600 AD, the Buddhist religion reached deeply into the population of China. The challenge of Buddhism led Confucian thinkers to expand their range of philosophical concerns. The incorporation of Buddhism led to new developments in literature and especially in art. Chinese sculptors borrowed some Indian styles of statuary as well. Besides Buddhism, the Chinese proceeded as if there was too little to learn from beyond their borders. During the period of 600 AD to 1300 AD, the Chinese civilization began to influence other parts of East Asia, Tibet, Vietnam, and Korea helped spread Chinese institutions. Chinese merchants took an active role in ocean-going trade. By 1300 AD, China was the most commercial society in the world. The Chinese society retained its adherence to values that emphasized the importance of scholarship and bureaucratic achievement. China did not alter its course and saw its economic growth decrease. By 1500, China would no longer lead the world in economic advance. China had developed and continued without benefiting greatly from outside ideas. China would eventually pay for its ignorance. They fell behind due to overconfidence and superiority in their own values. Overall, China showed a unique ability to combine distinct traditions with continued dynamism. However, their reluctance to integrate with other countries and cultures led to their decline.
The Law of the Retarding Lead has had a major impact on the societies in the world. Each society was influenced by this law in different ways. Some societies were focused on achieving great wealth from other countries, while others were influenced in a minor way. The ability to master change is the main message of this law. Technological advances occur at a rapid pace. It is a necessity for a society to grab on to this change in order to maintain their world status. If a society can hold on to its lead in a time of transition, the retarding lead would not apply. Unfortunately, this has never happened. The acceleration of change is the key to a society” success. The Law of the Retarding Lead is correct. It is a true notion that has affected almost every society that has ever existed.
Rosenfeld, Erwin. Global Studies. New York: Barron’s Books, 1987.
Stavrianos, L.S. What it Means for Us Today.
Stearns, Peter. World History. New York: Harper and Row, 1987