unit 2 (1200-1400)

Question 1

Silk Roads

Answer 1

A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia, along which traders carried silk and other trade goods; known for spreading religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as well as technological transfers and diseases like the Bubonic plague
They had fallen into disuse in the 8th and 9th century but were revived by crusaders who increased European demand for goods, the Mongols who made the routes safer, and new naval technologies such as rudders and the magnetic compass

Question 2

Indian Ocean Trade

Answer 2

Connected to Europe, Africa, South Asia, and China.; world’s richest maritime trading network and an area of rapid Muslim expansion, spread of goods, ideas
The spread of Islam connected these regions, like how Islam connected areas of Africa
These trade routes were expanded by the use of lanteen sails, the stern rudder, dhows, and the astrolabe

Question 3

Trans-Saharan Trade

Answer 3

Trade routes across the Sahara Desert; traded gold, enslaved peoples, ivory and salt; camels, camel caravans, and camel saddles were crucial in the development of these trade networks; facilitated the spread of Islam and linked West Africa to Mecca for participation in the hajj

Question 4

Magnetic Compass

Answer 4

Chinese invention that aided navigation by showing which direction was north

Question 5

Rudder

Answer 5

Steering device, usually a vertical blade attached to a post at, or near, the stern of the boat; improved sea trade

Question 6

Junk Ship

Answer 6

Large flat-bottom sailing ship produced in the Tang and Song Empires, specially designed for long-distance commercial travel and participation in the tribute system

Question 7

Kashgar

Answer 7

A central Asian city where the western and the eastern Silk Roads met; one of the westernmost cities of China, near the border with modern day Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan.
The city had water for merchants, artisans produced textiles, rugs, and leather goods, and it was a Buddhist city that was also a center of Islamic learning

Question 8

Samarkand

Answer 8

During the rule of Timur Lane was the most influential capital city, a wealthy trading center known for decorated mosques and tombs; a key trading city along the Silk Roads
Home to diverse religions including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Zoroastrianism
Foods in the maret were introduced into Europe

Question 9

Paper Money

Answer 9

legal currency issued on paper; it developed in China as a convenient alternative to metal coins; facilitated trade
Also known as the flying cash system, where merchants could deposit paper money in one location and take it out in another
The places where money was deposited were the precursors to banks and banking houses in Europe

Question 10

Caravanserai

Answer 10

An inn with a central courtyard for travelers in the desert regions of Asia or North Africa; allowed caravans and their camels to rest in a protected environment, encouraging trade
Some believe that these inns contributed to the spread of the plague

Question 11

Hanseatic League

Answer 11

An organization of north German and Scandinavian cities for the purpose of establishing a commercial alliance; facilitated trade and commercial growth in the 1200-1450 time period
They monopolized trade on the North and Baltic seas in timber, grain, leather, and salted fish
Ships would go from the North and Baltic seas to the Mediterranean

Question 12

Porcelain

Answer 12

Thin, beautiful pottery invented in China; highly desired luxury good traded along the Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade networks

Question 13

Monsoon Winds

Answer 13

seasonal wind in India, the winter monsoon brings hot, dry weather and the summer monsoon brings rain
Knowledge of these winds was important to trade on the Indian ocean, merchants planned trips accordingly and often stayed in port cities for months waiting for the right winds

Question 14

Spice Islands

Answer 14

Europeans’ name for the Moluccas, islands in Southeast Asia rich in highly desired spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg which were often traded in the Indian Ocean trade network

Question 15

Diaspora

Answer 15

A dispersion of people from their homeland; merchant communities of Muslim spread Islam throughout Southeast Asia
Often merchants waiting for certain monsoon winds would interact with people in the region, sometimes they would marry and remain in cities

Question 16

Dhow Ships

Answer 16

Arab sailing vessels with triangular or lateen sails; strongly influenced European ship design; facilitated trade in the Indian Ocean networks

Question 17

Mansa Musa

Answer 17

Ruler of Mali (r. 1312-1337). His extravagant pilgrimage through Egypt to Mecca in 1324-1325 established the empire’s reputation for wealth in the Mediterranean world. This created a connection between Mali and Dar al-Islam, increasing trade in Sub-Saharan africa

