Unit 2 Flashcards
Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)
Why do we call them networks of exchange and not just trading routes?
Not only were merchants carrying goods for sale across these routes, but they also brought their religion, languages, and technologies = facilitated cultural diffusion
In the period 1200-1450, the _ of all of these networks _
geographical range, expanded; they all already existed, but during this time each of them increased in geographical scale which led to further connections among states
The range of networks of exchange expanded due to
innovations in commercial practices and technological innovations
The increased connectivity between all of these places by the networks of exchange caused
various states to grow wealthy and powerful due to their participation in these networks
The increased connectivity caused the rise of
powerful trading cities while also causing the collapse of other cities
The Silk Roads
luxury goods trading network that stretched across Eurasia; luxury goods because it was expensive and arduous to travel from one side to the other
luxury goods of the Silk Roads
Chinese silk and porcelain
The expansion of the Silk Roads from 1200-1450 reflected
the growing demand for these luxury goods; increased demand caused an increase in production of textiles and porcelains by Chinese, Indian, and Persian artisans; manufacture of iron and steel expanded in China
luxury good production for sales in the distance led to what poor effect?
peasants in the Yangtze River Delta (Song China) to scale back on food production to produce more luxury goods for trade
Innovations in transportation technologies that facilitated the expansion of the Silk Roads
caravanserai: series of inns and guesthouses along the Silk Roads that provided safety along the routes (merchants carrying luxury goods were targets for theft) AND brought merchants from all different cultures together = cultural/tech transfers
Innovations of commercial practices that facilitated the expansion of the Silk Roads: Money Economies
uses paper money for trade rather than a barter economy using goods as currency (first developed in China) and much less heavy for merchants (Chinese call it FLYING MONEY)
Innovations of commercial practices that facilitated the expansion of the Silk Roads: new forms of credit
Chinese developed it, spread to Europe where they introduced Banking Houses to handle exchanges with Bills of Exchange
How did commercial innovations facilitate more trade?
made getting paid/transactions a lot easier
The increase in trade on the Silk Roads led to the rise of powerful trading cities such as:
Kashgar: it was located at the on the Silk Roads and previously unhospitable terrain, but Kashgar built around a river = attractive stop for merchants = grows in power and wealth
AND SAMARKAND
On the Indian Ocean Trade Network, a thorough understanding of _ made trade along this network possible
monsoon winds; Indian merchants came to an understand that they blew in one direction or the other, depending on the season
Goods along the IOTN
unlike the Silk Roads, a large bulk of what was traded along these routes included more common goods like textiles and spices BECAUSE a haul of a ship could hold more cargo (but also traded some luxury goods)
Innovations of technological practices that facilitated the expansion of IOTN: Magnetic Compass
helped merchants know which direction to sail in
Innovations of technological practices that facilitated the expansion of IOTN
tool for measuring the stars and then comparing them to star charts which helped reckon latitude and longitude
Innovations of technological practices that facilitated the expansion of IOTN: Chinese Junk
massive ships with massive cargo loads = greater amount of goods to trade
Innovations of commercial practices that facilitated the expansion of IOTN
new forms of credit
The increase in trade on the IOTN led to the rise of powerful trading cities such as:
Swahili city-states: acted as brokers for goods originating from the African interior (gold, ivory, enslaved people) SO they grew in power and wealth
Effect on the Swahili city-states due to their interaction with Muslim merchants?
Became Islamic and got connected into the larger trading world of Dar-al-Islam = more power and more economic prosperity
Another effect of expansion of IOTN was the formation of Diasporic Communities such as:
a settlement of ethnic people in a location other than their homeland
- Arab and Persian communities estab. in E. Africa = intermarriage with women there = ensure trading partners from different states are trustworthy
What new language emerged as an effect of expansion of IOTN?
Swahili: mixture of native Bantu languages and Arabic
What is another example of cultural diffusion in the IOTN?
Zheng He: had a huge fleet, China’s Ming Dynasty sent Zheng He to go throughout IOTN enrolling states in China’s tributary system
Zheng He’s journey
China’s advanced maritime technology, especially navigation tools and shipbuilding methods, were spread to various places that he visited
Innovations in transportation technologies that facilitated the expansion of the Trans-Saharan Trade Routes: camel saddle
riding the camels AND transporting bigger loads of cargo across the desert
The increase in trade on the Trans-Saharan Trade Network led to the rise of powerful trading cities such as:
the Empire of Mali: conversion of leadership to Islam in 9th century = involved in prosperous merchant network throughout Dar-al-Islam
How did the Empire of Mali grow rich?
large amount of gold, taxing merchants; reached highest power+wealth in 14th century under leadership of Mansa Musa who further monopolized trade between the North and interior = wealth of Mali AND growth of existing trade networks
