UNIT 2: Networks of Exchange (1200-1450 CE) - VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Vocabulary flashcards covering Silk Roads, Indian Ocean networks, Trans-Saharan networks, and Mongol Empire concepts from Heimler's History notes.

Silk Road

A network of land-based trade routes across Afro-Eurasia linking China to the Mediterranean, where luxury goods like silk and porcelain circulated and profits spurred city growth.

Caravanserai

Inns spaced about a day’s travel apart along the Silk Road that protected merchants and goods and facilitated cross-cultural interactions.

Paper Money in China

A monetary innovation using paper currency to simplify large transactions and bolster a money economy.

Flying Cash

A Chinese money-transfer system allowing money to be deposited in one city and withdrawn in another.

Bills of Exchange

A European credit instrument, akin to checks, used to facilitate long-distance trade.

Kashgar

A key Silk Road oasis city at the junction of major routes; it grew wealthy as a stopping point for caravans.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean that merchants used to plan reliable sailing times.

Magnetic Compass

A navigational instrument improved for sea travel to determine direction.

Astrolabe

A device used to determine latitude and aid navigation in seas travel.

Chinese Junks

Large cargo ships with deep holds used in Indian Ocean trade.

Swahili City-States

East African coastal city-states enriched by Indian Ocean trade; Islam and the Swahili language emerged from diasporic merchant communities.

Zheng He

Ming Dynasty mariner whose voyages expanded China’s tributary system and spread technology and culture.

Pax Mongolica

The period of peace under Mongol rule that facilitated safe, extensive trade across Eurasia.

Khanates

The Mongol Empire division into semi-autonomous regions ruled by Khans.

Uyghur Script

The writing system adopted by the Mongols to create their own written language.

Mansa Musa

Mali emperor who monopolized trade routes, enriched Mali through gold and taxation, and boosted cross-regional commerce.

Mali Empire

West African empire connected to Dar al-Islam through gold trade and taxation of routes.

Champa Rice

Rice from Vietnam brought to China via the tribute system, increasing Chinese agricultural output and population.

Bubonic Plague

Epidemic disease that traveled along trade routes from China to the Middle East and Europe, causing widespread mortality.

House of Wisdom

Abbasid-era center in Baghdad for translating Greek and Islamic knowledge into Arabic, later influencing Europe.

Buddhism Diffusion on the Silk Road

Spread of Buddhism from South Asia to China through merchants and missionaries along the Silk Road.

Diasporic Merchant Communities

Merchant groups establishing communities in port cities, enabling cultural exchange and trade networks.

Marco Polo

Venetian traveler whose writings influenced later European interest in Asian trade.

Ibn Battuta

Muslim scholar from Morocco who traveled for 30 years across Dar al-Islam, documenting cultures.

Hangzhou

Chinese city that grew wealthy and urbanized due to its strategic location along waterways, including the Grand Canal.

Baghdad

Capital that declined after the 1258 Mongol destruction, illustrating the fragility of cities under conquests.

Gunpowder

The transformative military technology that traveled west from China, accelerating changes in warfare and power.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade networks across the Sahara connecting West Africa with the Islamic world, spurring urban growth and cultural exchange.

Camel Saddles

Improvements allowing camels to carry larger cargo loads, boosting Trans-Saharan trade.