Expansion of Trade Routes and Cultural Exchange

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to trade routes, cultural exchange, and innovations in the historical context of the Silk Roads and beyond.

Silk Roads

Trade routes that facilitated the exchange of goods and culture between China and the Mediterranean.

Samarkand

A central trade city on the Silk Roads between China and the Mediterranean, known for cultural exchange.

Paper money

A financial innovation that allowed merchants to deposit paper currency and withdraw it elsewhere, replacing heavy coinage.

Banking houses

Institutions established for the conversion and management of paper money and credit.

Caravanserai

Resting places along trade routes where merchants and animals could rest and exchange goods.

Swahili City-States

Commercial city-states along the East African coast that traded local goods such as gold and ivory.

Sultanate of Malacca

A powerful state in Southeast Asia that imposed fees on passing ships and became a hub for trade.

Compass

An instrument that shows direction, greatly aiding maritime navigation.

Astrolabe

An ancient device used by sailors to determine latitude and navigate the seas.

Mongol Khanates

Empires formed after the collapse of the Mongol Empire, impacting trade and culture across Asia.

Greco-Islamic medical knowledge

Medical knowledge that spread from the Islamic world to Europe, enhancing European medicine.

Gunpowder

An explosive invention from China that revolutionized warfare and state power.

Cultural diffusion

The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.

Bubonic plague

A deadly infectious disease that spread through trade routes, dramatically impacting populations.

Filial Piety

A Confucian principle emphasizing respect for one's parents and ancestors.

Mandate of Heaven

A Chinese philosophical concept that justified the rule of the emperor as divinely ordained.

Champa rice

A fast-ripening rice variety that contributed to agricultural production in China and Southeast Asia.

Zheng He

A Ming dynasty admiral known for his maritime expeditions that showcased Chinese power and facilitated trade.

Intensification

The process of increasing productivity and efficiency in agricultural and economic practices.

Cultural transfer

The exchange and adoption of cultural elements, such as religion and technology, between societies.

Sufism

A mystical Islamic belief system that emphasizes personal experience and connection with God.

Islamic states

Empires and political entities that were based on Islamic law and culture, particularly during the medieval period.