Chapter 3 - Connections and Interactions 1200-1450 Flashcards
What was the most important factor in fostering relationships among distant peoples?
Commerce or the urge to trade
How did long-distance trade shaped the daily life of people?
- altered habits of consumption as goods from afar became available
- elite distinguished themselves by using luxury items, such as silk or jade
- working people specialized in producing products for sales in distant markets
- merchants became a distinct social group
- significant income for states/kingdoms from controlling and taxing the trade
- spread of religions, technology innovations, knowledge, but also plants and animals AND illnesses along the trade roads
What animals were often used by caravans on Silk Road?
Camels
What was caravanserai?
Inns/guesthouses stops located all along trade routes from easter Mediterranean to China, where merchants’ caravans stopped on their way to rest, exchange goods with local people and other traders.
Such places became centers of cultural exchange as merchants from many religious and cultural traditions met and mingled. Some of those caravanserai developed into major Central Asian commercial cities.
Why the long-distance merchants focused on luxury goods (like silk) destined for an elite and wealthy?
Only commodities of great value could compensate for the high cost of transportation across long (and dangerous) distance.
Brief history of silk (read only)
The history of silk dates back to ancient China, around 2700 BCE. According to legend, Empress Leizu discovered how to unravel silk threads from the cocoon of the silkworm while sipping tea beneath a mulberry tree. The Chinese closely guarded the secret of silk production for centuries, making it a highly valued commodity.
By the 6th century CE, Byzantine monks smuggled silkworms out of China, spreading production to the West. Over time, countries like Japan and India developed their own silk industries, and silk became a symbol of luxury and wealth across the world.
In Central Asia, silk was used as currency. In China and Byzantine Empire, silk became a symbol of high status. Law restricted silk clothing to members of elite. Silk was also used for religious purposes. In Buddhism, silk robes and banners adorned temples, while Hindu priests and deities were dressed in silk for ceremonies. In Christianity, silk vestments were worn by clergy, and in Islam, silk covers adorned the Kaaba in Mecca. Even in Judaism, silk was used for Torah covers and prayer shawls, reflecting the fabric’s connection to the sacred across different faiths.
Brief history of beginning of banking (Read only)
The origins of banking are closely tied to early trade along routes like the Silk Roads. Around the 4th century BCE, Mesopotamian temples and merchants in cities like Babylon began offering loans and accepting deposits, laying the groundwork for formal banking systems. As trade expanded across the Silk Roads, the need for secure methods of storing and transferring wealth became crucial.
By the time of the Song Dynasties in China, merchants utilized letters of credits, “flying cash”, which allowed them to transfer large sums of money without carrying bulky coinage across dangerous trade routes.
Similar banking systems emerged in Central Asia and the Islamic world, where merchants could deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, facilitating the vast trade of goods like silk, spices, and precious metals across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. These innovations laid the foundation for modern banking practices, including credit, loans, and long-distance money transfer.
Why banks and banking developed?
As trade expanded across trade roads, the need for secure methods of storing and transferring wealth became crucial.
Why silk road trade prospered only during certain times?
The silk road network prospered most when large and powerful states provided relative security for merchants.
Which empires provided relative security on Silk Road during 200 BCE to 200 CE?
Roman and Chinese
Which empires provided relative security on Silk Road during 7th and 8th centuries?
Byzantine Empire, Muslim Empire of the Abbasid and Tang Dynasty (China)
Which empires provided relative security on Silk Road during 13th and 14th centuries?
Mongol Empire
Did trade roads play a major role in spreading and exchanging culture and religion?
Yes
From where to where Buddhism spread along the Silk Road?
From India to Central Asia, China and beyond
Why people along Silk Road often converted to Buddhism? Note - it was done voluntarily.
They were drawn to rich spiritual tradition and they wanted a link to the larger, wealthy and prestigious civilization of India
How Buddhism changed in Buddhist monasteries in the rich oasis towns of the Silk Roads? (Read)
The original faith had shunned the material world, However, some monasteries in the rich oasis became prosperous, receiving gifts from merchants, local rulers and artisans. Murals in the monasteries give glimpse into their “fun” life and include musicians, acrobats, drinking parties, etc.
Buddhism also picked up elements of other cultures (such bodhisattvas, fully enlightened beings who assisted a suffering humanity)
By the 9th century, Buddhism had been deeply integrated into Chinese culture, society, and politics. It was popular among the elite and the common people alike, with large monastic institutions, temples, and religious practices influencing daily life.
What were the dominant schools of Buddhism in 9th-century China?
The dominant schools were Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Pure Land
What was the focus of Pure Land Buddhism in 9th-century China?
