Prep for the LEQ: Prompt #1

Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which the emergence of new empires & states affected networks of Exchange in Eurasia compared to Africa in this period.

Thesis

The emergence of new empires and states during the period 1200-1450 significantly impacted trade networks across Afro-Eurasia, but with a notable difference in how these empires influenced exchange in Eurasia compared to Africa; while Eurasian empires, like the Mongols, facilitated large-scale trade networks and cultural exchange through their control over major routes like the Silk Road, African empires, such as Mali, primarily focused on controlling the trade of specific commodities like gold and salt, leading to a more localized impact on exchange. 

Contextualization

The period between 1200 and 1450 CE was characterized by significant political restructuring, driven by the expansion of trade networks, the movement of nomadic peoples, and the spread of major religions. In this context of growing global interconnectedness and regional consolidation, several new empires and states emerged across the globe. 

Major new empires and states that emerged between 1200 and 1450 include the Mongol Empire (which led to the formation of successor states like the Yuan Dynasty in China), the Mali Empire in West Africa, the Delhi Sultanate in South Asia, and the Aztec and Inca Empires in the Americas

Evidence #1: Eurasian impact

Scale of exchange: Empires like the Mongols created vast, politically unified landmasses that protected and fostered trade routes on an unprecedented scale, connecting East Asia to the Middle East and Europe. 

Evidence #2: Eurasian impact 

Cultural and technological diffusion: The Pax Mongolica (Mongol Peace) significantly accelerated the exchange of ideas, technologies, and religions across Eurasia, with Buddhism spreading from conquered regions to China and other areas. 

Evidence #3: Eurasian impact

Economic activity: The Mongol Empire's control created a more secure environment for merchants, boosting trade along the Silk Road and introducing new commercial practices and innovations like joint-stock companies in other parts of Afro-Eurasia. 

Evidence #4: African impact 

Focus on regional control: Empires like Mali and Songhai did not create a single, continent-wide trade network but rather controlled and taxed specific, crucial routes, most notably the Trans-Saharan trade.

Evidence #5: African impact

Resource-based exchange: While cultural exchange occurred, the primary focus of African empires was the exchange of key resources, particularly gold from West Africa for salt from North Africa, alongside textiles and other goods.

Evidence #6: African impact

Religious and social shifts: The growth of empires like Mali was closely tied to the expansion of Islam, which was spread along trade routes, influencing social hierarchies, government, and intellectual life. 

Counter argument

While new empires and states did exist, their emergence had a minimal impact on existing networks of exchange, as trade routes and patterns were largely determined by pre-existing economic and geographical factors, with empires primarily acting as facilitators rather than drivers of trade.

• Pre-existing Trade Networks:

  Trade networks like the trans-Saharan trade routes and the Indian Ocean trade network existed before the emergence of major empires, suggesting that these networks were driven by existing economic and geographical factors rather than solely by the actions of empires. 

• Limited Impact on Local Economies:

  While empires might have influenced large-scale trade, their impact on local economies and smaller-scale trade networks could be more limited, particularly in regions outside their direct control. 

• Political Instability and Disruption:

  The establishment and expansion of empires could sometimes lead to political instability and disruptions in trade, especially during periods of conquest and conflict. 

Conclusion

The extent of the impact was greater in Eurasia due to the sheer scale of the Mongol Empire, which created a single, unified zone for cross-continental exchange, linking diverse regions more directly than any previous empire. 

The extent of the impact was greater in Eurasia due to the sheer scale of the Mongol Empire, which created a single, unified zone for cross-continental exchange, linking diverse regions more directly than any previous empire.