Emergence of Transregional Networks of Communication and Exchange Key Concept 2.3
Breaking down the standard With the organization of large-scale empires, the volume of long-distance trade increased dramatically Trade resulted from the demand for raw materials and luxury goods Land and water routes linked many regions of the Eastern Hemisphere The exchange of people, technology, religious and cultural beliefs, food crops, domesticated animals, and disease pathogens developed alongside the trade in goods far-flung networks of communication and exchange. In the Americas and Oceania localized networks developed
Major Classical Era Trade Routes Land and water routes became the basis for transregional trade, communication, and exchange networks in the Eastern hemisphere Many factors, including the climate and location or the routes, the typical trade of goods, and the ethnicity of people involved, shaped distinctive features of a variety of trade routes Classical Era Trade Routes Eurasian Silk Roads Trans-Saharan caravan routes Indian Ocean Sea Lanes Mediterranean Sea Lanes
Classical Era Trade Routes
The Silk Roads Extended from China s coast to eastern by late 2 nd Century BCE Mediterranean Traded represented a chain Chinese Silk trade to Central Asia in exchange for horses Central Asia traded Chinese silk with traders in Mesopotamia Mesopotamian traders sold Chinese silk to Greeks and Romans Other significant items traded Traders going west: peaches, apricots, cinnamon, ginger, spices, silk Traders going east: alfalfa, grapes, pistachios, sesame, and spinach Goods, ideas, cultures, and religion spread throughout Silk Roads
Spread of Religion
How does this relate to the standard???? New technologies facilitated long-distance communication and exchange New technologies permitted the use of domesticated pack animals to transport goods Connection to the Silk Roads: The stirrup (new technology) spread from Central Asia to China and Europe Pastoral nomads supplied animals to transport and guided caravan parties on their journey
The Indian Ocean People already traded along the Red Sea and along the Arabian Peninsula, but we see routes connect to create a vast trade network Products include: Ivory (Africa, India, Mesopotamia Frankincense and myrrh (Arabia Pearls (Persian Gulf) Spices (India and SE Asia) Manufactured goods and pottery (China) Traveled in three legs (sections) SE China to SE Asia SE Asia to E. India W. India to Red Sea and East Africa
How does this connect to the standard???? Innovations in maritime technologies, as well as advanced knowledge of the monsoon winds, stimulated exchanges along maritime routes from East Africa to East Asia Understanding of the monsoon winds made travel throughout the Indian Ocean Basin more efficient, faster, and safer Dhows and lateen sails became widely used by Persian, Indian, and Arab sailors Dhow: Larger ship that could carry more cargo Lateen sail: Triangular sail that was easily maneuverable and could catch wind from sides and from behind
Trans-Saharan Trade Sahara previously a barrier but this changed with the introduction of the camel Traded desert salt for kola nuts and palm oil from the south Extensive trade routes connected different areas of Sub-Saharan Africa; easy to tie into E. African trade Connection to Standard: Domestication of camel allowed for transportation of goods across longer routes
Consequences of Interregional Trade Alongside the trade in goods, the exchange of people, technology, religious and cultural beliefs, food crops, domesticated animals, and disease pathogens developed across far-flung networks of communication and exchange The spread of crops, including rice and cotton from South Asia to the Middle East, encouraged changes in farming and irrigation techniques Ex: Persian Qanat system
Persian Qanat
Consequences of Interregional Trade Alongside the trade in goods, the exchange of people, technology, religious and cultural beliefs, food crops, domesticated animals, and disease pathogens developed across far-flung networks of communication and exchange The spread of disease pathogens diminished urban populations and contributed to the decline of some empires Smallpox, measles, and bubonic plague caused sharp population decline in Roman and Han empire Effects: Interregional trade decreased dramatically; shifts to regional (localized) trade; economic decline due to lack of output (artisans and laborers)
Consequences of Interregional Trade Religious and cultural traditions were transformed as they spread Syncretism blending local traditions with dogma Buddhism Spread by monks Mahayana Buddhism: Viewed Buddha as divine Theraveda Buddhism: Required followers to devote their life to Buddhist teachings Syncretism: Greco-Buddhism: Anthromorphic depictions of Buddha probably originated with Greeks
Consequences of Interregional Trade Religious and cultural traditions were transformed as they spread Syncretism blending local traditions with dogma Christianity Spread by disciples Paul of Tarsus most significant Greco-Roman religion became unpopular, especially among the poor Christian emphasis on a simple and spiritual life and equality was appealing Syncretism: Christmas = Roman Winter Solstice Holiday; Churches built using Roman architectural stlye