Pure Land Buddhism focused on devotion to the Buddha and promised salvation in the heavenly realm, the Pure Land.
What major event challenged Buddhism in 9th-century China?
The Great Anti-Buddhist Persecution between 841-845 CE, under Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty, where thousands of temples were closed, monastic wealth confiscated, and monks and nuns forced to return to normal life. Buddhists were now forbidden to use gold, silver, copper, iron and gems.
The persecution severely weakened Buddhist institutions, though Buddhism survived and many monasteries were restored later.
What is Chan (Zen) Buddhism?
Chan Buddhism emphasized meditation and personal enlightenment, rejecting reliance on scriptures or rituals Its simplicity and focus on self-realization made it popular. Chan Buddhism continued to grow in influence and remained a major spiritual force in Song Dynasty China and later in Japan.
What is Neo-Confucianism?
Neo-Confucianism emphasis moral virtues, and the importance of social harmony and proper relationships.
Neo-Confucianism movement emerged during the Song Dynasty in China as a response to the growing influence of Buddhism and Daoism. It sought to reassert Confucian principles while incorporating metaphysical and cosmological elements from other traditions, like Daoism and Buddhism.
Note: By 17th century Neo-Confucianism had become the official ideology of the Japanese Tokugawa regime.
What does “every black-haired son of Han wears a Confucian thinking cap, a Daoist robe and Buddhist sandals” saying means?
The saying reflects the blending of three major philosophical and religious traditions in Chinese culture: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Temples frequently included Confucius, Laozi and the Buddha statues.
China influence on Japan, Korea and Vietnam - Political Systems (Read)
China’s influence on political systems was profound, especially through Confucianism, which played a central role in governance and society in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
In Korea, Confucian principles were adopted into the civil service examination system, bureaucratic structure, and family values. Korea deeply absorbed Confucian ideals, shaping its political and social order. Korean new capital city was modeled directly by Chinese capital. Thousands of Korean students were sent to China, where they studied Confucianism, science and arts.
In Vietnam, Confucianism influenced governance, education, and legal reforms, following the Chinese model.
Japan, adopted aspects of Confucian political thought, especially as the warrior elite (samurai) valued hierarchy and duty. However, Confucianism was less dominant than in Korea and Vietnam due to Japan’s unique sociopolitical systems.
China influence on Japan, Korea and Vietnam - Art (Read)
Chinese art styles, such as landscape painting, influenced Korean and Japanese artists.
Korean celadon pottery, for instance, developed distinct characteristics, but its techniques and aesthetics were heavily inspired by Chinese ceramics.
In Japan, Chinese calligraphy and painting techniques were adapted and blended with local traditions. Zen art, particularly ink wash paintings, showed the influence of Chinese Song Dynasty aesthetics.
Vietnamese ceramics were also influenced by Chinese styles, but over time, local materials and techniques gave Vietnamese pottery its own character, blending Chinese forms with indigenous designs.
What areas were Sea Roads connecting?
From southern China to easter Africa, including India and present-day Indonesia.
Give examples of goods that were transported via Sea Roads
- porcelain from China
- spices from present-day Indonesia
- cotton goods and pepper from India
- ivory and gold from East African coast
- incense from southern Arabia
Why were more bulky items transported via Sea Roads than Silk Roads?
Ships could accommodate larger and heavier cargos than camels. Examples of ship cargo: textiles, pepper, timber, rice, sugar, wheat
What is monsoon and why it was important for trade via sea roads?
A monsoon is a seasonal wind pattern that brings significant changes in weather, especially affecting regions in South Asia. Summer monsoon - NE wind, heavy rainfall, Winter monsoon - SW wind, dry weather
Predictable Wind Patterns: Merchants and sailors used the predictable seasonal shifts of the monsoons to plan their voyages. During the summer monsoon, winds carried ships north-eastward, while the winter monsoon helped them return south-westward.
Give examples of advancements in shipbuilding and navigation between 1200 and 1450
- Magnetic Compass (originally China)
- multi-masted ships, some equipped with watertight compartments
-sternpost rudder - Cartography improved maps and detailed coastal maps
What is diasporic community?
A diasporic community refers to a group of people who live outside their ancestral homeland, often dispersed across different regions, but maintain strong cultural, social, and sometimes economic ties with their country or place of origin. These communities usually form when people migrate, either voluntarily or involuntarily, due to reasons such as trade, colonization, conflict, or economic opportunities.
Southeast Asia - to what were many of the cities, states and kingdoms of southeast Asia connected to between 600 and 1500?
Growing commercial network of the Indian Ocean
What was the Srivijaya Empire, and when did it exist?
