Trade Networks & Economic Developments (c. 1200–1450)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to trade networks, economic developments, and cultural exchanges from c. 1200 to 1450.

Silk Roads

Major trade routes connecting China, the Middle East, and Europe where cities like Samarkand and Kashgar thrived.

Uyghur Alphabet

A script used under Mongol rule that facilitated communication.

Caravansarai

Rest stops for merchants along trade routes, providing shelter and supplies.

Flying Money

An early form of paper currency used in China to support long-distance trade.

Hanseatic League

A confederation of merchant guilds and cities in Northern Europe that controlled trade.

Pax Mongolica

A period of stability under Mongol rule that increased trade and cultural exchanges.

Siege Weapons

Military tools like trebuchets and catapults used by the Mongols to conquer cities.

Bubonic Plague

A deadly disease that spread via trade routes, devastating populations across Eurasia.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral who led expeditions showcasing Ming China's naval power.

Lateen Sail

A triangular sail that improved the maneuverability of ships for maritime trade.

Diasporic Communities

Groups of people who settle far from their homeland but maintain cultural connections through trade.

Mansa Musa

Wealthy ruler of the Mali Empire who spread Islamic influence during his pilgrimage to Mecca.

Timbuktu

A major center of trade and Islamic scholarship in West Africa.

Gujarat

A key trading region in India during the medieval period.

Golden Horde

A Mongol khanate that ruled over Russia during the 13th to 15th centuries.

Ming Dynasty

Chinese dynasty that overthrew the Mongols and revived Confucian traditions.

Constantinople

Capital of the Byzantine Empire, conquered by the Ottomans in 1453; important for trade.

Champa Rice

A fast-growing rice variety from Vietnam that increased food production in China.