Sabina Abayeva04.10.07Block DTo what extent did traditional and commoditized relationships shape and influence Western/ Eastern Europe and Middle Eastern Eurasia 500 to 1000 CE?From 6th to 11th century Afro Eurasia developed two kinds of relationships including commoditized and traditional. "Traditional relationships are born of such things as kinship, ethnicity, and geography and shared spiritual visions. They are glued together by reciprocal obligations and visions of common destinies. Commoditized relationships, on the other hand, are instrumental in nature. The only glue that holds them together is the agreed-upon transaction price" (Jeremy Rifkin). After the downfall of the Roman Empire in 476CE, the Western Europe declined, however the Eastern part, the so called Byzantine Empire just began to flourish. The Western Europe demonstrates both traditional and commoditized relationships through feudal system and religion; however Byzantine on the other hand shows only the commoditized ones. In addition the Arab world also demonstrates both commoditized and traditional relationships.
English: The extent of the Eastern (Byzantine) and...
English: The Byzantine Empire, c. 867 AD.
Animated Map of the Borders of the Byzantine Empir...Although Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Arab world shared many identical relationship patterns including commoditized and traditional, distinct geographical locations, mentality and cultural differences resulted in market taking over the traditions.
The Western Europe during 500 -1000 CE demonstrates both traditional and commoditized relationships through feudalism and religion, however gradually the commodity began to overshadow the traditions. The Post classical Period marks the end line for Roman Empire but during this period Europe started to emerge. The division of Western Europe among the numerous Germanic tribes occurred in 5th century. The Ostrogoths settled in Italy, the Visigoths in southern Gaul and Spain, the Vandals in Africa and western Mediterranean, the Franks in the northern Gaul and finally the Angles and Saxons in England. In other words the barbarians entirely controlled the Western Europe. However, their supremacy didn't result in elimination of the roman language, traditions, government...