2.5 Flashcards
Cultural Consequences of Connectivity
Swahili
blend of Bantu and Arabic (Africa)
Urdu
Mix of Arabic, Farsi, and Hindi (Delhi Sultanate?)
lateen sails
triangular sails that catch the wind better
stern rudder
helped stabilize and steer ships
astrolabe
helped determine latitude and longitude
magnetic compass
helped vastly with navigation
Hangzhou
Populous trading city in China. Became prosperous by trading. Center of trade and learning, also had a thriving Muslim merchant community.
Samarkand
Oasis city along the Silk Roads. Center of Islamic learning, art, and rest for merchants.
Kashgar
Oasis city along the Silk Roads. Center of Islamic learning, art, and rest for merchants. Declined after conquest by invaders.
Constantinople
Turkish city that was heavily walled, fell when crusaders mutinied inside and a lot of people died from the bubonic plauge. Taken over by the Ottomans.
Black Death
Transferred by fleas, likely by Mongol conquering and close quarters at caravanserai. Europeans suffered heavy losses. 25 million died, more deaths worldwide. This contributed to economic decline in Europe, but also made standards better for workers which would lead to economic change and eventually the Renaissance.
Marco Polo
Italian merchant who traveled to the Mongolian/Chinese court of Kublai Khan. He worked and wrote about his travels, there, publishing a book about China’s wealth most Europeans wouldn’t believe until further journies were made to China. Most of the book was focused on trade and wealth because he had the point of view of a merchant.
Ibn Battuta
Muslim scholar from Morocco who traveled the world. Visited Muslim communities literally everywhere across the world. Wrote a book about the wealth of countries. From the perspective of someone who was trying to learn as much about Islamic culture and traditions as he could.
Margery Kempe
Autobiography she dictated to scribes of this Chrostian mystic Mideval European woman, detailing her diverse travels and lif with 14 children. One of the rare firsthand accounts of the life of a Mideval European female.
