Essay on Mecca's Cultural Significance

Introduction

Often, we have heard that change is the only constant thing. That it is never complete. World geography, political feature and the global cultures have continuously changed over the centuries affecting communities in both positive and negative ways. In the early modern period, many societies had to react to the huge changes through preservation of their past. Nonetheless, notable changes continued to sweep through individual societies. Little to no global cultural changes occurred. However, the world's religions continue to spread their roots to a distant land. Politically, the rise of empires was a general occurrence across all communities. Ordinary people in this early modern period were affected by changes that occurred. The world was increasingly becoming commercial and crowded. These developments piled pressure on the workers to work harder. Population increase required that workers had to put in more effort to fend for their large families and villages. Early participants into the role of changing the global economy were the Potosi mines in Bolivia and the Strait of Malacca. This essay explores the difference role of these places. Additionally, it will also explore Mecca's cultural significance that makes it a unique city in world history. From these, it is evident that conflict and violence has been some of the main levers of accumulating wealth in the global economy.

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The economy that blossomed around the interiors of colonial South America, far away from the population centers was spurred by the silver attraction. Silver had become the global currency of early the modern period. The drive for the economy was, however, pegged on a resource whose exploitation would deplete it with time. At Potosi mine in Bolivia, seemingly the edge of the world, Incas were already working there, using the silver as decor in their temples and as jewelry. The Indians there and in Peru preferred their subsistence and barter economies. They keep the Spanish conquerors unaware of the mines until they discovered them in 1545. The boom was inspired by four unbelievably rich veins, which were equally easy to exploit. They also diminished as first. By the 1560s, Viceroy Toledo brought in Spanish technology and used state coercion to solve the labor problem at the mine. Soon, the silver gave out owing to declining quality of the ore and increased problems with production. As first as Potosi had risen into the global economy, the world forgot about it.1

Conversely, elsewhere a natural channel became a major gateway for trade to the and from Asia, rising to be the second busiest waterway in the world and a factor in the global economy. Additionally, the Strait of Malacca was in constant use by the Romans, Greeks, Chinese, and the Indians traders becoming a source of conflict to this day. The natural resource appears to preserve owing to its inability to be depleted. In any case, the region's economies continued expansion only underscores its importance to Asia and the wider global economy.2

Other cities also rose to prominence by tapping into a resource that does not believe. A good example is Mecca. Ancient Mecca was merely an oasis on an old caravan trade route that gradually developed during the Roman and Byzantine times into a prime trade, religious, and tribal gathering center. However, the birth of Muhammad, his escape from conflict meted on him and his return increased the cities religious importance realty. He declared Mecca the center for Muslim pilgrimage and dedicated it to God. This diminished it commercial significance but set it on a path to prominence, thriving on proceeds of annual pilgrimages and gifts.3

Conclusion

In conclusion, from Potosi mines, the Strait of Malacca to Mecca rise to be a unique city in world history, conflict, and violence has always hovered around. Potosi workers coercion, the Malacca conflict that persists to this day and the conflict meted on Muhammad and akin to the founding of Islam is evidence of this.

Notes

1. Topik, Steven. 2016. "As Rich As Potosi | Global Trade Magazine". Global Trade Magazine. http://www.globaltrademag.com/departments/looking-back/as-rich-as-potosi.

2. Hirst, Tomas. 2014. "The World'S Most Important Trade Route?". World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2014/05/world-most-important-trade-route/.

3. Sardar, Ziauddin. 2015. Mecca. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Bibliography

Carbaugh, Robert J. 2011. Global Economics. Mason, Ohio: South-Western.

Hirst, Tomas. 2014. "The World'S Most Important Trade Route?". World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2014/05/world-most-important-trade-route/.

Sardar, Ziauddin. 2015. Mecca. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Topik, Steven. 2016. "As Rich As Potosi | Global Trade Magazine". Global Trade Magazine. http://www.globaltrademag.com/departments/looking-back/as-rich-as-potosi.