Unit 2 Vocabulary

Caravanserai

Ancient roadside inns along the Silk Road where travelers and traders rested, traded goods, and provided safety and shelter during long journeys.

Flying Cash

Early form of paper money during the Tang Dynasty in China, enabling easier and safer trading across long distances without heavy coins.

Kashgar

Crucial trading city on the Silk Road connecting China to the West, known for diverse cultures, markets, and exchange of goods like silk and spices.

Hanseatic League

Medieval trading network of northern European cities and merchants controlling trade routes across the Baltic and North Seas, promoting economic growth and cultural exchange.

Pax Mongolica

Period of peace and stability across Eurasia during the Mongol Empire, facilitating trade, communication, and cultural exchange.

Genghis Khan

Founder of the Mongol Empire known for military conquests, innovative strategies, and unification of nomadic tribes into a vast empire.

Golden Horde

Powerful Mongol khanate ruling over Eastern Europe and Russia, influencing trade and cultural exchange between Asia and Europe.

Kublai Khan

Mongol emperor establishing the Yuan Dynasty in China, promoting trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange with the West.

Il-Khanate

Mongol khanate ruling over Persia and the Middle East, spreading Mongol culture, trade networks, and Islam adoption.

Yuan Dynasty

Mongol rule in China marked by economic prosperity, cultural exchange, and trade promotion along the Silk Road.

Bubonic Plague

Devastating disease spreading across Europe in the 14th century, causing widespread death, economic disruption, and societal changes.

Spice Islands

Southeast Asian islands producing valuable spices like cloves and nutmeg, shaping global trade networks.

Indian Ocean Trade

Vast maritime trade network connecting Africa, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia, facilitating cultural exchange.

Diasporic Communities

Groups migrating and settling in distant lands, maintaining cultural ties while contributing to diversity and cultural exchange.

Sultanate of Malacca

Maritime kingdom in present-day Malaysia dominating trade routes in the Strait of Malacca, facilitating East-West trade.

Monsoons

Seasonal wind patterns bringing heavy rains to South and Southeast Asia, crucial for agriculture, trade, and navigation.

Swahili Coast

Eastern African coast known for vibrant trading cities and Swahili culture through maritime trade with the Arabian Peninsula and India.

Marco Polo

Italian explorer documenting his journey to China during the Mongol Empire, introducing Europeans to the wonders of the East.

Mansa Musa

Mali Empire ruler known for wealth, pilgrimage to Mecca, and promotion of Islam influencing trade and culture in West Africa.

Chinese Junk

Large sailing ships facilitating maritime trade in East Asia with distinctive design elements for long-distance voyages.

Neo-Confucian

Philosophical movement in China combining Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist ideas, shaping culture, education, and government.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral leading maritime expeditions during the Ming Dynasty, promoting trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange.

Caravan

Group of travelers and traders journeying together across land routes to transport goods and exchange culture.

Oases

Fertile areas in deserts providing water, food, and shelter for travelers and traders along trade routes.

Trans-Saharan Trade Route

Network of trade routes crossing the Sahara Desert, connecting North Africa to West Africa, promoting cultural diffusion.

Timbuktu

Legendary trading city in West Africa known for wealth, scholarship, and trade along the Trans-Saharan Trade Route.

Mali

Powerful empire in West Africa known for wealth, gold, salt trade, and cultural achievements.

Deforestation

Clearing of forests by humans leading to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and climate disruptions.

Dhows

Traditional wooden sailing vessels in the Indian Ocean for maritime trade, facilitating trade and cultural exchange between civilizations.