Trade and Cultural Exchange on the Silk Roads and Indian Ocean Basin

Flashcards covering key concepts related to trading practices, innovations, and the development of cities in the context of the Silk Roads and Indian Ocean trade.

Samarkand

A key trading city located between China and the Mediterranean, known for its cultural exchange.

Paper money

A system of credit allowing merchants to deposit and withdraw money, developed to provide efficiency in trade.

Banking houses

Institutions where flying cash could be exchanged, facilitating trade and commerce.

Caravanserai

Resting places for merchants and their animals that allowed for trade with local markets.

Credit

A financial system that made it easier to transport money, thus increasing travel efficiency.

Swahili City-States

Commercial city-states in East Africa where local rulers traded goods like gold and ivory, leading to the rise of a merchant class.

Sultanate of Malacca

A powerful state that gained wealth by controlling trade routes and imposing fees on passing ships.

Compass

An instrument that indicates direction and is crucial for navigation during sea trade.

Astrolabe

An ancient instrument used by sailors to determine their latitude based on the position of celestial bodies.

Larger ship designs

Innovations that allowed for the transportation of bulk goods cheaply and safely over the sea.