AP World History Unit 2 Notes

Overview of Networks of Exchange (December 1200-1450)

  • Time Period: Discussing interactions between various states and empires during this era.
  • Key Idea: Emphasis on how states were interconnected through networks of exchange rather than just trade routes.
  • Significance: These networks facilitated economic interaction and cultural diffusion, including the exchange of religions, languages, and technologies.

Major Networks of Exchange

  1. Silk Roads

    • Geographic Range: Crossed Eurasia, connecting multiple regions.
    • Goods Traded: Primarily luxury goods such as silk and porcelain.
    • Economic Practices: Merchants specialized in high-value items due to the risks and costs involved in long-distance transport.
    • Cultural Transfers: Exchange of technology and culture among different merchant backgrounds, exemplified by caravan surai (inns) that catered to merchants.
    • Innovations:
      • Transportation Technologies: Introduction of caravan surais for safety and collaboration.
      • Commercial Practices:
      • Flying Money System: Paper money facilitating trade.
      • New Forms of Credit: Banks handling bills of exchange.
    • Impact: Rise of trading cities like Kashgar, which became wealthy due to their strategic locations along trade routes.

  2. Indian Ocean Network

    • Geographic Scope: Expanded significantly during this period.
    • Goods Traded: Included textiles and spices, with luxury items also transported; ships could carry larger cargo compared to caravans.
    • Understanding Monsoons: Merchants used seasonal winds to navigate efficiently.
    • Technological Innovations:
      • Magnetic Compass: Essential for navigation.
      • Astrolabe: Helped measure the stars for navigation.
      • Ship Designs: Like the Chinese junk for larger cargo holds.
    • States Impacted: Rise of the Swahili city-states on East Africa’s coast, which became wealthy brokers of trade, influenced by Islam and cultural exchange.
    • Diasporic Communities: Established communities of merchants in new regions, promoting cultural mingling and spreading Islam, leading to the development of the Swahili language.
    • Cultural Influence: Zheng He’s expeditions spread Chinese maritime technology and cultural practices across the Indian Ocean.

  3. Trans-Saharan Trade

    • Expansion Factors: Innovations such as the camel saddle allowed for larger cargo transport across harsh desert terrains.
    • Economic Power: The Mali Empire grew wealthy through gold trade and taxing merchants, exemplified by Mansa Musa's leadership.
    • Religious Influence: Islam’s influence on Mali fostered wealth and integration into larger trade networks.

Consequences of Increased Connectivity

  • Cultural Transfers:

    • Spread of religions like Buddhism into China via trade routes.
    • Translation of Greek and Roman classics by Islamic scholars contributing to the Renaissance.
    • Technological transfers, notably gunpowder, originating in China and impacting warfare globally.

  • Rise and Fall of Cities:

    • Example of Rise: Hangzhou, a hub of trade, became increasingly wealthy and populous.
    • Example of Fall: Baghdad, devastated by Mongol conquests.

  • Notable Travelers: Ibn Battuta, Moroccan scholar traveling throughout Dar Al Islam, providing detailed insights into the cultures he encountered.

Environmental Consequences

  • Crop Transfers: Introduction of Champa rice to China, enhancing agricultural productivity and population growth.
  • Disease Spread: Bubonic plague spread along trade routes, drastically affecting populations through increased connectivity, particularly during the 14th century.

The Mongol Empire and Its Role

  • Empire Scope: Established the largest land-based empire, impacting trade across Eurasia.
  • Trade Encouragement: Facilitated trade, increased safety routes - known as Pax Mongolica.
  • Cultural and Technological Transfers: Transferred medical knowledge and adopted a written script for communication throughout the empire.

Final Notes

  • Understanding these interconnected trade routes is crucial for appreciating the impact of cultural and technological exchanges from 1200 to 1450.