world vocsb 2

Silk Road

A network of overland routes connecting East Asia to the Mediterranean; not a single road but a system of trade corridors across Central Asia and the Middle East.

Black Death

A devastating pandemic (bubonic plague) that spread along trade networks in the 14th century.

Stirrup shoe

Helped riders get onto transportation, supporting foot weight

Saddle

riders sat on this during travel which made their ride comfortable and could last longer

Yoke

Harness for pulling loads or animals, facilitating efficient transport of goods. usually wooden bar

Steppe

Extensive grassland belt across Eurasia feeding nomadic and semi-nomadic communities.

Samarkand

A major oasis city on the Silk Road in Central Asia.

Banking Houses

Early financial institutions enabling credit, deposits, and transfer of value across long distances.

Flying Cash

Early form of credit or transfer system allowing merchants to deposit money in one location and withdraw in another, reducing the need to physically transport heavy coins.

Paper Money

Commodity-backed or state-issued currency allowing easier large-scale trade and settlement.

Currency

General concept of standardized money facilitating exchange.

Caravanserai

Roadside inns at intervals along caravan routes where caravans could rest, resupply, and protect goods.

Relay Trade

System where goods moved in stages across regions; each intermediary added value or traded for local goods, creating multi-layered value chains.

Caravan

A group of traders, often with animals like camels, traveling together for safety and efficiency.

Indian Ocean Sea Lanes

A maritime world of interconnected ports and sea routes around the Indian Ocean.

Monsoon Winds

Seasonal wind patterns that enabled predictable sailing schedules in the Indian Ocean.

Lateen Sails

Triangular sails that improve maneuverability and sailing against the wind; widely used in Indian Ocean trade.

Dhow

Traditional asymmetric sailing vessel common in the Indian Ocean, often with a lateen sail.

Junk

Chinese-origin sailing ships with advanced hull design and multiple masts; capable of long-distance voyages.

Hangzhou

Capital of the Song dynasty; a major economic and logistical hub with a thriving port and commercial infrastructure.

Baghdad

Major urban and commercial center of the Abbasid Caliphate; a crossroads for trade, learning, and culture.

Sogdian Merchants

Traders from Sogdiana (Central Asia) who acted as middlemen on the Silk Road.

Swahili City States

A string of coastal city-states in East Africa involved in Indian Ocean trade (e.g., Mombasa, Kilwa, Mogadishu region-adjacent areas).

Kilwa

A powerful Swahili city-state known for commanding regional gold and ivory trade routes along the Indian Ocean.

Swahili Language

Bantu-based lingua franca with Arabic and Persian loanwords, born from centuries of coastal trade and cultural exchange.

Diaspora/Entrepots

Communities and port hubs where merchants from various cultures gathered, stored, and redistributed goods.

Gujarat

Western Indian region with major port cities (e.g., Khambhat/Cambay) and influential merchant networks in Indian Ocean trade.

Sultanate of Malacca

Strategic Malay polity controlling the Strait of Malacca; a major hub for spice trade and regional exchange during its height.

Great Zimbabwe

Powerful urban center in southern Africa; evidence of long-distance exchange and regional political complexity, connected to broader trade networks.

Malay

People and culture linked to maritime Southeast Asia; important actors in regional commerce and exchange.

Southernization

Concept describing diffusion of Southern Asian cultural, technological, and economic practices into other regions through sustained trade (e.g., cotton production, sugar, spices, and culinary influences).

Junks

Large Chinese sailing ships designed for long voyages with multiple masts and watertight compartments.

Eunuchs

Court officials in several dynasties (notably Ming) who sometimes led or influenced large maritime expeditions (e.g., Zheng He).

Magnetic Compass

Navigational device enabling direction finding at sea. east asia

Astrolabe

Instrument for measuring altitude of stars for navigation; essential for celestial navigation. middle east

Stern Mounted Rudder

Rudder positioned at the stern to improve steering control, especially at higher speeds.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral and envoy of the Ming dynasty who led several large-scale maritime expeditions (early 15th century). east asia.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade routes crossing the Sahara Desert connecting West Africa to North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Oases

Desert stops that provided water and rest for caravans.

Camel Caravan

group of people with camels who ride together for safety

Camel Saddle

Facilitated, provided comfort for long treks across the Sahara on a camel. west africa

Timbuktu

A major urban and scholarly center in the Sahel; important in trade (gold, salt, books) and learning.

Sahara Desert

Vast barrier shaping caravan logistics, route planning, and risk management.

Sahel

Ecological belt south of the Sahara that supported urban centers and cross-desert exchange.

Gold-Salt Trade

Core economic exchange between gold-rich West Africa