Question 18

Timbuktu

Answer 18

Mali trading city that became a center of wealth and learning thanks to its location in the trans-Saharan trade networks; universities, mosques, and libraries
Similar to Gao, Marrakesh, and Cairo

Question 19

Camel saddle

Answer 19

An invention which gives camel riders more stability on the animal and its invention and basic idea traveled along the Trans-Saharan Caravan Trade Route. Invented somewhere between 500 and 100 BCE by Bedouin tribes.
Many different ones were invented, but the Somali one had the greatest impact because it could carry up to 600 pounds

Question 20

Caravan

Answer 20

group of traveling merchants and animals that traveled along the trans-Saharan routes, they often had thousands of camels carrying goods and provisions

Question 21

Sundiata

Answer 21

The founder of the Mali empire. He crushed his enemies and won control of the gold trade routes along the trans-Saharan trade networks, this story is very famous and he was a well liked and good leader, he was also a Muslim and used religion as a connection to other areas for trade

Question 22

Pax Mongolica

Answer 22

The period of approximately 150 years of relative peace and stability created by the Mongol Empire. The Silk Roads were reinvigorated and protected by the Mongols, trade and cultural exchanges grew, but the Bubonic plague also spread

Question 23

Golden Horde

Answer 23

Mongol khanate founded by Genghis Khan’s. It was based in southern Russia and quickly adopted both the Turkic language and Islam. They ruled Russia indirectly, using the princes that were there and collecting tribute (they didn’t want to live in forests). Moscow began to collect tributes and built an army to resist the Mongols; after the battle of Kulikovo mongol rule declined.
While Russia was devastated by the Golden Horde, but princes rebuilt their armies and began to accept centralized rule. Mongol rule led to a greater specified Russian culture and final resistance laid the foundations for modern Russia.

Question 24

Il-Khanate

Answer 24

Mongol empire that ruled over Iran (Persia) & the Middle East
Like in Russia, Mongols ruled but they used Persian ministers, provincial, and local leaders for tax collecting
Unlike in Russia, Hulegu and the Mongols converted to Islam. After this they did not support religious tolerance

Question 25

Yuan Dynasty

Answer 25

(1279-1368 CE) The dynasty with Mongol rule in China; centralized with bureaucracy but structure is different: Mongols on top->Persian bureaucrats->Chinese bureaucrats; did not emphasize Confucianism and the civil service exams
Had a policy of religious tolerance, making Buddhists and Daoists more loyal, and increasing trade with other regions
The hiring of foreigners, dismantling of the civil service exam, the separation of Mongols and non-Mongols, and the failure of the Yuan dynasty to spread beyond China eventually led to the end of the dynasty. By the 1350s the White Lotus Society began to organize and overthrew the Yuan in 1368 establishing the Ming.

Question 26

Bubonic Plague

Answer 26

Also called the Black Death; the deadly disease that spread through Asia and Europe and killed more than a third of the population in some areas; hit Europe (peak 1347-1351) especially hard due to unsanitary living conditions and overcrowded cities; spread thanks to increased trade along the Silk Roads and Mongol invasions
A shortage of people working on farms in Europe due to massive population loss led to a greater demand for wages and led to the decline of feudalism.

Question 27

Gunpowder

Answer 27

Invented in China during the 9th century, this substance was became the dominant military technology used to expand European and Asian empires by the 15th century; spread from East to West via trade networks like the Silk Roads and help from the Mongol Empire

Question 28

Marco Polo

Answer 28

(1254-1324) Italian explorer and author. He made numerous trips to China and returned to Europe to write of his journeys. He is responsible for much of the knowledge exchanged between Europe and China during this time period.

Question 29

Margery Kempe

Answer 29

Wrote the Book of Margery Kempe - considered the 1st autobiography in the English language. Chronicles her pilgrimages to holy sites in Europe and Asia. Claimed to have vision that called her to leave the vanities of the world

Question 30

Swahili City States

Answer 30

Cities along the coast of East Africa that actively participated in Indian Ocean trade: showed syncretism in their language and religion, blending traditional central African beliefs with Islam and Arabic

Question 31

Zheng He

Answer 31

(1371-1433?) Chinese Ming Dynasty naval explorer who sailed along most of the coast of Asia, Japan, and half way down the east coast of Africa before his death; facilitated China’s role in the tribute system in the Indian Ocean trade network