Unit 2 Flashcards
Silk roads
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 and Islam; technological transfers like gunpowder and paper; and diseases like the Bubonic plague
Indian Ocean Trade
World’s richest maritime trading network before 1450; sailors navigated seasonal monsoons to connect Europe, Africa, South Asia, and China; Buddhism and especially Islam spread through this network; facilitated spread of goods (cotton, spices), ideas & technology (mathematics, lateen sail)
Trans-Saharan Trade
route across the Sahara Desert; traded gold and salt; created caravan routes using pack animals; camels and camel saddles were crucial in the development of these trade networks; facilitated the spread of Islam
megnetic compass
Chinese invention that aided navigation by showing which direction was north
junk ship
A very large flat-bottom sailing ship produced in the Tang and Song Empires, designed for long-distance commercial travel and participation in the tribute system within the Indian Ocean trade network. Used by Zheng He during his ocean voyages of the early 1400s (Ming Dynasty).
paper money
legal currency issued on paper; it developed in China as a convenient alternative to metal coins; facilitated trade
caravanserai
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 and exchange of culture and ideas.
porcelain
a delicate, beautiful pottery that was invented in China and became a highly valued trading commodity
monsoon winds
seasonal winds in India; the winter season brings hot, dry weather and the summer season brings rain; learning to navigate these seasonal weather patterns was critical for the development of the Indian Ocean trade network.
malacca
Prosperous Southeast Asian port city that developed in the island straits linking the Indian Ocean to the Pacific (modern-day Indonesia). Produced highly valued spices (cloves, nutmeg) often traded in the Indian Ocean trade network. Fusion of cultural influences - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam. After 1450, the Portuguese and later the Dutch colonized this region which they referred to as the “East Indies.”
diaspora
A dispersion of people from their homeland; e.g. Muslim merchant communities from the Arabian peninsula settled and spread Islam in Southeast Asia and East Africa.
dhow ships
Arab sailing vessels with triangular or lateen sails; facilitated trade in the Indian Ocean networks; adapted into European ship design after 1450;
mansa musa
Ruler of Mali (r. 1312-1337). His extravagant pilgrimage through Egypt to Mecca in 1324-1325 established the empire’s reputation for wealth and prestige due to its monopoly on the gold trade.
Timbuktu
Capital of Mali and key trading city that became a center of wealth and learning thanks to its location in the trans-Saharan trade networks; featured universities, mosques, and libraries.
camel saddle
An invention which gives camel riders more stability on the animal; this innovation traveled along the Trans-Saharan caravan trade route.
caravan
group of traveling merchants and pack animals
khan
Name for a Mongol ruler
pax mongolia
The period of approximately 150 years of relative peace and stability created by the Mongol Empire during the 1200s.
Golden Horde
Mongol khanate founded by Genghis Khan’s descendants. It was based in southern Russia and the Caucasus; adopted both the Turkic language and Islam. The Mongol rulers collected tribute from Russian princes.
Yuan Dynasty
The dynasty of Mongol rulers in China (1279-1368 CE). Established by Kublai Khan, Mongol leaders claimed the mandate of heaven , and used the Chinese centralized bureaucracy but structure was different: Mongols on top->Persian bureaucrats->Chinese bureaucrats; did not emphasize Confucianism and the civil service exams.
Bubonic Plague
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 due to increased trade along the Silk Roads and Indian Ocean.
gunpowder
Invented within China during the 9th century, this substance was became the dominate 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 Pax Mongolica
Ibn Battuta
(1304-1369) Moroccan Muslim scholar, the most widely traveled individual of his time. He wrote a detailed account of his visits to Muslim lands throughout the Middle East, and from China to Spain and West Africa. His writings gave a glimpse into the Muslim world of that time period, illustrating the cultural and intellectual connections that held it together.
Marco Polo
(1254-1324) Italian explorer and author. He made numerous trips to China and returned to Europe to write of his journeys (some of it contained fantastical elements). He is responsible for much of the knowledge exchanged between Europe and China during this time period.
Swahili city-state
Independent cities that developed along the East African Coast and actively participated in Indian Ocean. Although there was no centralized ruler, they shared a common religion (Islam) and Swahili culture that blended African (Bantu) and Arabic influences.
Zheng He
(1371-1433?) Chinese naval explorer who led seven long-distance ocean voyages throughout the Indian Ocean, sponsored by the Ming Dynasty. He facilitated China’s role in the tribute system, and as a Chinese Muslim, he served as an effective ambassador to the largely Muslim world of the Indian Ocean. China’s overseas exploration ended ended when more conservative Ming officials decided it was a waste of resources.
astrolabe
An instrument used by sailors to determine their location by observing the position of the stars and planets. Developed by Muslim Arab navigators based on Greek mathematics. Facilitated the expansion of maritime trade.
