Between 600 CE to 1750 CE, the process by which trade was conducted on the Indian Ocean changed dramatically. With the new maritime knowledge in the Indian Ocean, larger ships were able to connect Africa to the rest of the Indian Ocean network, leading to merchant Diaspora which continued throughout the era. From 1000 CE to 1400 CE, African city-states began to grow and led to an intensified trading network throughout the Indian Ocean. With this increase in cross-cultural interaction, new technology, ideas and diseases were exchanged.
The advancement of shipbuilding technology was instrumental in the growth of maritime trade in the Indian Ocean. The invention of the Dhow by the Chinese, which was a large, stable ship with masts that could carry a lot more tonnage than previous ships, and the use of Chinese Junks which was also an enormous ship, allowed long distance voyages to occur. These ships allowed for easier travel along the Indian Ocean, and began to connect Africa to the rest of the Indian Ocean trade network. Due to the advent of this new technology, merchants were
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The chinese were a big player in the trade industry and they focused on paper-making, printing and most importantly gunpowder and cannons. China favored stability over innovation, and throughout this era they continued to have a dominant and strong economy because of the constant demand for chinese goods, especially gunpowder being one of their biggest trading goods. However, throughout this period they were not only continuing to send technology, but they were receiving it too. Although trading was very beneficial during this period it also led to a lot of disease. The Bubonic Plague was the deadliest disease that spread from Europe all over north Africa and Asia, due to the sheer volume of trade that was taking place during this time
Analyze changes and continuities in the commercial life of the Indian Ocean region from 650 CE - 1750 CE Between the post classical era and early modern period the Indian Ocean region underwent many changes and continuities in commerce. The most noticeable changes have to include technological advancement, goods, and superiority over the region; crucial continuities include the continuation of the use of the trade routes and the main purpose it was established for, trade. Naturally, 650-1750 CE covers a large time frame. There were several developments and advancements in technology.
The map titled “Trade Routes 7th-15th centuries” shows the Silk Road with many other trade routes branching off of it which means that the Silk Road increased the scope of exchange (Doc. 2). There is no possibility of bias since it is a map. The map titled “Trade Routes 7th-15th centuries” shows the Silk Road branching from South-Eastern Europe to Northern China which creates a more direct path to many places near the Silk Road, therefore increasing the pace of trade (Doc.2). There is no possibility of bias since it is a map. The map titled “The Routes of the Plague, 14th century” shows the spread of the ‘Black Death’ going from Western China into Europe and by having a plague that kills 25 million people, there is an extremely high possibility to have large decrease in the pace of exchange since if you don’t have people, you don’t have trade (Doc. 8).
Another contributing factor was the accumulation of wealth, especially among the merchants involved. Empires and smaller states that directly were benefited from the trade sustained the commerce. . Also with the invention of new technology
In the time period from 600- 1450 C.E, at the beginning of the post classical era there was an increase in trade and major religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam began to spread through trading routes such as the silk roads. The silk roads made easier the spread of many ideas and goods such as weaponry across regions. As these religions spread they became the foundation of new empires and allowing a structure and keeping peace among the people. Over time trade became more and more important with merchants traveling long distances and selling luxury goods to the elites, and commerce on the Indian ocean allowed for an abundance of goods to be transported over a large distance by sea, thus new states and empires coming into greater
The college board’s decision to shift to a consensus perspective more accurately reflects the era of 1491- 1607, because both Europe and North America were homes to complex and diverse societies with their own distinctive cultures. Therefore, each group adopted and improved aspects of each other’s culture, skills and interacted from the beginning. Even though they both had unique and individual ideas and beliefs about gods, they still shared some similarities. Misunderstandings and differences between the Europeans and Native Americans resulted in years of interaction. Each continent was diverse, different and unique on it’s own.
