Silk Roads & Trade in Eurasia Middle Ages

The spread of goods and ideas along a network of trade routes, primarily in Eurasia, during the Mongol period.

A deadly pandemic that devastated Europe during the 14th century, killing approximately one-third of the population.

The region of East Africa became a significant hub for trade due to its strategic location and the introduction of new crops.

Innovations in shipbuilding and navigation technologies during the age of exploration, including the junk ship, stern rudders, and the astrolabe.

India's strategic location and vibrant economy made it a major center for trade, connecting East and West.

The economic resurgence of China during the Tang and Song dynasties, leading to increased production of goods for export and a boom in trade.

The rise of Islam had a positive impact on trade by uniting diverse economic centers and fostering a global maritime culture.

The Swahili civilization, a blend of Bantu and Islamic influences, flourished on the East African coast due to its involvement in Indian Ocean trade networks.

The Silk Roads were a network of trade routes that connected East Asia to Europe. They facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture, including silk, spices, and Buddhism.

Nomadic pastoralists were groups of people who raised livestock and moved from place to place in search of pastureland. They played a vital role in the Silk Road trade by connecting different empires and cultures.

Pastoralists facilitated trade by transporting goods and connecting empires. They also spread disease, acting as vectors for epidemics like bubonic plague.

The Silk Roads were primarily for luxury items like silk and spices due to the high cost of long-distance transportation.

China held a monopoly on silk production for centuries, but the knowledge of silk production spread to the Byzantine Empire and other Asian countries around the 6th century.

Buddhism, with its universal message, spread along the Silk Roads, gaining converts among pastoralists and in oasis towns.

Diseases like smallpox, measles, and bubonic plague spread along the Silk Roads, causing outbreaks in empires like the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire.

The Black Death, a devastating pandemic, originated in Central Asia and spread along the Silk Roads to Europe, killing millions of people.

The Swahili language, though of Bantu origin, uses Arabic script and incorporates numerous Arabic loanwords.

Muslim Africans in East Africa, though not originally from the Arabian peninsula, embraced Islam and became part of a larger Islamic community.

Swahili merchants connected East African coastal communities with people in the interior of the continent, including the flourishing Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe.

The Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe, known for its impressive stone structures, suggests great wealth and advanced social organization.

The Sahara Desert and its surrounding regions host diverse environments, each contributing to a unique trade network of goods and resources.

Trade in Mesoamerica differed from the Silk Road model, characterized by competition and limited inclusivity between kingdoms.

Despite geographic barriers in the Americas, regional trade networks developed, allowing the exchange of goods and cultural practices over long distances.

The Maya and Aztec civilizations controlled strategically located trade routes, contributing to their wealth and power.