2.1 The silk roads

Explain the causes and effects of growth of networks of exchange after 1200. (#1)

Improved commercial practices led to increased volume of trade and expanded the geographical range of existing trade routes-including the Silk Roads-promoting the growth of powerful new trading cities.

New trading cities: Kashgar, Smarkland

Explain the causes and effects of growth of networks of exchange after 1200. (#2)

The growth of interregional trade in luxury goods was encouraged by innovations in previously existing transportation & commercial technologies, including the caravenserai, forms of credit, and the development of money economies.

New forms of credit: money economy, bills of exchange, banking houses, use of paper money

Explain the causes and effects of growth of networks of exchange after 1200. (#3)

Demand for luxury goods increased in Afro-Eurasia. Chinese, Persian, and Indian artisans and merchants expanded their production of textiles (sericulture) and porcelains for export; manufacture of iron and steel expanded in China

Define magnetic compass.

Compass used in maritime travel that allowed one to know where they were going in open sea - developed by the Han Dynasty

Define rudder.

Technology used in maritime travel that helped ships move faster - developed by the Han Dynasty

Define junk.

Similar ship to the dhow that was developed by Han Dynasty

Define Mongol Empire.

Largest continuous land empire in all of history
• conquered Abbasid Empire in 1248
• conquered China in 14th century.

Define Kashgar.

An oasis city located in Western China known as "Window on the West" that was a meeting point for South & north Silk Routes due to its situation

When were the Silk Roads revived?

8th and 9th century

Define caravenserai.

Persian for "caravan" and "palace"; large guest houses or hostels designed to welcome traveling merchants and their caravans as they made their way along trade routes

Define Samarkland.

A city located in Uzbekistan in Zeravshan River valley - stopping point on Silk Roads between China & Mediterranean

Define money economy.

An economy that uses money rather than bartering with such commodities (e.g. cowrie shells, salt) - China

Define paper money.

Money developed in China instead of copper coins; aka "flying cash" due to it being able to fly out of your hand

Define banking houses.

Place where person could give bill of exchange & received a sum of money

Define flying cash.

System of credit; allowed a merchant to deposit paper money under his name in one location & withdraw the same amount in another location

Hanseatic League.

An alliance made between cities in Northern Germany & Scandinavia that controlled trade in North Sea & Baltic Sea.

Give 3 words that describe technology in sea trade.

• magnetic compass

• rudder

• junk

Give 1 word that describes government in new empires.

Mongol Empire

Give 2 words that describe culture in trade.

Kashgar & Samarkland

Give 6 words that describe economics in innovations.

• caravanserai

• money economy

• flying cash/paper money

• banking houses

• bill of exchange

• Hanseatic League

Define bill of exchange.

A document stating the holder was legally promised payment of a set amount on a set date - like a modern check

Describe how demand for luxury goods revived the Silk Roads.

Europe and Africa demanded luxury goods.

-> Chinese, Persian, and Indian merchants/artisans expanding their textile & porcelain production for export

-> Caravans made the Silk Roads safer

-> Chinese developed a system using paper money to manage increasing trade

How did the Crusades lead to increased trade?

Lords & their armies of knights brought back fabrics and spices from the East.

What items was China eager for from Europe?

Gold & silver

What items was Europe eager for from China?

Silk, tea, rhubarb

What empires/civilizations were involved in the first Silk Road Golden Age?

Han Dynasty & Roman Empire

Who revived the Silk Roads, leading to a second Silk Road Golden Age?

Arab merchants

What did Tang China import?

- cotton

- precious stones

- pomegranates

- dates

- horses

- grapes

What did Tang China export?

compass

- paper

- gunpowder

(Others include: porcelain, tea, silk)

What 2 things led to the expansion of trade on the Silk Roads?

1) Mongol Empire

2) improvement of transportation

Describe how the Mongols impacted safety on the Silk Road.

Parts of the Silk Road that were under the authority of different rules were, for the first time, unified in a system under the control of an authority that respected merchants & enforced laws.

Describe how the Mongols impacted security on the Silk Road.

improved roads & punished bandits

Describe how the Mongols impacted trade routes on the Silk Road.

New trade channels were established among Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Europe

Describe how the Mongols impacted infrastructure on the Silk Road.

They built houses & sturdier structures. Plus, they improved the roads.

Describe how the Mongols impacted population benefits on the Silk Road.

Population increased due to increased trade. However, if they upset the Mongols, they were killed.

What improvements increased trade along the Silk Road? (HINT: 2 transportation improvements)

1) traveling with others in caravans was safer than traveling alone

2) saddles designed for camels greatly increased weight load camels could carry

What 3 advancements in naval technology did the Han Dynasty make?

• magnetic compass

• rudder

• junk

Describe the terrain the Silk Road traveled through.

Hostile, arid land with scarce amounts of water

Compare/contrast the dhow and junk.

• Dhow was created in India or China & had thin, long hulls. It was excellent for carrying goods, but less useful for conducting warfare.

• Junk was created by Han Dynasty & had multiple sails. It was 400 feet long, and the hull was divided into compartments. (Walls within hull strengthened ship for rough voyages at sea & decreased chance of sinking.)

Due to inhospitable terrain on the Silk Road, what was developed along the routes?Describe the Kashgar River.

Oasis cities

Describe the Kashgar River.

