AP World History Unit 2 Notes

Unit Overview

  • Time Period: December 1000 to 1450

  • Focus: Networks of exchange connecting various states and empires, facilitating not just trade, but also cultural and technological exchanges.

Networks of Exchange

  • Main Exchange Networks:

    • Silk Roads

    • Indian Ocean Network

    • Trans Saharan Trade

General Developments Across Networks

  • Geographical Expansion:

    • Networks existed before this time but increased in geographical scale, enhancing connections.

  • Innovations in Commercial Practices:

    • Improved transportation technologies and commercial practices such as money economies.

  • Wealth and Power:

    • Connectivity led to the rise of wealthy states and cities, while causing some to collapse.

Silk Roads

  • Geographical Span: Across Eurasia, mainly for luxury goods trade (e.g., silk, porcelain).

  • Merchants' Focus: Mostly luxury goods due to high travel costs.

  • Key Innovations:

    • Caravan Sarai: Inns facilitating safe travel and cultural interaction.

    • Money Economies: Introduction of paper money (flying money system) for easier trade.

    • Credit Systems: Eased transactions, later spread to Europe with banking houses.

  • Powerful Trading Cities: E.g., Kashgar - grew wealthy due to location between trade routes.

Indian Ocean Network

  • Historical Depth: Existed before 1200; expanded significantly during this period.

  • Trade Focus: More common goods (textiles, spices) compared to luxury goods.

  • Technological Innovations:

    • Improved magnetic compass.

    • Enhanced astrolabe for navigation.

    • New ship designs (e.g., Chinese Junk).

  • Impact of Expansion:

    • Rise of Swahili city-states as brokers for trade.

    • Introduction of diasporic communities led to cultural exchange (e.g., Arabic influence in East Africa).

    • Zheng He's voyages contributed to cultural and technological diffusion across regions.

Trans Saharan Trade Network

  • Completion: Expanded due to transportation technology development (e.g., new camel saddles).

  • Key Empire: Mali

    • Wealthy due to gold trade and taxing merchants.

    • Significant growth under Mansa Musa in the 14th century.

Consequences of Connectivity

Cultural Consequences

  • Religious Transfers: Spread of Buddhism to China through the Silk Roads.

  • Art and Literature: Arabic translations of Greek/Roman texts at Baghdad's House of Wisdom, influencing the Renaissance.

  • Scientific Innovations: Spread of gunpowder from China to the rest of the world.

Rise and Fall of Cities

  • Counterexamplar cities:

    • Rise: Hangzhou in China (trade growth due to Grand Canal).

    • Fall: Baghdad destroyed by Mongol invasions.

  • Travel Writer: Ibn Battuta documented his extensive travels across the Islamic world, providing valuable insights about life during this period.

Environmental Consequences

  • Crop Transfers: Champa rice introduced to China, leading to increased food production and population growth.

  • Disease Transfers: Bubonic plague spread along trade routes, decimating populations in the Middle East and Europe.

The Mongol Empire

  • Empire Creation: Largest land-based empire; significant replacements to existing powers (e.g., Song Dynasty, Abbasid Empire).

  • Exchange Facilitation: Mongol rule led to significant increases in trade and communication.

    • Encouraged safe trade routes (Pax Mongolica).

  • Cultural Transfers: Spread of Greek and Islamic knowledge, and adoption of Uighur script for improved governance and diplomacy.