Trans-regional Trade Trans-regional Trade NetworksNetworksCultural, Technological, and Biological Exchanges, 600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.

Networks of Communication & ExchangeNetworks of Communication & Exchange• Large scale empires = increase in long distance tradeLarge scale empires = increase in long distance trade• Developed from a demand for raw materials and luxury Developed from a demand for raw materials and luxury

goodsgoods• Land and Water routes link regions of Eastern Land and Water routes link regions of Eastern

HemisphereHemisphere• Alongside trade, there was an exchange of:Alongside trade, there was an exchange of:

– PeoplePeople– TechnologyTechnology– Religious and Cultural BeliefsReligious and Cultural Beliefs– Food CropsFood Crops– Domesticated AnimalsDomesticated Animals– Disease PathogensDisease Pathogens

Networks of Communication & ExchangeNetworks of Communication & Exchange

Long Distance Trade• Two developments lead to increased trade:Two developments lead to increased trade:1.1. Building of roadsBuilding of roads2.2. Large imperial statesLarge imperial states• Major Trade Routes:Major Trade Routes:1.1. The Silk RoadThe Silk Road2.2. Trans-Saharan Route (Gold Road)Trans-Saharan Route (Gold Road)3.3. Indian Ocean Trade RoutesIndian Ocean Trade Routes4.4. Mediterranean Sea LanesMediterranean Sea Lanes5.5. Turquoise RoadTurquoise Road

The Silk Road• Trade in silk grew under the Han Dynasty in the first

and second centuries C.E.• Central Asian herders ran caravanscaravans linking trade

between China and urban areas in Mesopotamia.• The domestication of pack animals such as the

horse, oxen, and mule allowed goods to be transported long distances

• The introduction of new technologies such as yokes, saddles, and stirrups also increased the distances goods could travel

The Silk Road• Central Asian military technologies like the stirrup

were exported east and west. – This significantly impacted the conduct of war at this

time.

The Silk Road• The 7000 mile route spanned China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the

Roman Empire. It connected the Yellow River Valley to the Mediterranean Sea

The Silk Road• The Chinese traded their silk with the Indians for

precious stones and metals such as jade, gold, and silver, and the Indians would trade the silk with the Roman Empire

• Buddhism spread from India to China along the route

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes• Becomes known as the “Gold Road”:

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes• Early Saharan trade patterns included the exchange

of salt and palm oil.• During the days of the Roman Empire, North Africa

also supplied Italy with olives, wheat and wild animals.

• Later, during the African empires of Mali and Ghana, gold became the major trade commodity out of Africa (followed later by slaves)

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes• Geography of Sahara desert

made early trade difficult• Introduction of camel from

Arabia sometime between 1st and 3rd centuries C.E.– Flat feet, ability to store fat

and water• By the early 3rd century,

caravans crisscrossed the Sahara to trade with Mediterranean and Arab worlds

Trans-Saharan Trade Routes• “Ships of the Sahara”:

Indian Ocean Trade Routes• In addition to the Silk Road, trade routes developed between

Africa, Europe, and Asia through the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean Trade Routes• The Indian Ocean trade network included sailors from

China Malaysia, Southeast Asia and Persia. • Chinese pottery was traded along with Indian spices and

ivory from India and Africa.• The banana came to Africa from S.E. Asia via the Indian

Ocean. The banana spread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.• The Indian Ocean trade network will continue to play a

major role in the development of the Eastern Hemisphere well into the 16th century.

Indian Ocean Trade Routes• New knowledge of

the monsoon winds allowed sailors to quickly sail between East Africa and East Asia

• Cosmopolitan cities developed in ports as sailors awaited the winds

Indian Ocean Trade Routes• New maritime

technologies such as the lateen sail and dhow ship also increased exchanges between the two zones

Dhow ship with lateen sail

Mediterranean Sea Lanes• An extensive network of trade routes developed throughout the

Mediterranean regions as well– Linked up with the Silk Road and Gold Road to transport goods to west Europe

Mesoamerican Trade• As the Eastern Hemisphere became increasingly reliant

upon trade, the civilizations of Mesoamerica were developing networks as well

• About the time of the height of Rome and the Han (c. 1st – 3rd centuries C.E.), the Mayan civilization began its Classical Age on the Yucatan peninsula

Mesoamerican Trade• The Mayan and other Mesoamerican

civilizations started an extensive network of trade known as the Turquoise Road– Named after the lucrative trade commodity– Sometimes referred to as the Scarlet

Macaw after the colorful bird of the region

• Trade would eventually extend from the Yucatan to the Anasazi of modern SW United States

Mesoamerican Trade• The Turquoise Road: • The Scarlet Macaw:

Impact of Trade Routes• As traders and merchants moved

along these trade routes, not only did they exchanged goods, but they shared ideas, technology, religions, cultures, food crops, domesticated animals, and diseases.– Process known as “diffusion”“diffusion”

Impact of Trade Routes• Cultural Diffusion:1.Spreading of religions

– Buddhism from India to China via the Silk Road– Christianity around the Mediterranean regions via

merchant ships and Roman trade– Islam across North Africa via the Trans-Saharan Trade

routes

Impact of Trade Routes• Cultural Diffusion:1.Spreading of

religions

Impact of Trade Routes• Cultural Diffusion:1.Numeric systems

– Arabic traders adopted from Hindu merchants and eventually shared the ideas with Europeans who adopted them for their own needs

Impact of Trade Routes• Cultural Diffusion:2.Numeric systems

– Even more interesting is why our numbers look like this:

– 1, 2, 3, 4, etc…

It was all about It was all about angles that the angles that the

Arabic traders used:Arabic traders used:

Impact of Trade Routes• Cultural Diffusion:3.Foodstuffs

– Rice and cotton from China to Middle East

4.Clothing– Persian head wrap in Hellenistic

culture and eventually adopted as a Muslim religious tradition (hijab)

Impact of Trade Routes• Technological Diffusion1.Irrigation Techniques

– The qanat system of Persia spreads across Asia and Africa

2.Paper making– Techniques in making paper

spread from China across Eurasia

Impact of Trade Routes• Biological Diffusion1.Diseases carried by traders moved swiftly from

place to place along with the goods2.Several major plagues wipe out vast populations in

Central Asia and Europe– People had not been exposed to these diseases– Urban areas hit hardest

Impact of Trade Routes• Biological Diffusion3.During 2nd and 3rd centuries, major epidemics hit

Roman and Han empires– Smallpox and measles– Severely weaken empires as populations shrink

• Less soldiers• Less taxes

Impact of Trade Routes• Smallpox:

Changes and Continuities• Changes:Changes:Move from barter to coins as system of exchangeGreater interaction between civilizations – direct

links between Rome and ChinaCultural diffusion through trade – spread of

religion, architecture, diseaseDecline in trade in Europe after fall of Rome

Changes and Continuities• Continuities:Continuities:Dominance of India and China in tradeChina’s demand for silverThe Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade routesConstantinople as western trade hub