The Srivijaya Empire was a powerful maritime empire based in Sumatra, Indonesia, that thrived from the 7th to 13th century CE.
Srivijaya was a maritime empire that thrived due to its control over key trade routes in Southeast Asia, especially along the Strait of Malacca, a vital passage for trade between China, India, and the Middle East.
How did Srivijaya become wealthy and powerful?
Srivijaya became wealthy by controlling key trade routes, especially along theStrait of Malacca, and taxing ships passing through its waters providing safe passage for merchants.
As a result, Srivijaya became wealthy and powerful, thriving on the lucrative trade of spices, precious metals, and other goods.
What role played commerce in Srivijaya’s state-building efforts?
Commerce played a pivotal role in Srivijaya’s state-building efforts. The wealth generated from trade allowed Srivijaya to develop a powerful navy, which it used to control trade routes and protect its maritime domain. This military strength helped the empire consolidate its influence over smaller neighboring states, turning them into tributary vassals. Srivijaya’s capital, Palembang, became a major political and commercial center, as the rulers used trade to foster alliances and maintain dominance.
How did India influenced Srivijayan?
Srivijayan monarchs employed Indians as advisors, clerks and officials and adopted the concept of “Indianized” governance and administration structure.
Also, Srivijaya grew into a major center of Buddhism
What is Borobudur?
Borobudur is a massive Buddhist temple located on the island of Java, Indonesia. It is one of the largest and most famous Buddhist monuments in the world and was built in the 9th century (around 800 CE). Borobudur reflects the deep influence of Indian Buddhism on Southeast Asia and stands as a masterpiece of ancient Javanese architecture and art.
What is Angkor Wat?
Angkor Wat is a monumental temple complex located in Cambodia and one of the largest religious monuments in the world. Originally built in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was initially dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and later transformed into a Buddhist temple.
What impact did Muslim merchants have in Southeast Asia?
As Muslim merchants settled in major trading ports in Southeast Asia, they established diasporic communities and mosques. Over time, their influence grew as they intermarried with local populations, introduced Islamic customs, and helped spread Islamic teachings. Note: frequently, Islam blended with Hindu, Buddhist or traditional shamanistic practices.
Today, while Southeast Asia is not entirely Islamic, it is home to some of the largest Muslim populations in the world, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Brief history of Malacca (Read)
The city of Malacca exemplified the increasing influence of Islam in Southeast Asia. Founded in the early 15th century by Parameswara, a Hindu prince from Sumatra who converted to Islam and became Sultan Iskandar Shah. Under Sultan Mansur Shah (r. 1456–1477), the Sultanate expanded its influence and facilitated cultural exchange, blending Islamic practices with local traditions.
Malacca’s strategic location along the Strait of Malacca established it as a vital maritime trade hub. This attracted traders from India, China, and the Middle East, leading to a diverse population of around 100,000 people, including 15,000 foreign merchants who spoke dozens of languages. By the late 15th century, Malacca’s wealth and significance drew the attention of European powers, particularly the Portuguese, who conquered it in 1511.
Additionally, Malacca’s rise was closely tied to its relationship with China, the major economic and political power in the region, as it sent tribute missions to China and served as a base for Chinese naval expeditions.
How did East African coast civilizations developed?
Trade was crucial in the development of East African city-states, stretching all along East African coast.
As merchant class developed, villages turned into sizable towns and clan chiefs became kings.
Name examples of East African products that were associated with an expanding Indian Ocean Trade.
Gold, ivory, quartz, leopard skins, iron, timber, slaves.
Describe difference between East Africa coast and East Africa interior by 1200.
East Africa interior - farmers and nomads
East Africa coast - Shwahili civilization - urban civilization, centered in cities of 15-18 000 people, each governed by its own king and in sharp competition with the other cities. There was no central power, unifying the civilization
How did the Swahili Coast contribute to cultural exchange in East Africa?
The Swahili Coast served as a melting pot of cultures, where African, Arab, Persian, and later Portuguese influences mingled. The Swahili language was a blend of Bantu languages (African) with Arabic script and words.
Additionally, Swahili civilization become rapidly Islamic. By the 15th century, Islam was firmly established among coastal communities, shaping social and political structures.
Brief history of Great Zimbabwe (read)
Great Zimbabwe was a prominent city and cultural center that thrived from the 11th to the 15th century in present-day Zimbabwe, serving as the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. It became a significant trading hub, connecting the interior of Africa with coastal cities along the Indian Ocean, particularly through the exchange of gold and ivory for textiles and goods from Asia and the Middle East. The wealth generated from trade facilitated the construction of impressive stone architecture, including the Great Enclosure and Hill Complex, and contributed to a highly stratified society ruled by an elite class. However, by the late 15th century, overgrazing, resource depletion, and shifting trade routes led to its decline, and the city was eventually abandoned, leaving behind a legacy that highlights the influence of trade on its development.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, China undertook significant maritime explorations, most notably under the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
What was point of these voyages?
