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Course: World History Project - Origins to the Present > Unit 4
Lesson 3: Systems Restructure | 4.2- READ: The Caliphate
- READ: Networks and Exchange in the Islamic World
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: The Emergence of Islam
- WATCH: The Emergence of Islam
- READ: Khanzada Begum (Graphic Biography)
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Mansa Musa and Islam in Africa
- WATCH: Mansa Musa and Islam in Africa
- READ: States and Empires of West Africa
- READ: Between the Han and the Tang: A Period of Disunion in China
- READ: The Spread of Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Bantu Migration
- READ: Oceania, c. 1200-1450 CE
- READ: Kupe the Navigator (Graphic Biography)
- READ: Christendom
- READ: Long-Distance Trade in the Americas
- BEFORE YOU WATCH: Rebuilding the Silk Road
- WATCH: Rebuilding the Silk Road
- READ: The Silk Road
- Systems Restructure
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BEFORE YOU WATCH: Rebuilding the Silk Road
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below.
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.
First read: preview and skimming for gist
Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.
Second read: key ideas and understanding content
Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- The term "Silk Road" is commonly used. Why does this video argue that the name is somewhat misleading?
- What were some of the commonly traded items on the Silk Road?
- How did the Han Dynasty “manage” the Silk Road? What were the economic impacts of this management?
- What was the impact of the fall of the Han Dynasty on the Silk Road?
- What is the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and how does it relate to the Tang “golden age”?
Third read: evaluating and corroborating
Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
- The video says that the Tang Dynasty created a golden age across the Silk Road, starting in 626 CE. But the Tang Dynasty gained power in 618 CE. What’s going on here? What does this suggest about the effects of collapse and recovery on large networks?
- This video focuses on how the collapse and rise of political communities can affect networks. What are some ways that the expansion or contraction of networks might affect production and distribution? Think about the ancient Silk Road as well as modern China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.