Unit 2:Silk Roads and Trade Networks (1200-1450)

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on Silk Roads and trade networks, including important figures, goods, and historical impacts.

What were the Silk Roads?

Trade routes connecting China to Europe, exchanging silk, spices, and ideas.

What is Kashgar known for?

An important Silk Road city and trading hub in Central Asia.

What was Samarkand recognized for on the Silk Road?

A key Silk Road city known for cultural and intellectual exchange.

What is a caravanserai?

Roadside inns along trade routes that supported merchants and travelers.

What are bills of exchange?

An early form of credit used by merchants instead of carrying coins.

What were banking houses?

Institutions where merchants deposited money and received loans or credit.

What was the significance of paper money?

Currency first developed in China, easing long-distance trade.

Mongol Empire

Largest land-based empire in history, connecting Eurasia through conquest.

Who was Genghis Khan?

The founder of the Mongol Empire, uniting steppe tribes.

Khanate

Regional Mongol kingdom ruled by descendants of Genghis Khan.

What was the Pax Mongolica?

A period of stability and peace under Mongol rule that promoted trade.

What is the Yuan Dynasty?

A Mongol-ruled dynasty in China established by Kublai Khan.

Who was Marco Polo?

A Venetian traveler who documented his journeys in Yuan China.

What was the Ilkhanate?

A Mongol khanate in Persia that eventually converted to Islam.

What does the term Golden Horde refer to?

The Mongol khanate ruling over Russia and Eastern Europe.

Trans-Saharan Trade

Trade routes linking West Africa with North Africa across the Sahara Desert.

What was the significance of camels in trade?

Animals crucial to desert trade for carrying heavy loads across the Sahara.

What is a caravan in the context of trade?

A group of merchants traveling together for safety and trade.

Who was Mansa Musa?

The Mali emperor who became famous for his pilgrimage to Mecca and wealth.

What was Timbuktu known for?

A West African trade and learning center, especially for Islamic scholarship.

What is the Swahili Coast?

A region of East African city-states engaged in Indian Ocean trade.

What does the Indian Ocean Trade Network refer to?

A maritime trade system connecting East Africa, the Middle East, India, and China.

Why are monsoon winds significant to trade?

Seasonal winds in the Indian Ocean that determined sailing schedules.

What are diaspora communities?

Merchant communities established in foreign lands, spreading culture and religion.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral who led maritime expeditions under the Ming Dynasty.

What was an astrolabe used for?

A navigational tool using the stars, aiding sailors in open seas.

What is the purpose of the compass?

A Chinese invention that improved navigation and trade.

What is a lateen sail?

A triangular sail that allowed ships to tack against the wind.

How did gunpowder impact warfare?

A Chinese invention that spread through Mongol networks, changing warfare.

What was the Black Death?

A plague that spread via trade routes in the 14th century, devastating populations.

What is Uyghur script?

A writing system adopted by the Mongols to unify their empire's administration.

Diasporic Merchant Communities

Settlements of traders abroad that spread religion, culture, and language.

What are luxury goods in trade?

High-value trade items like silk, porcelain, spices, and precious metals.

What is a caravel?

A small, fast European ship developed for long-distance ocean trade.

What is a magnetic compass?

A navigational instrument using Earth's magnetic field, key for maritime travel.

What were cotton textiles in the context of trade?

A key good in the Indian Ocean trade coming from South Asia.

What is porcelain known for?

A Chinese export highly valued across Eurasia for its quality and beauty.

What are gunpowder empires?

States that began using gunpowder technology to expand, like the Mongols.

What is cultural diffusion?

The spread of ideas, technologies, and beliefs across regions through interaction.

Who was Kublai Khan?

Genghis Khan's grandson; founded China's Yuan Dynasty; promoted trade and cultural exchange.

Who was Ögedei Khan?

Genghis Khan's third son; second Great Khan of the Mongols; expanded the empire and promoted trade.

What are pastoral nomads?

People who herd animals and move seasonally.