These voyages aimed to establish Chinese presence and influence in the Indian Ocean, enhance trade, and assert China’s maritime power.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, China undertook significant maritime explorations, most notably under the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
How many ships and people were on these voyages?
more than 300 ships, crew of 27,000
During the 14th and 15th centuries, China undertook significant maritime explorations, most notably under the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
How these voyages influenced trade and cultural exchanges?
The voyages promoted trade and cultural exchange strengthening ties with countries like Malacca, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and the Swahili city-states of East Africa. Chinese silk, ceramics, and other commodities were exchanged for valuable resources, fostering an extensive trade network.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, China undertook significant maritime explorations, most notably under the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
When did these voyages ended and why?
Decline of Voyages:
Following last voyage in 1433, the Ming government shifted its focus away from maritime exploration (the chief patron of the voyages emperor Yongle died). This led to a gradual decline in Chinese naval power and exploration.
What were the Sand Roads?
The Sand Roads were a trans-Saharan trade network linking North Africa and the Mediterranean with interior West Africa.
What were the two main ecological zones of sub-Saharan Africa?
The savanna, which produced grain crops like millet and sorghum, and the forest, which grew root and tree crops like yams and kola nuts
What animal made trade along the Sand Roads possible?
Arabian camel - they could go 10 days without water. The Arabian camel was introduced to North Africa in the early centuries CE
When did regular trans-Saharan commerce begin, and who initiated it?
Camel-owning nomads initiated trans-Saharan trade between 300-400 CE, followed by Arab merchants.
What goods were Arab merchants primarily seeking in West Africa?
Arab merchants primarily sought gold, along with ivory, kola nuts, and slaves from West Africa.
What goods did West African civilizations receive through the Sand Roads?
West Africans received horses, cloth, dates, manufactured goods, and especially salt from the Sahara.
How did Hausa city-states effected West African commerce?
Hausa city-states served as middlemen, trading goods between the forest regions and the trans-Saharan trade networks.
What enabled West African civilizations like Ghana, Mali, Songhay, and Kanem to thrive?
Their strategic positions in the savanna grasslands between the desert and forests enabled them to thrive through trans-Saharan trade.
What characterized the political structure of West African states during the trans-Saharan trade era?
West African states were monarchies with complex courts, administrative systems, and military forces, drawing wealth from taxing trade.
Which states in West Africa were known for their riches due to control over trade?
Ghana and Mali became known for their wealth, with rulers monopolizing gold production and controlling strategic imports.
How did the rise of commerce affect social complexity in West Africa?
It led to distinct social hierarchies with royal elites, merchants, artisans, military, religious officials, free peasants, and slaves.
How did gender roles evolve in West African civilization during this period?
Men held public and political power, while women played key roles in agriculture, weaving, and politics, with complementary gender relations.
What roles did slaves play in West African civilization?
Slavery became entrenched (become firmly established), with women serving as domestic servants early on, and male slaves working in administration, mining, and agriculture later.
Where did most slaves in West African states come from?
Most slaves were captured from non-Islamic societies in the south during cavalry raids
How many slaves were traded annually across the Sahara between 1100 and 1400 CE?
Around 5,500 slaves per year crossed the Sahara, primarily destined for Islamic North Africa.
How did Islam first arrive in West Africa?
Islam accompanied trade, introduced largely by Muslim traders across the Sahara, rather than by invading Arab or Turkic armies.
How did Islam differ in its spread in West Africa compared to other regions?
West Africa did not experienced massive migration of Arab people and it remained the culture of the urban elites; commoners kept practicing traditional African religions.
What role did Islam play for African merchant communities?
Islam provided important links to Muslim trading partners, similar to the roles of Buddhism and later Islam in Southeast Asia.
How did Islam benefit West African monarchs and their courts?
It offered a source of literate officials for state administration and religious legitimacy, especially for those who made pilgrimages to Mecca.
Who was Mansa Musa, and why is he significant? (READ)
Mansa Musa was the ruler of Mali who undertook a famous pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, accompanied by a large entourage and vast quantities of gold.
What educational institutions thrived in Timbuktu?
Timbuktu boasted over 150 lower-level Quranic schools and several major centers of higher education, attracting thousands of students.
