The first of our five-part discussion series lead by UNH Professor Ethel Sara Wolper. The evening's discussion will be on When Asia Was the World: Traveling Merchants, Scholars, Warriors, and Monks Who Created the "Riches of the East" by Stewart Gordon. The Focus of the discussion will be on the introduction, chapters 3-6, 8, and 9.
Please think of these questions as you read the selections:
What is meant by "Asia" in this text? How does this term relate to the Middle East and to the Islamic world?
How does the designation "Asia" change the way we look at the Middle Ages?
What special skills and knowledge did people need to survive and thrive in this period?
What role did religion play in fostering social and commercial connections?
What allowed different groups to travel freely?
Click on this link to watch a video clip we will be discussing at the book talk. While the video goes on for a while, you only have to watch until 16:04.
