Term
Definition
Samarkand
A key trading city on the Silk Roads known for its cultural and economic significance.
Paper Money
A form of currency that facilitated trade and economic transactions across vast distances.
Banking Houses
Financial institutions that provided credit and facilitated long-distance trade.
Caravanserai
Inns along trade routes where travelers and merchants could rest and exchange goods.
Credit
A system that allowed merchants to delay payment, facilitating long-distance trade.
Chinese Artisans
Craftsmen known for producing luxury goods, including silk and porcelain.
Mongol Khanates
Successor states of the Mongol Empire that facilitated trade and cultural exchange.
Greco-Islamic Medical Knowledge
Medical practices and knowledge from the Greek and Islamic world that spread to Europe.
Arabic Numerals
A numerical system that spread from the Islamic world to Europe, revolutionizing mathematics.
Swahili City-States
Trading cities along the East African coast that were key players in Indian Ocean trade.
Sultanate of Malacca
A powerful maritime state that controlled the Strait of Malacca and facilitated trade between East and West.
Compass
A navigational instrument that helped sailors determine direction, crucial for maritime trade.
Astrolabe
An ancient instrument used by sailors to determine latitude by measuring the position of the stars.
Larger Ship Designs
Innovations like the Chinese Junk that increased the capacity and safety of sea travel.
Zheng He
A Chinese admiral whose voyages expanded maritime trade and cultural exchange.
Monsoon Winds
Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean that were crucial for navigation and trade.
Camel Saddle
An innovation that increased the efficiency of trans-Saharan trade by allowing more goods to be carried.
Caravans
Groups of traders traveling together for safety across trade routes like the Silk Roads and Sahara.
Marco Polo
A Venetian merchant whose travels to Asia and accounts of his journey increased European interest in the East.
Ibn Battuta
A Moroccan explorer who documented his extensive travels across the Islamic world and beyond.
Commercial Practices
Methods and procedures used to conduct trade and business.
Geographical Range
The area or scope over which trade networks or empires extend.
Interregional
Interactions or exchanges between different regions.
Economic Demand
The desire for particular goods or services in a market.
Imperial State
A political entity ruled by an emperor or a centralized authority with an empire's characteristics.
Implications
The potential effects or consequences of an action or decision.
Technological Transfer
The spread of technological innovations from one culture or region to another.
Cultural Transfer
The spread and adoption of cultural elements, such as art, religion, or language, from one culture to another.
Consumption
The use or purchase of goods and services by consumers.
Production
The process of creating goods and services for consumption.
Fostered
Encouraged or promoted the development of something.
Diasporic
Related to the dispersion of people from their original homeland and the communities formed as a result.
Indigenous
Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
Maritime
Connected with the sea, especially in relation to seafaring commercial or military activity.
Intensification
The process of making something more intense or concentrated.
Diffusion
The spread of cultural elements, technologies, or diseases from one area to another.
Pathogens
Microorganisms that cause disease.
Textile
A type of cloth or woven fabric, often a significant trade item in historical trade networks.
Gunpowder
An explosive mixture that revolutionized warfare and was a key technological transfer from China to other regions.
Paper
An invention from China that had significant cultural and technological impacts on communication and record-keeping.
Islam
A monotheistic religion that spread across Asia, Africa, and Europe, influencing many regions culturally and politically.
Buddhism
A religion and philosophy that spread from India to East Asia, influencing cultures and societies.
Hinduism
A major religious and cultural tradition of South Asia, which spread to Southeast Asia and influenced various societies.
Bubonic Plague
A deadly disease that spread across Asia and Europe in the 14th century, causing massive population declines.
Champa Rice
A fast-growing rice variety from Vietnam that increased agricultural productivity in East Asia.
Golden Horde
A Mongol khanate established in the 13th century, playing a significant role in Eurasian trade and cultural exchange.
Khubilai Khan
The founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China and a key figure in the expansion of the Mongol Empire.
Genghis Khan
The founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history.
Ilkhanate of Persia
A Mongol khanate established in Persia, contributing to the cultural and economic exchange in the region.
Mongol Resettlement
The movement and integration of people within the Mongol Empire, leading to cultural and technological exchanges.