Cultures and civilizations are somewhat similar terms in aspects of a people’s distinctive characteristics. The core concept of both notions is the difference from the others, which can be explored. As such, in the essay, several civilizations are compared: the Ashanti civilization of West Africa in 1600 AD, the Latin American civilization in 1800 AD, and the Cherokee civilization of North America in 1700 AD. The common characteristic for these civilizations is the flourishment before European colonization.
The first category of comparison between civilizations is social and cultural. In Ashanti, people knew smithery, gathered fruits for food from fertile soils, hunted with dogs, and cultivated yams, batatas, cassada, and maize. The Ashanti society was matrilineal and consisted of family classes with a selected male chief under a king (Reindorf, 2020). Next, in Latin America of the 1800s, the culture and social order resembled contemporary Europe since native peoples of the region were mostly assimilated. Namely, people relied on agriculture and trade, practiced Catholicism, absorbed ideas of Enlightenment, and were primarily patriarchal and dependent on the Spanish king until Revolution (Restall & Lane, 2018). In turn, the Cherokee people also were agrarian; moreover, they had a matrilineal clan system and classes like warriors and priests. In 1700, they acquired European technologies and engaged in war with other clans and the French (Sapp, 2018). Thus, the three civilizations are similar in their reliance on agriculture and authority ruling over them.
Next, it is useful to turn to the political and economic aspects of the civilizations. Firstly, the Ashanti was a kingdom in the 16th that consisted of villages with their chiefs. The king had a Golden Stool symbolizing his dominance over the territorial divisions of Ashante. The kingdom engaged in trade with neighboring states (Reindorf, 2020). In the 19th century’s Latin America, an age of independent countries began after being a colonial territory; republics were established instead of monarchies. The Latins traded with each other and European countries on free trade (Restall & Lane, 2018). Finally, Cherokee was united in a tribal government in the 1700th and traded with the Americans and Europeans by providing primarily deerskins and beeswax (Sapp, 2018). Thus, the three civilizations had different political systems, yet they all participated in the trade as far as they could.
Lastly, one should consider the civilizations’ diplomatic and military situations in the mentioned periods. Namely, Ashante leaders dring the 17th century managed to unite the separated tribes into one kingdom, also subjugating the Denkyira people and neighboring regions. They were the greatest military power of WestAfrica at this time (Reindorf, 2020). In turn, Latin Americans fought for their independence from Spain and often had diplomatic relations with other European nations (Restall & Lane, 2018). Furthermore, the Cherokee entered an age of battles in the 18th century, engaging with British and later US forces against French and hostile Native American tribes. They also maintained contact with the US government to discuss the state of their lands. Unfortunately, they were forced to leave their places of inhabitance (Sapp, 2018). Therefore, the three civilizations were in different political situations because the periods chosen for analysis are too diverse in the events that determine them.
Thus, the essay analyzed and compared the three civilizations by different criteria. It was established that matrilinear succession is inherent in Ashante and Cherokee and tribal order. However, all the civilizations recognized a supreme authority of their own. They participated in trade and practiced agriculture in their everyday lives, although the technologies differed. All the civilizations had contact with Europeans (Ashante experienced it later), which influenced their political forces and destiny.
References
Reindorf, C. C. (2020). History of the Gold Coast and Asante, based on traditions and historical facts: Comprising a period of more than three centuries from about 1500 to 1860. Alpha Edition.
Restall, M., & Lane, K. (2018). Latin America in Colonial Times (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Sapp, R. (2018). Native Americans state by state (Illustrated ed.). Chartwell Books.