AP World Unit 2

Silk Roads

Silk Roads

System of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia, along with traders carried silk and other luxury trade goods; known for spreading religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as well as technological transfers and diseases like the bubonic plague

Indian Ocean trade

connected Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China; world’s richest maritime trading network in the 13th and 14th centuries- spread of goods, technology, and religions like Islam and Buddhism

trans-Saharan trade

trade routes across the Sahara desert: facilitated the spread of Islam and linked West Africa to Mecca for participation in the hajj

magnetic compass

Chinese invention that aided navigation by showing which direction was north; use spread through trade networks like Silk Roads and Indian Ocean trade

rudder

steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of the boat; improved sea trade

junk ship

large flat-bottom sailing ship produced in the Tang and Song Empires, specially designed for long-distance commercial travel and participation in the tribute system

Kashgar

central Asian city where western and the eastern Silk Roads met; one of the westernmost cities of China

Samarkand

During the rule of Timur Lane was the most influential capital city, a wealthy trading center known for decorated mosques and tombs; key trading city along the Silk Roads