AP World Unit 2 Illustrative Examples

1200 - 1450

Silk Road

An extensive trade network that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas, and playing a significant role in the development of civilizations.

Indian Ocean

trade network that connected East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, allowing for the exchange of goods, cultures, and technologies.

Trans-Saharan

trade route that linked North Africa with sub-Saharan Africa, enabling the exchange of goods such as gold, salt, and textiles.

Mongols

A nomadic group that established one of the largest empires in history, known for their significant role in facilitating trade across the Silk Road and promoting cultural exchange.

Kashgar

An important central Asian trading city on the Silk Road, known for its strategic location and cultural exchange.

Samarkand

An essential cultural and trading hub on the Silk Road, renowned for its rich history, architectural marvels, and diversity of goods.

Bills of exchange

A financial document used in trade that allows merchants to transfer money and settle transactions across distances, reducing the need for physical currency.

Banking houses

Institutions that facilitated trade and commerce by offering loans, currency exchange, and safe storage for merchants' money, enhancing economic activity during the period.

paper money

An innovative form of currency made from paper, which emerged to simplify trade and replace metal coins, facilitating easier transactions in long-distance commerce.

Caravan

A group of travelers or merchants who journey together for safety, commonly across trade routes in regions such as the Silk Road, facilitating the exchange of goods and culture.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns designed for caravans, providing shelter, food, and rest for travelers along trade routes, promoting commerce and cultural exchange.

Camel Saddle

Allowed them to transport large loads

Magnetic compass

A navigational instrument that shows the direction of magnetic north, allowing travelers and sailors to determine their heading and improve navigation, particularly on long sea voyages.

Astrolabe

An ancient astronomical device used for solving problems related to time and the position of the stars and planets, aiding in navigation and mapping.

Diasporic Community (Arab & Persian communities)

settlement of ethnic people in a location other than their homeland

Arab & Persian Communities in East Africa: These diasporic communities established trade connections and cultural exchanges, significantly influencing local societies.

Swahili

Example of cultural syncretism

Mix of Bantu and Arabic languages, spoken in the coastal regions of East Africa, resulting from trade interactions between Arab merchants and local populations.

Hangzhou

A major trading city in China during the Song Dynasty, known for its economic prosperity, cultural richness, and vibrant markets.

Baghdad

Islamic empire destroyed by the Mongol invasion in 1258, leading to significant cultural and economic decline.

lbn Battuta

Muslim scholar from Morocco who traveled across dar-al-islam and beyond, documenting his journeys and observations in his travelogue, the Rihla.

Bubonic Plague

Spread through the silk road

Transmitted by fleas on rats, the Bubonic Plague decimated populations across Europe and Asia in the 14th century, leading to significant social and economic upheaval.

Gunpowder

A chemical mixture used in explosives and fireworks, developed in China; it played a crucial role in military technology and warfare.

Led to growth of empires