1) The Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals were all mushed into one chapter, unfortunately. The idea makes sense, because they were intertwined with each other, and each had similarities. They affected one another. So it would be reasonable to put them into one chapter, for an easy side-by-side comparison of how they're related to one another. The downside of this being that they might be squished a bit too close. It's hard to separate them, and keep track of what things came from which place. I'm constantly having to remind myself of which one it is I'm reading about. Textbooks are set up be to factual, organized, and clear. This makes them pretty boring for the most part, so I think they least they could do is be clear.
2) I definitely think this global interaction was a good thing. People tend to get so sucked into their own lives and cultures that they forget that - gasp - not everybody is exactly like them. People are still like this today, but that's a whole different story. I think this was a good opportunity for people to experience what life is like in other parts of the world. Trade allowed them to discover new goods and expand what goods they produce. Religion and culture were spreading and mingling, evolving and changing. I think it's much more beneficial to be aware of the world around you, as opposed to being isolated or ignorant. It was a time when people were beginning to learn about other cultures. Sometimes people need a little push, so they can realize that just because it's how you've been doing it since forever, doesn't mean it's the best way.
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