Trade Networks and Exchange: Silk Road, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan (Vocabulary)

A set of Q&A flashcards covering key terms related to Silk Road, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan trade concepts from the notes.

What was the Silk Road?

A network of overland trade routes connecting East Asia to the Mediterranean, enabling exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures.

What was the Black Death?

The 14th-century pandemic caused by Yersinia pestis that spread along trade routes, leading to massive mortality in Europe and beyond.

What is a stirrup?

A device attached to a saddle that supports the rider’s feet and improves cavalry stability.

What is a saddle?

A seat fastened to a horse to support the rider.

What is a yoke?

A wooden beam used to join oxen or other animals to pull plows or carts.

What is the Steppe?

A vast grassland region across Eurasia that was home to nomadic cultures and crucial for horse-based societies.

What is Samarkand?

A major city on the Silk Road in present-day Uzbekistan.

What are Banking Houses?

Medieval financial institutions that provided loans, deposits, and letters of credit for merchants.

What is a Caravanserai?

A roadside inn where caravans rest and resupply along major trade routes.

What is Hangzhou?

A major port city in eastern China and a key commercial center of the Song dynasty.

What is Baghdad?

The capital of the Abbasid Caliphate; a major center of trade, science, and culture in the Islamic world.

What is Silk?

A luxury fabric produced in China and traded along the Silk Road.

What is Paper Money?

Currency made from paper used in Chinese and other economies to facilitate trade.

What is Currency?

A medium of exchange used in trade and commerce.

What is the Indian Ocean?

A warm-water ocean that supported long-distance maritime trade between Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

What are Indian Ocean Sea Lanes?

The maritime routes across the Indian Ocean used by merchants and traders.

What are Monsoon Winds?

Seasonal winds that enable predictable sailing patterns in the Indian Ocean region.

What are Lateen Sails?

Triangular sails that allow ships to sail efficiently against the wind.

What is a Dhow?

A traditional sailing vessel of the Indian Ocean with lateen sails.

What are Swahili City States?

Coastal East African city-states, such as Kilwa and Mombasa, that thrived on Indian Ocean trade.

What is Gujarat?

A region in western India known for its port cities and long-distance trading networks.

What is the Sultanate of Malacca?

A Malay sultanate on the Strait of Malacca that became a major hub linking Indian Ocean trade with other regions.

What is Great Zimbabwe?

An ancient city in southeastern Africa associated with trade networks and wealth, especially gold.

What is Malay?

An ethnolinguistic group of the Malay Peninsula and parts of Southeast Asia; language is Malay.

What is Southernization?

The historical process by which Indian goods, ideas, and practices spread to other regions of the world through the Indian Ocean world.

What are Junks?

Large Chinese sailing ships used for long-distance maritime trade.

What are Eunuchs?

Castrated men who served in royal courts and often held political and administrative roles.

Who were Sogdian Merchants?

Traders from Sogdia in Central Asia who acted as middlemen along the Silk Road.

What is Relay Trade?

A trading system in which goods are passed along a chain of intermediaries to reach distant markets.

What is a Caravan?

A group of travelers and animals traveling together for safety across deserts or steppes.

What is Flying Cash?

A form of credit money used in Song dynasty China to facilitate long-distance transfers without carrying coins.

What is Kilwa?

Kilwa Kisiwani, a Swahili city-state on the East African coast known for its participation in gold trade.

What is the Swahili Language?

A Bantu-based language with Arabic influence used along East Africa’s coast for trade and culture.

What is Magnetic Compass?

A navigational instrument that points toward magnetic north to aid sea travel.

What is the Astrolabe?

A navigational instrument used to measure the altitude of stars and determine latitude.

What is the Stern Mounted Rudder?

A rudder mounted on the stern of a vessel that improves steering and maneuverability.

What are Diasporic Communities?

Communities of people living outside their homeland, often maintaining ties to their origin.

What are Entrepots?

Trading hubs or warehouses where goods are stored and redistributed.

Who is Zheng He?

A Ming dynasty admiral who led large treasure voyages through the Indian Ocean.

What is Trans-Saharan Trade?

Trade across the Sahara Desert linking West Africa with North Africa and the Mediterranean.

What are Oases?

Fertile spots in deserts with water and vegetation, essential rest stops for caravans.

What is a Camel Caravan?

A group of camels traveling together to transport goods across deserts.

What is a Camel Saddle?

A saddle designed for camels to carry riders and loads.

What is Timbuktu?

A historic city in present-day Mali that became a major center of trade and Islamic learning.

What is the Sahara Desert?

The world’s largest hot desert, serving as a barrier to land-based trade routes.

What is the Sahel?

The semi-arid zone south of the Sahara that serves as a transit region for trade and nomadic routes.

What is the Gold-Salt Trade?

Trans-Saharan exchange of gold from West Africa for salt from North Africa, fueling wealth and empires.

Who are the Berbers?

Indigenous North African people who played a key role in trans-Saharan trade and caravan networks.