AP World History 2.1: The Silk Roads

An in depth summary of the terms from 2.1, all is taken directly from the textbook.

Silk Roads

Promoted by the Mongol Empire, large trade network across Eurasia, focused on Luxury Goods. Spread Islam and developments in technology like paper making and gunpowder. Also spread diseases such as the bubonic plague. (1200-1450)

The Silk roads focused on….

Luxury Goods such as Silk and Porcelain from China and Gold from Africa.

The Silk Roads were promoted by the….

Mongol Empire

The Silk Roads spread the religion…..

Islam

The Silk Roads spread innovations like….

Paper making and gunpowder

The Silk Roads spread diseases like….

The bubonic Plague

Increase of trade caused…..

Demand for luxury goods, textile production expansion, porcelain production expansion, paper money (Chinese), caravans.

Europe specialized in…..

Gold and Silver

China specialized in….

silk, tea, and rhubarb

First golden age of the Silk Roads ended when…

Roman and Han empires ended

Silk Roads were revived by the….

Abbasid Empire by the 8th and 9th century.

China exported….

Porcelain, tea, and silk

China imported….

Cotton, precious stones, pomegranates, dates, horses, and grapes (luxury goods)

The Mongol Empire…..

Unified Silk Road using empires underneath an empire that respected merchants and enforced laws. Mongols improved roads and punished bandits.

Transportation Innovations

Han Dynasty (Maritime): Magnetic compass, rudder, junk ship.

Silk Roads: Caravans, new saddles for camels.

The Silk Roads caused….

The formation of many trading cities and oases.

Kashgar

Trading city located where two paths of the Silk Roads crossed. Formed in the Western edge of China and is watered by the Kashgar River. Produced textiles, rugs, leather goods, and pottery. Used to be a Buddhist city but became a center of Islamic scholarship.

Samarkand

Stopping point on the Silk Roads between China and the Mediterranean. Center of cultural and goods exchange, diverse religious population. Know for it’s artisans, centers of Islamic learning, and magnificently decorated mosques.

Caravanserai

Inns that would pop up along the Silk Roads about every 100 miles, provided rest for travelers and camels.

Flying cash

A system of credit that allowed merchants to deposit paper money in one location and withdraw the same amount from another location.

Bill of Exchange

A document stating that the holder was legally promised payment of a set amount of on a set date.

Hanseatic League

In the 13th century cities in Scandinavia and Germany formed a commercial alliance.