AP World History Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

Silk Roads

system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia; traders carried silk and other luxury trade goods; known for spreading religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as well as technological transfers (gunpowder, paper, the compass from China to the West) and diseases like the Bubonic plague

Indian Ocean trade

connected Africa, South Asia (India), Southeast Asia and China.; world's' richest maritime trading network in the 13th and 14th centuries; spread of goods (especially spices from SE Asia), technology (compass, rudder, astrolabe), and religions like Islam and Buddhism

trans-Saharan trade

trade routes across the Sahara Desert; traded gold, enslaved peoples, ivory and salt; camels, camel caravans, and camel saddles were crucial in the development of these trade networks; facilitated the spread of Islam and linked West Africa to Mecca for participation in the hajj

magnetic compass

Chinese invention that aided navigation by showing which direction was north; use spread through trade networks like Silk Roads and Indian Ocean trade

rudder

steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of the boat; improved sea trade

junk ship

large flat-bottom sailing ship produced in the Tang and Song Empires (China), specially designed for long-distance commercial travel and participation in the tribute system

Kashgar

a central Asian city where the western and the eastern Silk Roads met; one of the westernmost cities of China, near the border with modern day Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.

Samarkand

major Central Asian trading city along the Silk Roads; became wealthy as a center of trade and cultural exchange between East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; Timur (Tamerlane), the Turkic-Mongol conqueror, made it the capital of his empire in the 1300s

flying money

early form of paper credit used in China that allowed merchants to deposit money in one location and withdraw it elsewhere, making long-distance trade safer and easier.

caravanserai

inn with a central courtyard for travelers in the desert regions of Asia or North Africa; allowed caravans and their camels to rest in a protected environment, facilitating trade

porcelain

thin pottery invented in China; highly desired luxury good traded along the Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade networks

monsoon winds

seasonal winds in South Asia that greatly impact Indian Ocean trade; winter monsoon brings hot, dry weather and the summer monsoon brings rain; understanding this natural phenomenon is essential to Indian Ocean travel

Spice Islands

Europeans' name for the islands in Southeast Asia rich in highly desired spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg which were often traded in the Indian Ocean trade network

diaspora

dispersion of people from their homeland; example: merchant communities of Muslims spread Islam throughout Southeast Asia and East Africa

dhow ships

Arab sailing vessels with triangular or lateen sails; strongly influenced European ship design; facilitated trade in the Indian Ocean networks

Mansa Musa

Muslim ruler of Mali (r. 1312-1337); extravagant pilgrimage through Egypt to Mecca established the empire's reputation for wealth in the Mediterranean world; one of the richest people to have ever lived

Timbuktu

Mali trading city that became a center of wealth and learning thanks to its location in the trans-Saharan trade networks; universities, mosques, and libraries

caravan

group of traveling merchants and animals; facilitated trade along the Silk Roads and Trans-Saharan trade networks

Khanates

Four regional Mongol kingdoms that arose following the death of Genghis Khan

Pax Mongolica

period of approximately 150 years of relative peace and stability created by the Mongol Empire; provided the stability and safety necessary for Silk Road trade to thrive leading to spread of goods, ideas, technology, and disease along the Silk Roads during the 13th century.

Golden Horde

Mongol empire founded by Genghis Khan; controlled much of Russia and Central Asia and required Russian princes to pay tribute while generally allowing them to maintain their own governments and Orthodox Christian religion

Il-Khanate

(c. 1256-1335 CE) Mongol empire that ruled over Iran (Persia) & the Middle East; Mongols assimilated into Persian culture, often converting to Islam

Yuan Dynasty

(1279-1368 CE) Chinese dynasty under Mongol rule; ruled by Kublai Khan; altered political and social hierarchy of China (Mongols → Central/West Asian foreigners → Northern Chinese → Southern Chinese); did not emphasize Confucianism and the civil service exams; Mongols held the most important government positions

Bubonic Plague

deadly disease that spread through Asia and Europe and killed more than 1/3 of the population in some areas; hit Europe (peak 1347-1351) especially hard due to unsanitary living conditions and overcrowded cities; spread thanks to increased trade along the Silk Roads

gunpowder

substance invented in China during the 9th century; initially used for rockets, fireworks, and hand cannons; spread from East to West via trade networks like the Silk Roads and help from the Mongol Empire

Ibn Battuta

(1304-1369) Moroccan Muslim scholar who is considered the most widely traveled individual of his time; wrote a detailed account of his visits to Islamic lands from China to Spain and the western Sudan; writings gave a glimpse into the world of that time period

Marco Polo

(1254-1324) Italian explorer and author who made numerous trips to China and returned to Europe to write of his journeys; responsible for much of the knowledge exchanged between Europe and China during this time period.

Swahili city-states

cities along the coast of East Africa that actively participated in Indian Ocean trade; illustrated syncretism in their language and religion, blending traditional central African (Bantu) beliefs with Islam and Arabic

Zheng He

Chinese Ming Dynasty naval explorer; led seven major naval expeditions (1405-1433) across the Indian Ocean, expanding Chinese trade through the tribute system as well as diplomatic relations and Chinese influence

astrolabe

navigational instrument used to determine latitude and position using the sun and stars; facilitated trade by improving navigational accuracy; invented by the Greeks but Muslim scholars greatly improved it during the Islamic Golden Age

Sufism

mystical tradition within Islam that emphasizes a personal and spiritual connection with God; missionaries helped spread Islam by traveling, teaching, and adapting Islamic practices to local cultures, especially in Africa and Asia.

Bhakti movement

Hindu religious movement that emphasized personal devotion to a chosen deity; made religious worship more accessible to ordinary people regardless of social status or caste

hajj

pilgrimage to Mecca, performed as a duty by Muslims as one of the five pillars of Islamic faith; encouraged travel across Africa and Asia, helping strengthen trade routes and the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures