AP World History Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

Silk Roads

The most famous networks of exchange that linked the Eurasian landmass from China to Europe. Mostly luxury goods were traded along this route.

caravanserai

A roadside inn along the silk road where travelers could rest from the day's journey.

Luxury goods

An expensive good for which demand increases more than income rises. Very costly to move but high risk = high reward.

Staple goods

Cheaper and more central/common goods.

Sogdian Merchants

Skilled merchants who attracted many foreign traders to them to engage in commerce.

Flying Cash

A type of paper currency used during China's Tang dynasty. Was invented by merchants but adopted by the state.

Bills of exchange

A written order used primarily in international trade that binds someone to pay a certain fee by a certain date.

Black Death

AKA the bubonic plague, this was the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history. Occurred in Europe and East Asia.

Samarkand

Modern day Uzbekistan. It was a wealthy trading center and the most influential capital city of its time.

yokes

A wooden cross piece fastened over the neck of two animals attached to a plow or cart they are meant to pull.

stirrups

A light ring that holds the foot of the rider to the horse they are riding.

bodhisattvas

Those on the path towards enlightenment; anyone who has chosen to become Buddhist.

Chan Buddhism

A Chinese school of Mahayana Buddhism, dominant during the Tang and Song dynasties.

Chang'an

The capital of the Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties. Cultural hub and important trade city.

Sea Roads

A maritime network of exchange that connected all of the states near the Indian ocean as well as up to east asia and the pacific.

Monsoon winds

Strong winds that helped facilitate trade on the sea roads.

junks

A Chinese sailing ship with fully battened sails. Used as military vessels and for trade.

dhows

A number of traditional sailing vessels used in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean region.

Srivijaya

A buddhist empire and the first unified kingdom to dominate much of the Malay Archipelago.

Angkor Wat

The largest Hindu temple in the world built by King Suryavarmen dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.

Malacca

A port city in the modern Southeast Asian country of Malaysia.

Diasporic communities

Members of an ethnic or religious group that originated in one location but dispersed to others.

Swahili Civilization

An East African city state that specialized in trade and was located along the East African coast from Mogadishu to Kilwa.

Swahili (language)

A Bantu language with Arabic words spoken along the East African coast.

Mombasa

East African (Swahili) port city and modern day Kenya.

Great Zimbabwe

A powerful state in the African interior that appeared from the growing trade of gold.

Zheng He

A great Chinese admiral who commanded a fleet of more than 300 ships in a series of voyages in the Indian ocean which began in 1405.

Sand Roads

A network of exchange across the trans-saharan desert that linked North Africa and the Mediterranean with interior West Africa.

Camel Caravan

A group of people with pack animals traveling together for mutual protection.

Hausa Kingdoms

A group of small independent city-states in northern central Africa.

Mali Empire

A strong empire of Western Africa with a strong gold-salt trade.

trans-Saharan slave trade

Slaves traded along the sand roads from West Africa to the Middle East/ Mediterranean.

Timbuktu

A regional trade center and city in Mali where caravans met to exchange salt for gold, ivory, and slaves.

Temujin (Chinggis Khan)

Founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire.

Mongol Empire

The largest contiguous land empire in history.

pastoralism

The part of agriculture that deals with animal livestock.

Ortughs

Mongolian merchant associations that promoted caravan trade over long distances.