Networks of Exchange 1200 CE - 1450 CE

Flashcards about Networks of Exchange & The Silk Roads, Indian Ocean Network, Trans-Saharan Trade Networks & Consequences of Connectivity and The Mongol Empire

What generally changed regarding trade routes c. 1200-c. 1450?

Trade routes expanded which led to further connections among states in Afro-Eurasia due to new trade technology and commercial practices. This led to the growth of various states and cities.

What were the primary trade items found on the Silk Road, and why were they significant?

Luxury goods such as Chinese silk and porcelain were the main trade items, chosen because the difficult journey necessitated selling goods with a high profit margin.

How did increased trade impact production on the Silk Road?

Increased demand led to increased production of goods; some farmers scaled back on food production to make more luxury goods to sell.

What innovations led to increased trade on the Silk Road?

Innovations included caravanserai (inns for merchants), the development of a money economy (like paper money in China), the Flying Cash/Money System, and banking houses in Europe that managed credit through bills of exchange.

How did the Silk Road lead to the growth of cities?

Cities along the trade routes, like Kashgar, that had sources of water became stopping points for merchants, growing richer and more powerful due to increased trade.

What did Indian Ocean merchants need to know about the monsoon winds?

Merchants needed to know that monsoon winds blew in predictable directions at specific times of the year, which facilitated trade and travel planning.

What innovations led to increased trade on the Indian Ocean?

Technological advancements such as improvements to the magnetic compass and astrolabe, and new ship designs like Chinese junks, along with commercial practices like credit, stimulated trade.

What were the primary trade goods found on the Indian Ocean, and why?

Bulk items like textiles and spices were commonly traded because ships could hold large cargo, but luxury goods were also traded.

How did Indian Ocean trade lead to the growth of cities and states?

Many cities grew by becoming important ports for trade and linking to Dar al-Islam, such as the Swahili City-States on the east coast of Africa.

How did increased trade on the Indian Ocean impact cities culturally?

Diasporic merchant communities, like those of Arab and Persian merchants in East Africa, led to the spread of Islam and the development of languages like Swahili.

Who was Zheng He, and why was he significant in the Indian Ocean c. 1200-1450?

Zheng He was a Ming Dynasty sailor sent to bring more states into China’s tributary system, leading to transfers of technology and culture.

What innovations led to increased trade on the Trans-Saharan trade networks?

Improved camel saddles allowed for larger cargo loads to be carried across the desert.

How did Trans-Saharan trade lead to the growth of cities and states?

The Empire of Mali grew very rich through its connections to Dar al-Islam, the gold trade, and taxing trade routes in West Africa.

What cultural transfers resulted from increased connections c. 1200-c. 1450?

The spread of religions like Islam and Hinduism into Southeast Asia, and Buddhism from South Asia to China, along with literary transfers like the translation of ancient Greek and Roman works into Arabic.

What was the most significant innovation or technological transfer due to increased trade c. 1200-c. 1450?

Gunpowder traveled from China to the West via Muslims and Mongols.

What are some examples of cities that saw increased urbanization and growth due to trade, and what is an example of a city that declined c. 1200-c. 1450?

Hangzhou in China grew wealthy, while Baghdad declined after being destroyed by the Mongols in 1258.

Who were some travelers that left records of their travels c. 1200 to c. 1450, and why were they significant?

Ibn Battuta, a Muslim scholar from Morocco, traveled for 30 years writing about different cultures, providing a firsthand account of life in that period.

What were some environmental effects of increased trade c. 1200 to c. 1450?

Champa rice came to China via the tribute system leading to population growth, and the Bubonic Plague traveled from China along the Silk Road to the Middle East and Europe.

Why were the Mongols included in Unit 2 instead of Unit 1?

The Mongol Empire was crucial because it facilitated the connections discussed in this unit by creating the largest land-based empire of all time.

What kind of political impact did the Mongols have?

They caused the fall of the Song Dynasty in China and the Abbasid Empire in the Middle East, ruling through states called Khanates.

Why did trade flourish within the Mongol Empire?

The Mongols encouraged trade by paying high prices for goods from other countries and maintaining safety along the Silk Road, known as Pax Mongolica.

What are some examples of cultural and technological transfers that occurred, in part, due to the Mongols?

The transfer of Greek and Islamic medical knowledge to Western Europe and the adoption of the Uyghur script to create a written Mongol language.