Studied by 23 people
What is globalization?
A process of integration among the people, companies and governments of different nations driven by international trade and investment, aided by information technology
Which would typically travel further; the good being exchanged or the merchant exchanging it?
The good being exchanged
How did trade bring about economic changes to a given society?
-shaped daily life
-altered consumption
-encouraged people to specialize in producing particular products for distance markets
-diminished economic self sufficiency
How did trade affect society?
-merchants became a distinct social group because of their ability to gain wealth without making anything
-social mobility (merchants in China)
-elite groups could distinguish themselves from commoners
How did trade affect politics?
-sustained and created states from controlling and taxing trade
-produced government problems
The book describes the Silk Roads as "relay trade", what does this mean?
Goods were passed down the line, changing hands many times before reaching their final destination
What initially caused the creation of trade across Eurasia?
-geography
-history
-outer Eurasia
What role did pastoral nomadic groups play in trade networks?
They had been trading for centuries which sparked other trade ideas and opportunities
What helped trade networks prosper for many years?
When large and powerful states provided security for merchants and travelers
Why are most of the goods exchanged along the Silk Roads luxury destined for wealthy elites instead of staple goods for average citizens?
They were in high demand and the elites could afford the value that would compensate for the travel costs
How did the Silk Roads receive its name?
Silk was a luxury good that was traded frequently because all the elites wanted it
What was a woman's role in the process of making silk?
-in charge of the supply and demand process
-tended the mulberry trees that the silk worms lived in
-unwound the cocoons
-turned the fibers to thread and wove them into textiles
What accounted for the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Roads (why did people choose to convert)?
-universal message
-links to a larger, wealthier and more prestige Indian civilization
-miracle worker Fotudeng had close ties with Shi Le, an emperor in northern China, that allowed the construction of hundreds of Buddhist temples
What are some changes that occurred in Buddhist beliefs and practices as the religion spread across the Silk Roads?
-no longer shunned material world
-doctrines changed
-picked up cultural influences from Zoroastrian and Greek religions/beliefs
What are some of the diseases mentioned that were spread along the Silk Road?
-smallpox
-measles
-bubonic plague
-Black Death
-anthrax
What were some of the positive effects of the spread of disease on the populations receiving interaction with them?
-religions and beliefs (Buddhism and Christianity) strengthened because people found compassion in times of struggle
-could unify land masses
-lower classes could demand higher wages
What were some of the negatives effects of the spread of disease on the populations receiving interaction with them?
-death (population loss)
-people lost income and jobs
How did exposure to diseases actually give the Europeans an advantage in the long-run?
Their exposure overtime gave them some immunity
What city played an important role in Mediterranean Sea trade?
Venice
Where was the world's largest sea-based system of communication before 1500 CE?
Indian Ocean
How did Indian Ocean trade differs from the Silk Roads in the types of goods exchanged? Why did these differences exist?
Differences: textiles, pepper, timber, rice, sugar and wheat
Reason for Difference: Ships could hold larger and heavier cargo designed for the mass market because they weren't limited to the backs of domesticated animals (camels)
How did human understanding of the environment facilitate the creation of Indian Ocean trade?
We now had a basic understanding of monsoons and technology that helped with shipbuilding and ocean navigation, gave us safer routes and faster production of trade
What is an example of how human diets were positively impacted by more diversity in foods available because of trade?
The Malay sailors brought bananas, coconuts and taro that enriched the African peoples diets
What technologies facilitated an increased use of the Indian Ocean as a trading network?
-how to ride monsoons
-sail imporvemnts
-new ships (junks)
-new latitude calculation methods (astrolabe)
-evolving versions of the compass
What are two major events that occurred during the Post-classical era that caused increased prosperity in Indian Ocean trade?
1. Economic and political revival of China- the establishment of a unified state allowed for maritime trade and the economic growth sent Chinese products into the trade system, in which they also received products
2. The rise of Islam- the friendly nature of Islam led to the creation of an Arab empire that provide arena for the energies of Muslim traders, who intensified commercial activity in the trade routes
What group came to dominate Indian Ocean trade in the Post-Classical era?
Islam
Explain how Southeast Asian involvement in Indian Ocean trade prompted the rise of the Srivijayan Kingdom:
The kingdoms were based on interaction with the sea-based trade
What is some evidence that Southeast Asia was heavily influenced by India?
-elites found the Indian belief that the leaders were gods, attractive
-sculptures, architecture
In what aspects did Southeast Asian remain distinct from Indian culture and society?
-traced a persons ancestry to their parents lives
-women had fewer restrictions and a greater role in public life
Explain how involvement in Indian Ocean trade led to the rise of the Swahili city-states in Eastern Africa in the Post-Classical era:
Allowed their people to gain wealth and power by creating many city-states that would compete with one another
What is some evidence that proves the Swahili coast was culturally influenced by its interaction with merchants in the Indian Ocean?
-became Islamic
What was the role of Swahili city-states in the world of Indian Ocean commerce?
Commercial centers for accumulated goods and exchanged these goods for the products from distant civilizations
What caused the initial incentive to trade across the Sahara desert?
Environments provided economic incentive for the exchange of goods
How did the peoples in West Africa initially trade with one another?
-boats
-donkeys
What new method of transportation allowed traders to travel across the Sahara Desert?
Camel
What commodities did traders desire from West Africa?
Gold
What did Sudanic peoples of West Africa receive in exchange for their goods?
-horses
-cloth
-dates
-various manufactured goods
-salt
What is a caravan?
A group of people, especially traders
What is the size of the caravans traveling across the Sahara to trade in West Africa?
-5000 camels
-hundreds of people
How did west African kingdoms use the Trans-Saharan trade to solidify their power?
They would tax merchants who conducted the trade
What are some examples of women exercising power and influence in West African society?
-ordinary women were key to agricultural production and weaving
-royal women played important roles in politics
Where were most African slaves being sent to?
Islamic-North Africa
Were the African slaves primarily male or female?
Women
What is commerce?
The act of buying and selling especially on a large scale (social dealing with people)
Where were the most active networks of communication and exchange in the Americas located?
-Mesoamerica
-Andes
How did Mayans travel in order to trade?
On the backs of slaves
How did the people of the Andes mountains, such as the Inca, travel in order to trade?
-caravans of porters
-llamas
What were the three obstacles that stood in the way of a long-distance trade network developing in the Americas that was equal to any in Afro-Eurasia at the time?
1. absence of horses, donkeys, camels, wheeled vehicles and large ocean vessels
2. narrow and densely covered rain forest areas inhibited contact
3. the writing system created by the Mayas was never taught
What differences do the trade networks of the Classical and Post-Classical eras share with those of the more modern eras?
-produced primarily for their own good instead of market consumption
-smaller range of goods
-fewer people were required to sell their own labor for wages
-trade was luxury goods rather than necessities
-more limited circuits of commerce than exchange patterns
What made silk such a highly desired commodity across Eurasia?
-elites wanted a marked status
-Chinese officials exchanged it for horses and to pay off barbarians
-used as currency
-women's fashion
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