Unit 2: Networks of Exchange Vocab

Silk

A luxurious textile originally produced in China that became a major trade good along the Silk Roads

Magnetic Compass

A navigational instrument developed in China that uses Earth’s magnetic field to show direction

Chinese junk

A large, sturdy Chinese sailing ship with multiple masts and sails used for long-distance ocean travel

Caravanserai

A roadside inn where caravans stopped to rest, resupply, and find shelter and safety while traveling along trade routes

Money economy

An economic system where goods and services are exchanged using currency instead of trading items directly

Flying cash

Early paper credit systems used in Tang China that allowed merchants to deposit money in one location and withdraw it elsewhere

Paper money

Currency made of paper first developed in China to replace cumbersome metal coins

Banking houses

Institutions that facilitated financial transactions, credit, and money exchange for merchants

Hanseatic League

A commercial alliance of northern European cities that dominated trade in the Baltic and North Seas

Kashgar

A key Silk Road trading city located in western China near the borders of Central Asia

Samarkand

A major Silk Road city in modern-day Uzbekistan, known for its wealth, learning, and cultural exchange under various empires

Genghis Khan

The founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire who united the Mongol tribes and began their conquests

Khanate

A political entity of territory ruled by a Khan, often a subdivision of the Mongol Empire

Siege weapons

Tools used by armies to break through fortified defenses

Pax Mongolia

A period of stability and peace across the Mongol Empire that promoted trade and cultural exchange

Uyghur alphabet

A script adopted by the Mongols to write the Mongolian language

Batu

Grandson of Genghis Khan who led the Golden Horde in invasions of Eastern Europe

Hulegu

Grandson of Genghis Khan who founded the Ill-khante in Persia after conquering Baghdad

Golden Horde

A Mongol Khanate that ruled over Russia and parts of Eastern Europe

Il-Khanate

A Mongol khanate that controlled Persia and parts of the Middle East

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan who founded the Yuan Dynasty in China

Yuan Dynasty

The Mongol dynasty that ruled China from 1217 to 1368 under Kublai Khan

White Lotus Society

A secret religious group in China that sought to overthrow Mongol rule

Zhu Yuanzhang

The peasant leader who overthrew the Mongols and founded the Ming Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

The chinese dynasty that succeeded the Yuan, known for cultural revival and maritime exploration

Indian Ocean Basin

The interconnected maritime trade network linking East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia

Calicut

A prosperous Indian port city known for its role in the spice trade

Spice Islands

The Maluku Islands in Indonesia, famous as the main source of valuable spices like cloves and nutmeg

Indian slave trade

The trading of enslaved people within and across the Indian Ocean region, often linked to labor and household service

Monsoon winds

Seasonal wind patterns that facilitated predictable sea travel across the Indian Ocean

Lateen sails

Triangular sails that allowed ships to sail effectively against the wind, enhancing navigation

Stern rudder

A steering device attached to the rear of a ship that improved control and maneuverability

Astrolabe

An ancient instrument used by sailors to determine latitude by measuring the position of celestial bodies

Malacca

A strategic Southeast Asian port city that controlled trade through the Strait of Malacca

Diasporic Communities

Settlements of merchants or ethnic groups living away from their homelands who spread culture and trade connections

Swahili city-states

Wealthy East African coastal trading cities, such as Kilwa, that blended African and Arab cultures

Swahili

A Bantu-based language enriched with Arabic vocabulary that developed along the East African coast

Treasure Ships

Massive Chinese naval vessels used in Zheng He’s voyages during the Ming Dynasty to project power and trade

Chinese Junk Ships

Large, multi-sailed Chinese vessels designed for cargo and long-distance voyages

Oases

Fertile areas in deserts that supported trade routes and settlements

Arabian Desert

A vast desert in the Arabian Peninsula that influenced trade routes between Asia, Africa, and Europe

Camel saddles

 Innovations in camel riding gear that made desert travel and trade more efficient

Trans-Saharan trade

The exchange of goods such as gold, salt, and slaves across the Sahara Desert

Timbuktu

A West African city that became a center of trade, learning, and Islamic culture

Mali

A powerful West African empire known for wealth from gold and trans-Saharan trade

Sundiata

The founder and first ruler of the Mali Empire

Mansa Musa

A Mali emperor famous for his wealth and pilgrimage to Mecca

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam and an important trade and pilgrimage center

Songhai

A West African empire that succeeded Mali and controlled trans-Saharan trade routes

Hangzhou

A prosperous Chinese city and major trade hub during the Song Dynasty

Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine Empire and a key trading link between Europe and Asia

Marco Polo

A Venetian traveler who visited China and described his experiences under Kublai Khan 

Ibn Battuta

A Muslim traveler who journeyed across Africa, Asia, and Europe, documenting his observations

Zheng He

A Chinese admiral (a high-ranking naval commander) who led maritime expeditions for the Ming Dynasty to expand trade and Chinese influence across the Indian Ocean

Margery Kempe

An English Christian mystic who traveled widely and wrote one of the first autobiographies in English

Migration Crops

Agricultural products that spread across regions through trade and migration, changing diets and economies

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening rice from Vietnam that boosted food production in China

Overgrazing

The excessive feeding of livestock on land, leading to soil degradation and desertification