Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, & Trans-Saharan Route

World History Unit 2 Review 2.1, 2.3 & 2.4 Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, & Trans-Saharan Routes Silk Roads - Stretched from China to Europe to North Africa. - Existed before 1200, but worked best as a conduit of trade when large empires were generally in control. ● Goods - Vast array of goods were exported across the continent along routes, packed into the bags of a camel caravan - Goods were generally luxury goods, due to the high costs of transporting goods across a large distance. ➔ Silk - Originated in China around 3000 BCE - Demand spiked for clothing among the upper class because it was considered a status symbol ● Culture ➔ Buddhism - Spread widely throughout central and East Asia due to Buddhist merchants - Shifted to new manifestations externally and internally along the Silk Road ➢ External Changes - Originally, Buddhism rejected the material world as an illusion. However, Buddhist monasteries along the Silk Roads often received gifts from traveling merchants. ➢ Internal Changes - Oldest form of Buddhism was strictly atheistic. - Mahayana Buddhism spread along the Silk Road, in which the Buddha was a deity, and there was increased emphasis on compassionate works and the earning of merit. - Incorporated Zoroastrian fire rituals into devotional patterns. ● Disease - Different civilizations carry diseases, and develop immunities and methods of combating overtime. However, other civilizations do not have this immunity, and have fatal effects. ➔ Black Death (Bubonic Plague) - Half of the European population died between 1346 and 1348. Indian Ocean Routes - Silk Roads linked civilizations by land, and Indian Ocean linked societies by sea. - Stretched from China to East Africa - Transporting goods through ships was cheaper than camels, so goods were both common and luxury. - Luxury goods: Porcelain (China), spices (Southeast Asia), cotton and pepper (India), and ivory and gold (East Africa). - Common goods: Wheat, sugar, rice - Predictable monsoons and winds allowed people to travel in preferable conditions ● Maritime innovations - Magnetic compass allowed sailors to navigate without the sun - Astrolabe calculated latitude - Chinese junks were large, flat-bottom ships that could carry mass amounts of people and goods. ● Growth - Economic prosperity in China during Tang and Song Dynasties resulted in the export of mass goods across the Indian Ocean - Islam is very merchant positive, and the creation of Islamic empires resulted in easy trade. ● Culture ➔ Srivijaya Kingdom - Dominated trade from 670-1025. - Southeast Asia was geographically strategically important, and resulted in the creation of the Srivijaya Kingdom. - After the creation of a new passage through the Straits of Malacca, surrounding sea ports competed for traders and travelers. ➔ Swahili Civilization - Emerged in the 8th century as a commercial city-states. - Abundant opportunities to trade goods such as gold, ivory, and slaves, resulted in the creation of an African merchant class. - Swahili urban commercial centers flourished from 1000-1500 - Because Muslims repeatedly traded goods, Islam became the dominant religion of the area. Trans-Saharan Routes - Sand-based trade routes - Linked North Africa and the Mediterranean world with West Africa. - Because environments varied, different goods were produced, resulting in an incentive for trade. - North Africa produced manufactured goods (cloth, glasswork, books) - West Africa was agricultural and produced grain crops, yams, and kola nuts. - Introduction of Arabian Camel: Camels were able to travel without much water, making it easier to travel the desert between North and West Africa. ● Political Culture Changes 500-1600 ➔ Mali Empire - In the 14th century, Mali held a monopoly on the trade of horses and metals Levied taxes on salt and copper to gain revenue Social hierarchy: royalty, elite classes, merchants, military/religious people, peasants, slaves 2.2 The Mongol Empire Mongols - Emerged in the 13th century and controlled the largest land-based empire. - However, it left a small cultural footprint in history: no new language, religion, or lasting civilization. ● Genghis Khan - Born in the 12th century into a network of fractured, conflicting Mongolian tribes. - Outcasted, yet still forged critical personal alliances with all tribes, and was eventually recognized as a chief - Gained reputation for brutality, ruthlessness, and military victories. - Instead of enslaving or destroying his enemies, he made conquered people a part of his tribe. - In 1209, he perpetrated his first attack on China, beginning the expansion of the Mongol empire. - Mongol success was due to the organization of their army. Troops were split into groups of 10,000, 1000, 100, etc. which allowed him to effectively control and command. - Tolerant of religions as long as they didn’t result in political opposition. ● Mongol conquest of China - 1209-1279, began in Northern China - As conquest continued, they eventually began accommodating people in exchange for loyalty. - Resulted in unification of China, and used existing systems of administration and taxation. - Established the new Yuan Dynasty, where roads were improved, canals were built, etc. - Only ruled for 100 years; In the mid 14th century, Mongols were forced out by factionalism, the plague, and peasant rebellions. ● - Mongol conquest of Persia Mongols slaughtered Persians with ease Made use of Persian administrative system and left many Persian rulers in place, Became Muslim, and eventually assimilated into Persian society. 2.5 Cultural Consequences of Trade Cultural Exchanges ● Religion - As merchants spread religion, the new religion either unified people or syncretised with others. - As Buddhism spread into China, it met with Daoist beliefs and produced Zen Buddhism. - Neo Confucianism was a fusion of rational thought with Daoist and Buddhist beliefs that spread to China, Korea, and Japan. ● Language - Muslim merchants spread Islam to East Africa during the Indian Ocean Trade. - Swahili was formed through the mixture of African Bantu language plus Arabic. ● Technology - Medical advancements, and the introduction of medical examinations and licensing. - Invention of the lateen sail, a triangular sail that granted more sailin flexibility. - Stern post rudder gave ships more precision in turning. - Magnetic compasses and astrolabe gave sailors the ability to navigate without relying on stars and other visual aids. ● Growth of Cities ➔ Hangzhou - Increase in trade led to increasing urbanization -Became one of the most metropolitan cities in China. - Poetry and literature flourished - Thriving Arab community Travelers ● Marco Polo - Left Venice in the 13th century and traveled to the court of Kublai Khan (Ghenghis Khan’s grandson), and served as ambassador. - Produced stories that were popular among Europeans, which awakened their desire to travel and produce goods from foreign regions. ● Ibn Batutta - Muslim traveler who seeked to travel throughout Dar al-Islam - Made pilgrimage to Mecca and traveled to Persia, East African coast, India, Mali, Spain, etc. - Kept detailed commentary of places he visited, which had similar effect on Muslims. 2.6 Environmental Consequences of Trade Agriculture - Merchants introduced new crops into new regions - New crops = population increase = pressure on land = consequences ● Environmental Consequences ➔ Great Zimbabwe - Overgrazing led to severe environmental degradation; city was abandoned by the late 1400s. ➔ Europe - Deforestation led to erosion of soil ● Introduction of Crops ➔ Champa Rice - Introduced to China by merchants from Champa Kingdom in Vietnam - Drought resistant, harvested several times per year - Led to massive population growth ➢ Terrace farming - Method of farming that made previously unfarmable land farmable - Cutting steps into hillsides to plant rice ➔ Bananas - Indonesian merchants introduced bananas to sub-Saharan Africa - Bantu people thrived off yams initially, and they only lived where yams could grow. However, the introduction of bananas allowed them to live in different regions. - Populations began to migrate Disease ● Black Death (Bubonic Plague) - Fleas bite a carrier infected with bubonic bacteria, and transfer bacteria into humans. - Mongols and trade routes contributed to the spread of plague. ➔ Caravanserai - Resting areas for merchants along the silk road; in close proximity to fleas and animals. ● Economic consequences - The decrease of population contributed to less workers and a higher demand for labor. - Surviving workers had power for negotiation of wages