2.1 AP World

Causes of the growth of the Silk Roads

The Crusades

The Mongol Empire

Growing demand for luxury goods

Technological advancements

Imported commercial practices

Characteristics of the Crusades and Silk roads

A series of wars between 1096 and 1291 was fought over control of sacred areas

European Christians traveled to Jerusalam

The Crusades paths crossed at the SIlk Roads

Europeans brought back silk, porecelain, spices, other asian goods.

How might the control of the Mongol Empire have contributed to the growth of the Silk Roads

It made travelers to go from point A to point B faster and safer.

How did the Mongol Empire improve trade

The majority of the overland Silk Road came under Mongol control

Mongols respected merchants

Routes became safer and easier to travel

Mongols improved road systems

Older and recently unused routes were reopened

What was the growing demand for luxury goods

The upper class demanded goods that could not be produced locally

China wanted cotton, horses, and exotic fruits.

Europe and the Middle East sought silk, porcelain, and tea.

Paper money =

Replaced heavy coins; easier to carry over long distances

Banking houses =

Allowed merchants to deposit and withdraw money at different locations; issued and accepted bills of exchange

Bills of exchange =

A piece of paper that guaranteed the holder a set amount of money on a certain date

List some advancements that helped facilitate trade

Magnetic compass

Improved rudders

Junk ships

Caravanserai

How did the Crusades help the growth of the Silk Roads

Crusade paths intersected with the Silk Roads

How did the Mongol Empire grow the Silk Roads

Unified territory created safer routes

How did the increased demand for luxury goods grow the Silk Roads

Expensive luxury goods grew in demand increasing trade volume

How did transportation improvements grow the Silk Road

Caravanserai and maritime transportation tools improved the ability to travel

Effects of the Growth of the Silk Roads

New Trading Cities and Oases

Spread of Goods, Beliefs, and Disease

Change to Money Economies

Increased Production and Urbanization

Samarkand and Kashgar

•Their proximity to water made them important stopping points for merchants

•Both cities became culturally diverse and featured several active religions

•Their growth was directly the result of the Silk Roads

Characteristics of Caravanserai

•Silk Roads were 4,000 miles (~6,400km) long; not enough cities existed to serve traveling merchants

•Many new caravanserai popped up as trading volume along the Silk Roads increased

•Caravanserai mostly appeared in the arid regions of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts

•Similar to modern truck stops with a motel nearby- merchants could rest and restock before heading back out

List the goods spread through the Silk Road

Cotton, silk, horses, fruits, porcelain, gunpowder, tea, spices, paper

List the beliefs spread through the Silk Road

Islam, Buddhism, Christianity

List the diseases spread through the Silk Road

Bubonic Plague (Black Death)

How did the development of money economies happen

Barter Economies traded goods for other goods/commodities/or services

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Money Economies utilize a standard form of currency for the purchase of goods

How do commercialization and urbanization work together?

Commercialization and urbanization feed each other as they did in the Song Dynasty. This concept applies to regions connected by the Silk Roads as well.