Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)

These flashcards cover the key concepts and details related to the networks of exchange between 1200 and 1450, including causes, effects, and cultural impacts of trade.

What was a major cause of the growth of exchange networks after 1200?

Development of money economies, increased use of credit, and banks.

What luxury good was primarily exchanged on the Silk Roads?

Chinese silk.

What were caravanserai used for?

They were guest houses for rest stops that provided safety and served as centers of cultural diffusion.

Name two significant trading cities that emerged due to the Silk Roads.

Kashgar and Samarkand.

What was one effect of the Mongol Empire on trade?

Increased safety of travel along the Silk Roads.

How did the collapse of the Mongol Empire influence maritime trade?

It made travel on the Silk Roads less safe, leading people to seek maritime trade alternatives.

What innovation aided in maritime navigation after 1200?

The compass.

What role did diasporic communities play in trading networks?

They helped grow networks by establishing homes in new places while retaining their culture.

What was the environmental effect of trade on crop diffusion?

Farmland crops like bananas, champa rice, and citrus fruits were spread along trade routes.

Who was Mansa Musa, and why is he significant?

He was a ruler of the Mali Empire known for his immense wealth and the impact of his gold distribution.

What was the role of Islamic merchants in cultural diffusion?

They spread Islam, influencing conversion in regions like Swahili.

What was one intellectual effect of the networks of exchange between 1200-1450?

The translation of Greek and Roman texts at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

What disease was spread along trade routes by the Mongol Empire?

The Bubonic plague.

What was one comparison of economic exchanges across different networks?

Improved commercial practices led to an increased volume of trade.

How did cultural exchanges influence technology during this period?

Gunpowder spread from China to Islamic and European powers.