Unit 2: Networks of Exchange

based of heimler + external notes

Cultural Diffusion

  • Cultural diffusion came mainly from the main three trade routes.

  • Also increased in geographical range, increased by connectivity, technological advancements and commercial practices.

Silk Road

  • China —> Mediterranean —> Europe

  • Trade led to the rise of powerful trading cities.

  • Land based.

Trading

  • Luxury goods trading across Eurasia due to demand from other states.

    • Silk

    • Porcelain

  • The caravanserai provided safety for travelers.

Economy/Technology

  • Credit

  • Banking houses

  • Checks

Kashgar

  • Located at convergence of Silk Road.

  • Grew in power since people moved across it.

Indian Ocean Network

  • Trade led to the growth of states.

  • Led to diasporic communities - ethnic people in a location that isn’t their home

    • Spread Islam

  • Sea based.

Trading

  • Monsoon winds to make trade more easier.

  • Bulk of good that went into trade like textiles and spices.

Economy/Technology

  • Magnetic compass

  • Astrolabe - measuring stars

  • Ship designs - ‘junk’, carried lots of goods

Swahili States

  • Independent city-states on Africa’s east coast

  • Brokers for goods

  • Grew in power and wealth

  • Islamic during trade

Zheng He

  • Sent by China to go to the Indian Ocean states through Chinas tributary system.

Trans-Saharan Network

  • Led to increasing wealth and power in states.

Economy/Technology

  • Camel saddle

Empire of Mali

  • Converted to Islam

  • Grew rich through gold and taxing merchants

Mansa Musa

  • Increased Mali’s growth

  • Controlled gold trade

  • Spread Islam + wealth

Effects

Cultural

  • Buddhism came from South Asia

    • Entered China from the Silk Road

  • Translating literature

    • Greek and Roman classics to Arabic

  • Science and tech innovations

    • Gunpowder - China into Muslim states to European powers

  • Rise and fall of cities

    • Hangzhou

      • Wealthy and urbanized

Environmental

  • Champa rice - led to a population spike

  • Disease - black death

    • 1/3rd dead

    • Weak feudalism

Ibn Battuta

  • Muslim scholar from Morocco

  • Traveled all over Dar-al-Islam

  • Took notes on his travel (let other people know about his travels in the near future)

Mongol Empire

  • Facilitated all connections

  • Biggest land-empire of all time

  • Networks of exchange increased under the Mongols by giving safety and continuity

    • Encouraged international trade + gained wealth

    • Increased communication and cooperation

  • Facilitated tech and cultural transfers

    • Tech - transfer of Greek and Islamic medical knowledge

    • Cultural - adopted the Uyghurs script

Comparisons

Silk Road vs Indian Ocean Network

  • Silk Roads:

    • Land-based

    • Luxury goods

    • Slower, more dangerous

  • Indian Ocean:

    • Sea-based

    • Bulk goods

    • Faster, larger scale

  • Similarity:

    • Both spread religion and culture (Buddhism vs Islam)