The Silk Roads and Civilizations

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the Silk Roads and various historical civilizations.

Silk Roads

A network of ancient trade routes connecting Asia to Europe and Africa.

Chang’an

An ancient capital city of China where the Silk Roads began.

Maritime Trade Routes

Sea trade routes that were part of the Silk Roads, linking various regions.

Persian Empire

An empire that helped protect and maintain the Silk Roads.

Roman Empire

Another empire that played a significant role in safeguarding the Silk Roads.

Silk

A luxury fabric traded by Chinese merchants on the Silk Roads.

Paper

An important invention that was also traded along the Silk Roads.

Lacquerware

Decoratively coated wooden objects traded by the Chinese.

Bronze Objects

Artisan-crafted items made from bronze, traded along the Silk Roads.

Gold

A precious metal received by Chinese merchants in trade.

Silver

Another valuable metal exchanged for goods on the Silk Roads.

Olive Oil

A product traded for silk and other goods.

Central Asian Horses

Horses traded with Chinese merchants along the Silk Roads.

Market Towns

Towns developed along trade routes that facilitated commerce.

Currencies

Different forms of money used in trade, often requiring bartering.

Religious Pilgrims

Individuals traveling for religious purposes along the Silk Roads.

Technologies

Innovations shared and spread along trade routes.

Buddhism

A religion that spread from India to China and Vietnam via the Silk Roads.

Mansa Musa

The wealthy ruler of the Mali Empire known for his pilgrimage and grandeur.

Gold and Salt

The primary commodities that contributed to Mali's wealth.

Caravan

Groups of people traveling together for trade, especially during a pilgrimage.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca that Mansa Musa undertook, showcasing his wealth.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade routes across the Sahara connecting Africa to the Mediterranean.

Enslaved People

Individuals traded as laborers or for services in various capacities.

Weak Leadership

A factor contributing to the decline of the Mali Empire.

Mamluk Empire

An empire established by former enslaved soldiers that ruled Egypt.

Islamic Learning

A center of knowledge that developed in Cairo after the fall of Baghdad.

Bubonic Plague

A pandemic that caused economic hardship and decline for the Mamluks.

Port Cities

Urban centers along trade routes that contributed to economic activity.

Swahili Coast

The East African region where Bantu-speaking peoples engaged in trade.

Ethiopia

An East African kingdom known for its early adoption of Christianity.

Lalibela

A city in Ethiopia famous for its churches carved from rock.

Coptic Christianity

A branch of Christianity practiced in Ethiopia, linked to Eastern Orthodoxy.

Inca Empire

A powerful civilization that thrived in the Andean region from 1400 to 1532.

Quipu

A recording device made of knotted strings used by the Incas.

Feudalism

A political and economic system characterized by land ownership and loyalty.

Manorialism

A system in which peasants worked the land owned by lords.

Code of Chivalry

A set of rules guiding knights on behavior and loyalty.

Commercial Revolution

A period of increased trade, urbanization, and use of money in Europe.

Guilds

Associations formed by craftsmen to control trade practices.

Spice Trade

The trade of valuable spices, such as pepper and cinnamon, across Europe.

Black Death

The pandemic that decimated Europe's population in the 14th century.

Renaissance

A cultural revival in Europe, marked by renewed interest in art and learning.

Humanism

An intellectual movement focusing on human potential and classical texts.

Medici Family

A wealthy family in Florence that supported arts and culture during the Renaissance.

Printing Press

An invention by Johannes Gutenberg that revolutionized the spread of information.

Cultural Blending

The merging of different cultural traditions and practices.

Realism

An artistic style focused on depicting subjects accurately and naturally.

Genghis Khan

The leader who united Mongol clans and established the vast Mongol Empire.

Kublai Khan

The Mongol ruler who completed the conquest of China and established the Yuan Dynasty.

Ottoman Empire

A major Islamic empire that grew from Turkish nomadic roots.

Hagia Sophia

A church converted into a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople.

Gunpowder Weapons

Innovations that contributed to the military strength of the Ottomans.

Istanbul

The city formerly known as Constantinople, renamed by the Ottomans.