Networks of Exchange from c. 1200 to c. 1450

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the extensive trading networks between 1200 and 1450, including major events, cultural exchanges, and significant figures.

Silk Roads

A network of trade routes that connected East Asia with the Mediterranean, facilitating trade and cultural exchange.

Mongol Empire

A vast empire established in the 13th century that unified much of Eurasia and promoted trade along the Silk Roads.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade networks that connected North Africa with Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily exchanging gold and salt.

Hanseatic League

A commercial alliance of merchant cities in northern Europe, active during the 13th century, that facilitated trade in the Baltic and North Seas.

Caravanserai

Inns along trade routes where travelers and animals could rest and trade, critical for the safety and success of long-distance trade.

Islam

A major world religion that spread through trade and conquest, significantly influencing societies in Africa and Asia.

Black Death

A devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that swept through Europe and Asia in the mid-14th century, leading to significant population declines.

Cultural diffusion

The spread of ideas, customs, and technologies from one culture to another, significantly influenced by trade networks.

Flying cash

A credit system developed in China, allowing merchants to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, facilitating trade.

Zheng He

A Chinese admiral known for his voyages to Southeast Asia and East Africa in the early 15th century, demonstrating the naval strength of the Ming Dynasty.

Mansa Musa

The ruler of the Mali Empire known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and for establishing Timbuktu as a center of Islamic learning.

Commodities

Goods that are traded, such as gold, salt, silk, and spices, essential to trade networks during the period.

Astrolabe

An ancient navigational instrument used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies, important for maritime navigation in trade.

Lateen sail

A triangular sail that allowed ships to sail more efficiently against the wind, enhancing maritime trade.

Bubonic plague

A deadly disease transmitted through trade, leading to widespread death and social upheaval in Europe during the 14th century.