What observations did Ibn Battuta make about Islamic practices in Mali? (Read)
He noted that practicing Muslims in Mali permitted women to appear in public and mingle with unrelated men, which contrasted with norms of Islam.
How did the Islamic teachings influence commerce?
(Read)
Commerce was positively valued in Islamic teachings, with laws regulating it playing a prominent role in sharia, creating a predictable framework for exchange.
How did Baghdad develop as a major center of commerce?
Established as the capital of the Abbasid Empire in 756, Baghdad grew into a city of half a million people, driven by the demand for luxury goods.
How did Muslim merchants dominate trade routes?
Arab and Persian merchants became prominent players across major Afro-Eurasian trade routes, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Silk Roads.
What agricultural advancements emerged from the Islamic world?
The spread of crops like sugarcane, rice, and citrus fruits contributed to an “Islamic Green Revolution” of increased food production.
Plus water management (reservoirs, irrigation)
What technological improvements were made within Islamic civilization?
Improvements in rocketry and papermaking were notable, with paper mills operating in various regions of the Islamic world.
How did the spread of medical knowledge occur in the Islamic world?
Arab physicians made significant contributions to medical practices, diagnosing diseases and developing treatments, which later entered Europe.
What was the legacy of Islamic scholarship?
A: The translation of ancient Greek, Hellenistic, and Indian texts into Arabic boosted Islamic scholarship, leading to advancements in various fields.
What contributions did Arab scholars make to science?
- Arabic numerals
- Encyclopedia of medicine
- calculated radius of Earth
- Maragha observatory
What characterized the world of the Americas before the voyages of Columbus?
It developed separately from Afro-Eurasia with less dense connections among various civilizations.
How did the networks of interaction in the Americas compare to the Silk, Sea, and Sand roads of Afro-Eurasia?
The Americas had less extensive long-distance trade and interaction networks.
Sample of what domesticated items never reached Mesoamerica from the Andes?
The llama and the potato.
Did the Maya writing system spread to Andean civilizations?
No, there was no spread of the Maya writing system to the Andean cultures.
How did the Aztecs and Incas interact in the 15th century?
They had little to no direct contact with each other.
What were some reasons for the limited interaction among American civilizations?
The absence of horses, donkeys, camels, wheeled vehicles, and large ocean-going vessels.
What geographic features inhibited contact between South and North America?
The narrow bottleneck of Panama and dense rainforests.
What did scholars identify regarding the network of interactions in the Americas?
A loosely interactive web stretching from the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi to the Andes.
How did maize spread across the Americas? (Read)
It gradually diffused from Mesoamerica to the southwestern U.S. and then to eastern North America and much of South America.
What game was played across various regions in the Americas? (Read)
A game with rubber balls played on outdoor courts.
What were the four distinct nodes of commercial activity identified in the Americas, and where are they located?
Cahokia (near present-day St. Louis, Missouri), Chaco Canyon (northwestern New Mexico), Mesoamerica (central Mexico to Guatemala), and the Inca Empire (Andes Mountains of South America
What was Cahokia (near present-day St. Louis, Missouri) known for?
Its extensive trading network and a large terraced pyramid-mound structure. It numbered over 10,000 people.
What goods were traded through Cahokia’s network? (near present-day St. Louis, Missouri)
Shells, copper, buffalo hides, obsidian, and mica.
(The large plates of mica may have been used as mirrors by ceremonial leader)
What characterized the Chaco Canyon (north western New Mexico) commercial node?
The emergence of major settlements and an elaborate road system connecting them.
What was Pueblo Bonito?
The largest town in Chaco Canyon, standing five stories high with over 600 rooms
What was the primary product of Chaco Canyon’s (north western New Mexico) regional commerce?
Turquoise ornaments.
What items did Canyon’s (north western New Mexico)receive from Mesoamerica?
Copper bells, macaw feathers, and cacao beans.
What happened to Chaco Canyon by 1200 CE?
A:
After long drought it was abandoned, leading to the emergence of the Pueblo peoples.
How did trade occur in Mesoamerica?
Through land-based trade and seaborne (dugout canoes) commerce conducted by the Maya.
What role did pochteca play in Aztec society?
They were professional merchants undertaking large-scale trading expeditions.
As contracts, in the Inca Empire trade was state-run with no private merchant groups like the Aztec pochteca.
What was the largest marketplace in the Aztec Empire?
The market at Tlatelolco (Mexico City, Mexico), known for its size and variety of goods.
What was quipu used for in the Inca Empire?
It was a method for recording numerical data.
How did goods get transported across the Inca Empire?
By caravans of human porters and llamas on an extensive road network
How long was the Inca road system?
Approximately 20,000 miles, connecting diverse environments across the empire.