It waters the city of Kashgar, providing fertile land for crops (e.g. wheat, rice, fruit, cotton) & made travelers dependent on Kashgar for food.

Describe the syncretism that occurred in Kashgar.

It was once originally Buddhist, but eventually became a center of Islamic scholarship.

What is the importance of Samarkland?

It was a center of cultural exchange and trading center.

-> artisans

-> Islamic learning center

-> magnificently decorated mosques

What and how was the distance determined for caravanserai?

100 miles - determined by how far camels could travel before needing water

How did caravanserai benefit Silk Road travelers?

1) they could rest themselves

2) trade their animals for fresh ones

Describe the syncretism that occurred in Samarkland.

Archeological remains show presence of diverse religions, such as:

• Christianity

• Buddhism

• Zoroastrianism

• Islam

What are the disadvantages of barter & metal coin money?

Copper coins became too unwieldy to transport for everyday transactions

How does the modern banking system mimic the flying cash system?

Locations for exchanging fly8ing cash became model for banks of modern era, such as banking houses in European cities in 1300s

How did the Hanseatic League operate?

1) leave Baltic & North Sea

2) travel Atlantic Coast on Western Europe

3) go to Mediterranean Sea to get goods from Arab caravans

What did they Hanseatic League do?

Drive out pirates & monopolize goods (e.g. timber, grain, leather, salted fish)

Why did the Hanseatic League disband?

In mid-17th century (c.a. 1650s) due to governments becoming strong enough to protect their merchants

How did credit & money innovations benefit trade?

• paper money: improvement transportation of money

• banking houses: allowed one to receive amount of money in exchange when a person presented bill of exchange

• encouraged & supported trade by providing convenience & stability of institutions

Describe the caravenserai.

• inns along trade routes where travelers could trade, rest, and replenish

• originated c. 500 in Persian Empire• inns along trade routes where travelers could trade, rest, and replenish

Give some examples of cities in the Hanseatic League.

• Lubeck

• Hamburg

• Riga

Describe the banking house.

• precursor to modern banking

• originated 200 in China

What was the Silk Road? Which regions did it link?

It was an overland route where merchants carried goods for trade. It had two routes:

1) East Mediterranean - Central Asia

2) Central Asia - China

What other types of routes did the Silk Road include?

Ex: many goods reached Roma via Mediterranean & goods from Central Asia found way across pacific to Japan & Java

What did they trade on Silk Road? Where was it spun?

Silk - for millennia, only China produced it

Describe the coin.

• Minted precious metals (silver, bronze, gold) with own inherent value

• originated c. 500 in Turkey

Why was silk only manufactured in China?

It was closely guarded by China because they knew it was a great source of wealth & didn't want other people stealing it.

What was silk used as an export? Why?

clothing

• light in summer & warm in winter

• way to show wealth

Describe paper money.

• currency in paper form

• originated c. 800 in China

What did Mediterranean export?

olives/olive oil & wine

Describe Hanseatic League.

• first common market & confederation of merchant guilds

• originated 1296 in Germany

What did China export?

Jade, silver, iron

What did India export?

Cotton textiles & spices

Describe the bill of exchange.

• A written order without interest that binds one party to pay a fixed sum to another party at a predetermined date in the future

• originated c. 700 in China

What did East Africa export?

Ivory

What did Arabia export?

Spices & tortoise shells

Who became more important in history because of the SIlk Road? Why?

Nomadic people of Central Asia due to being good at travel & resistant to disease

When did Silk Road take off? (1st Golden Age)

2nd & 3rd century

Why did cities grow along the Silk Road?

Most trade was by caravan, and they had to stop frequently

Which class grew along Silk Roads?

Merchants

How did the Silk Road impact us? (3 reasons)

1) Wider economic impact - increase production

2) Trading ideas - Buddhism

3) Disease - measles, smallpox, Black Death

What religion was spread over Silk Road?

Buddhism

What is the significance of Chang'an?

• capital of China during Tang

• marked beginning of Silk Road

• melting pot

• major trading hub

When was peak of Silk Road?

1200-1400s by Pax Mongolica

Why did the Silk Road decline?

European maritime trade took off in 1500s

Give 3 dangers of Silk Road.

1) Gobi Desert is arid - no water

2) bandits

3) political situation from Iran, Turkey, Europe

Sugar was originated in what city?

Guangzhou

Horses originated in what city?

Samarkland

Camels originated in what city?

Lop Nor

Silk originated in what cities?

Hangzhou & Xian

Wine originated in what city?

Constantinople

Give characteristics of caravanserai.

• dome entrances to rooms for thermal insulator

• entrance facing south due to wind, bandits, and direction

• lodging on upper floor

• different sizes

Sogdians were descendants of which language group?

Turkic langauge

Give 2 benefits provided by Sogdians.

1) goods exchanged along Silk Road

2) artistic method/motif, music style, religion, language & literature, philosophy, political ideology were exchanged

What was the most centrally located city in Sogdiana?

Samarkland

List 3 luxury gifts given by Zoroastrian rulers.

• wild animals

• dancing girls

• musicians & other natural & manmade curiosities

Who destroyed Samarkland in 13th century?

Mongols

Do camels store water in their humps?

No, they are largely fat.

HOw many pounds can a camel carry?

400-500 pounds

When camels drink, how many gallons do they consume at a time?

25 gallons