Chapter 9 Expanded Horizonsof Cross Cultural Interactions (1)

Long-Distance Trade and Travel

Introduction

• Travelers engaged in long-distance trade for various reasons.

  1. Trade

  2. Diplomacy

  3. Missionary

• Nomadic peoples migrated widely for campaigns of conquest.

• Slaves from Eastern Europe and Africa traveled to the Mediterranean basin, Southwest Asia, India, and occasionally southern China.

• Pilgrims of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam journeyed to holy shrines.

• Between 1000-1500 CE, three major factors in interactions were trade, diplomacy, and missionary activity

• This lead to the spread of technological innovations across the eastern hemisphere.

Patterns of Long-Distance Trade

Merchants and Trade Networks

• Merchants relied on two primary networks for long-distance trade:

  • Luxury goods traveled overland on the Silk Roads, including silk textiles and precious stones.

  • Bulkier commodities traveled via sea lanes of the Indian Ocean, including steel, stone, coral, and building materials.

• The Silk Roads interconnected the entire Eurasian landmass, with

  • Trans-Saharan routes linking West Africa to the larger economy.

• Indian Ocean sea lanes had ports in Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa.

  • Used the China sea to access to ports in China, Japan, Korea, and the spice islands.

Growth of Trading Cities

• Increased trade led to the rapid growth of major trading cities and ports attracting buyers, sellers, brokers, and bankers.

  • Key cities: Khanbaliq (Beijing), Hangzhou, Quanzhou, Melaka, Cambay, Samarkand, Hormuz, Baghdad, Caffa, Cairo, Alexandria, Kilwa, Constantinople, Venice, and Timbuktu housed foreign merchant communities.

• Strategic locations, good order, and low fees made cities emporiums for trade.

  • Melaka founded in the 1390s became a principal trade center in the eastern Indian Ocean by the 15th century

  • The city authorities controlled the strait of Melaka and maintained a safe trade market

  • had a population of 50k and 80 languages by the 16th century.

Impact of Mongol Campaigns

• Mongol campaigns caused initial economic disruptions in Eurasia, China and Southwest Asia but later consolidated lands and reduced risks for merchants, fueling long-distance trade.

  • Demand for foreign commodities surged in strong economies of China, India, and Western Europe.

Marco Polo

• Famous long-distance traveler from Mongol times, Venetian Marco Polo (1253-1324)

  • His dad and uncle were among the first European merchants in China.

  • Accompanied his father and uncle on a journey to Mongol lands, where they met Khubilai Khan.

  • Polo took part in diplomatic missions for the Khan over 17 years and then reterned to Venice

  • Captured by Genoa, he recounted his experiences where one of the prisoners wrote it down and spred it around

  • It inspired many European merchants to explore similar trade routes

• Polo's accounts increased European interest in the broader economy of the Eastern Hemisphere.

Political and Diplomatic Travel

Diplomatic Influence

• Marco Polo's experiences highlighted the roles of political and diplomatic travel in trade.

• Emergence of trading networks raised the demand for political representation.

Mongol-Christian Diplomacy

• Active diplomacy was noted, particularly during the Mongol expansion in the 13th century, advocating potential alliances against Muslims.

• Pope Innocent IV reached out to Mongols to convert to Christianity, but proposals were declined.

Rabban Sauma and Mongol Diplomacy

• In 1287, Rabban Sauma was sent as an envoy to garner support against Muslim lands.

• Sauma's efforts were largely unsuccessful; Ghazan's conversion to Islam later blocked alliances with Europeans.

Influence of Islamic Scholars

• Following the spread of Islam, educated Muslims traveled to instill Islamic law and values in newly converted lands.

Ibn Battuta

• Prominent Muslim traveler known for exploring significant regions under Islamic rule (1304-1369)

  • Worked as qadi and advisor for various sultans, upholding Islamic legal standards.

  • Enforced strict observance of Islam in the Maldives, with significant penalties for violations.

Missionary Campaigns

Sufi Missionaries

• Sufis engaged in missionary work, focused on spreading Islam through piety rather than strict adherence to doctrine.

  • Their flexible approach helped them gain followers in regions like India, SE Asia, and Africa.

Christian Missionaries

• Roman Catholic missionaries spread Christianity alongside crusaders, gaining converts in long-term European-controlled regions.

  • Missions sought to convert Mongols and Chinese, with limited success.

John of Montecorvino

• Notable missionary in China who served the Roman Catholic community and worked on establishing Christianity but attracted few indigenous converts.

Long-Distance Travel and Cultural Exchanges

Cultural Exchange

• Long-distance travel facilitated exchanges of cultural elements, ideas, and technologies among diverse societies.

  • Influence of Muslim and Jewish scholars on European science.

Technological Diffusion

• Significant technological diffusion occurred during this period, like the magnetic compass enhancing maritime navigation.

  • Helped mariners navigate longer sea routes confidently.

Spread of Crops

• Muslim and other travelers introduced new food crops to West Africa, enriching diets and agriculture.

  • Cotton became a principal textile by 1500.

Sugarcane and Gunpowder

• Expansion of sugarcane cultivation and the introduction of gunpowder technology occurred through Muslim influence, reshaping economies and warfare.

Crisis and Recovery: The Bubonic Plague

Climate Change

• The Little Ice Age beginning around 1300 CE negatively impacted agriculture and led to famines.

Spread of Plague

• Bubonic plague spread from Yunnan, China, exacerbated by Mongol military campaigns.

Population Decline

• Severe drop in population due to the plague, particularly in China and Europe, impacting society economically and socially.

Social Effects

• Labor shortages led to social unrest in Europe, compelling urban workers to demand higher wages.

Recovery in China: The Ming Dynasty

Governance

• The Ming dynasty arose from the fall of the Yuan, emphasizing centralization and Confucian values.

Economic Recovery

• Efforts included rebuilding irrigation systems and promoting manufacturing, leading to increased domestic trade.

Cultural Revival

• Revived Chinese cultural traditions opposed to Mongol influence; notable contributions like the Yongle Encyclopedia were substantial.

Recovery in Europe: State Building

Political Authority

• European states strengthened post-plague recovery through taxation and military innovations.

Development of Nation-States

• Basic state-building techniques emerged in Italy, Spain, England, and France, enhancing central governmental powers.

European Exploration

Motivations

• European exploration aimed at spreading Christianity and seeking commercial opportunities.

Portuguese Exploration

• Prince Henry the Navigator's efforts initiated exploration, including the capture of African outposts.

The Slave Trade

• Portuguese exploitation of African commerce significantly increased the volume of the transatlantic slave trade.

Columbus’s Voyages

• Columbus's expeditions revealed a new world, prompting further exploration and colonization.

Conclusion: Diffusion of Technology

• Use of navigational and military technology aided European exploration efforts, marking a significant period of global interaction.