Unit 2: Networks of Exchange Exam Study Guide (1200 - 1450)

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to networks of exchange during the period from 1200 to 1450, focusing on trade routes, technologies, cultural exchanges, and their impacts.

Silk Roads

An ancient network of trade routes that connected the East and West, facilitating cultural, commercial, and technological exchanges.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey, significant for the growth of trade along the Silk Roads.

Bills of exchange

A financial document that allows merchants to exchange currency, facilitating trade across different regions.

Mongol Khanates

The divisions of the Mongol Empire that facilitated trade and communication across Afro-Eurasia.

Diasporic communities

Communities formed by merchants who settled in foreign lands, often blending their cultural practices with local traditions.

Trans-Saharan trade networks

Trade networks that crossed the Sahara Desert, linking sub-Saharan Africa with North Africa and beyond.

Astrolabe

An ancient maritime navigation instrument used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies, aiding in sea travel.

Swahili Coast

A coastal region in East Africa known for its trading cities and cultural exchanges during the Indian Ocean trade.

Zheng He

A Ming dynasty admiral whose voyages promoted maritime trade and cultural exchanges across the Indian Ocean.

Bubonic plague

A deadly infectious disease that spread across trade routes, significantly impacting populations in Afro-Eurasia.