McNeill's "Polyethnicity and National Unity in World History" is a three part lecture in which he discusses the natural occurrence of polyethnicity in civilized societies and the rise of nationalism in more recent times. McNeill argues that most civil societies before 1750 were incredibly diverse, with some exceptions including Japan. This rise of heterogeneity was partly due to wars to gain power and territory from weaker city-states. Also, disease, in particular the Black Plague, led to a rise in diversity because powerful empires lost a great deal of their population. They brought people in from conquered areas to work. Lastly, trade played an important part in this societal change. Merchants would travel to far away lands and stay for awhile, at least until they obtained enough products to return to their homeland.
In the second part of McNeill's is about the rise of nationalism and the homogeneous ideal after 1750. One of the main causes of this shift was the standardization of language. Bibles were made accessible to a wider audience at this time, leading to the decline of Latin as a primary language. Also, increasing homogeneity was seen in many areas, this was partly caused by an increase in central government. The parts government including tax collectors and courts affected lives of people living in even remote areas. At this time, a population surge occurred making it possible for people from the country to come to the urban center to work instead of importing workers from foreign areas. the rise in population was also a factor in several revolutions, including the French Revolution.
McNeill offers an interesting take on polyethnicity and nationalism that I have read about before. One thing that I do not fully understand is the reason that Japan was the only civilized area that remained isolated. One thing that caught my attention was the section on China. I found it interesting that before 1000 they were open to outsiders for the advancement of their country, then, after 1000 they found only "inferiors" outside their borders. I wonder what could have caused this shift in thinking
I also think that is a very interesting question. I don't know anything about China's history, but I would guess there there is some political agenda behind the shift in thinking.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good point in the Otherness of foreigners. Still to this day, some Chinese still have similar mentalities with other nationalities. It seems in Asia there discrepancies just as there is in the U.S. between the North and South.
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