Silk Roads, Mongol Empire, and Indian Ocean Trade: Key Concepts and Cultural Diffusion

What are the Silk Roads?

A vast network of roads and trails that facilitated trade and the spread of culture and ideas across Eurasia in and before the period 1200-1450.

What was primarily traded along the Silk Roads?

Luxury items, most notably Chinese silk.

What innovations in commercial practices contributed to the expansion of the Silk Roads?

Development of money economies, increasing use of credit, and the rise of banks.

What is 'flying money'?

A form of credit that allowed merchants to deposit bills in one location and withdraw the same amount in another, facilitating trade.

What is a caravanserai?

A series of inns and guest houses spaced about a day's journey apart where traveling merchants and their animals could lodge safely.

Name two significant trading cities on the Silk Roads.

Kashgar and Samarkand.

What geographical advantage did Kashgar have?

It was located at the convergence of two major routes and had a river, making it suitable for agriculture and trade.

What cultural impact did the Silk Roads have?

They facilitated cultural diffusion, including the spread of Islam and Buddhism by merchants.

Who was Temujin?

The birth name of Genghis Khan, who united the Mongol tribes and became their leader.

What title did Temujin assume in 1206?

Chinggis Khan.

What military strategy did Chinggis Khan employ?

He organized forces in groups of 10,000, 1,000, 100, and 10.

What was the Pax Mongolica?

A period of peace and stability across the Mongol Empire that allowed trade to flourish.

What was Kublai Khan known for?

Ruling in China and establishing the Yuan Dynasty, uniting warring factions.

How did the Mongols improve trade during their rule?

By improving infrastructure, building bridges, and repairing roads.

What was the Yam System?

A series of communication and relay stations spread across the Mongol Empire.

What technological transfers occurred under Mongol rule?

Transfer of medical knowledge and adoption of the Uyghur script as a lingua franca.

What caused the expansion of Indian Ocean trade?

The collapse of the Mongol Empire, which shifted focus from Silk Roads to maritime trade.

What advancements in transportation technology aided Indian Ocean trade?

The magnetic compass, astrolabe, lateen sail, and improvements in shipbuilding.

What is a junk?

A massive ship capable of carrying significant cargo loads, surpassing other merchant ships.

What role did monsoon winds play in Indian Ocean trade?

They were crucial for navigation and timing of voyages across the ocean.

What is proto-industrialization?

A process where China began producing more goods than its own population could consume, leading to increased trade.

How did the demand for Chinese silk affect agriculture in China?

Peasants in the Yangtze River Valley reduced food production to focus on silk textile production for trade.

What was the significance of cultural exchanges at caravanserai?

They became centers for cultural diffusion and the sharing of innovations like saddles.

What was the impact of Mongol brutality on their conquests?

It instilled fear in other towns, often leading to surrender without resistance.

What was the fate of the Abbasid Caliphate due to the Mongol invasions?

It ended with the destruction of Baghdad in 1258.

What was the Mongol attitude towards intellectuals and skilled artisans?

They held a high opinion of them and facilitated their movement across the empire.

What are Dhows?

Traditional Arab trading vessels used in the Indian Ocean, now larger and capable of hauling more cargo.

What were the Swahili City-States known for?

They grew powerful and wealthy due to their strategic locations benefiting from Indian Ocean trade.

What was the significance of the Strait of Malacca?

It was controlled by the Sultanate of Malacca, allowing them to become extraordinarily rich through trade.

Where is Gujarat located and why is it significant?

On India's west coast, it served as a midpoint for trade between East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

What is a diaspora?

A group of people who establish a home in another place while retaining their cultural customs.

What was the Trans-Saharan Network?

A series of trade routes connecting North Africa and the Mediterranean with West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

What transportation technologies contributed to the expansion of the Trans-Saharan trade?

Saddles and caravanserai allowed merchants to travel comfortably and carry larger loads.

What were some key goods traded in the Trans-Saharan trade?

Gold, kola nuts, horses, and salt.

What was the Empire of Mali's role in trade?

Mali became wealthy through participation in the Trans-Saharan trade network, exporting gold and taxing merchants.

What is cultural diffusion?

The exchange of ideas and cultural traits between different cultures.

How did Buddhism spread to East Asia?

Through trade routes, it was adapted to local beliefs, resulting in syncretism with Daoism.

What is Chan Buddhism?

A distinctly Chinese form of Buddhism that emerged from the blending of Buddhist teachings and Daoism.

What was the House of Wisdom?

A center in Baghdad where Muslim scholars translated and commented on classical works of Greek and Roman philosophy.

What was the impact of the Mongols on trade?

They facilitated the spread of technologies like papermaking and gunpowder, enhancing trade networks.

What cities grew in power due to trade along the Silk Roads?

Samarkand and Kashgar, which facilitated trade and increased their influence.

What led to the decline of Baghdad?

The Mongol sack of Baghdad in 1258 significantly reduced its cultural and economic influence.

What happened to Constantinople in 1453?

It was sacked by the Ottoman Empire, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire.

Who was Ibn Battuta?

A Muslim scholar from Morocco who traveled extensively across Dar-al-Islam and documented his experiences.

What did Marco Polo write about?

His travels from Italy to China, including descriptions of Kublai Khan's court.

What was the significance of the diffusion of crops like bananas and Champa rice?

They expanded diets and influenced population growth in various regions.

What was the Bubonic Plague and its impact?

A disease that spread rapidly along trade routes, killing a significant portion of the population in the Middle East and Europe.