There are many similarities and differences incorporated in West Africa’s and Southeast Asia’s patterns of interaction with Eurasian trade routes. In comparison, both used the silk road as a method of trade and commercial interaction, which let to both continents being able to assimilate the factors of gaining new resources and customs; second they both took advantage of the use of water for travel and this led through many Eurasian routes in order for them to culturally diffuse. However, Southeast Asian’s from the interaction of the Eurasian routes, was mainly or religious purposes; meanwhile Africa used the routes for profit through slave trade. The role of trading and commercial selling was a big deal in the interaction aspect of the Eurasian trade routes. And one main similarity between Southeast Asia and West Africa is the method of gaining new resources from either direction of the trade routes.
Still they did it brutally and inhumanly by tossing plague bodies over a wall and making citizens flee which led to them reaching other parts of the world and spreading it. And by murdering innocent people for land and power. Nevertheless the Mongolian Empire was crucial; they had to destroy kingdoms and brutally murder people for the reopening of the silk road(Britannica). The Mongolian Empire helped the renaissance by getting other people the plague(World History Encyclopedia). The Mongolian Empire threw infected bodies over walls to win a fight which caused millions of other people to die(World History Encyclopedia).
For example, the Ottoman Empire controlled the land surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and the Baltic Sea thus was a part of a large sea trade network (doc 4). As a result, ideas and inventions were spread to this empire that improved people’s lives. Additionally, the Ottoman’s sphere of influence increased as well as they came in contact with other civilizations and further spread Islam. Furthermore, their economy grew and became wealthier as a larger amount of goods were entering the market and there was an increase in the exchange of products due to trade with multiple other empires. In addition, eastern coastal African towns like Mozambique, Zimbabawe, and Mogadishu were located along the sea network that connected India, Arabia and Africa, where exotic goods like animal skins, gold, and ivory were traded (doc 10b).
The Black Death contributed to the fall of trade between countries, and the halt of trade routes. Since many people were afraid of the Plague, they did not like to allow outsiders to enter their countries or trade with them. People still needed certain goods, so they ended up trading with infected people, for infected things. The Black Death shut down about three major trade routes, making it hard for disease long distance trade to occur. Trade ships were a large disease spreader, and made up about 20% of infection making it very easy for the Plague to spread to different countries.
The Bubonic Plague, a Turning Point in World History During the 14th century CE, in Medieval Europe, the Bubonic Plague started in Mongolia (China) spreading west through trade routes bringing illness and death. The Bubonic Plague is an epidemic disease that resulted in big swellings in the armpits and couldn’t be cured with medicine. Based on an evaluation of the Bubonic plague, it can be considered a turning point in world history because it was a major factor in the decline of population, economy, and affected religion.
Disease became a large part of trading on both the Silk Road and the Mediterranean Sea Trade Complex. They both were trading the Bubonic Plague all around their trading routes. Although they both had it, the plague was more relevant on the Silk Road because the Mediterranean Sea Trade Complex only received it from interacting with the Silk Road, so it wasn’t as impactful. The bubonic plague killed many people in its travels and also leaders of civilizations, as well as leprosy, which was another disease spread along the Silk Road. The Silk Road was also significantly more difficult to travel across than the Mediterranean Sea Trade Complex.
During the 1500s Europe and Africa began to trade more as traveling by sea was getting easier because of the new navigation discoveries. They traded with the people along the Atlantic Coast of Africa. After trading and exploring, the Portuguese travelers established small settlements. Some locals learned the Portuguese language so that they could communicate with the foreigners. They were both friendly and had many valuable things to trade.
The difference between the trade systems, however, were the way the goods were traded. Along the Indian Ocean, ships were used to carry bulk goods as well as luxury goods along a more relay-based route. Along the Trans-Saharan route, traders used camel caravans to carry mostly luxury goods to their trading destination. There were not many cities along the Trans-Saharan, so they never really did the relay-style trading.
There was a high demand for luxurious goods that were special to each region which caused a great increase in trade. This also occurred on the Trans-Saharan trade routes with gold. Religion also played a big factor in why trade was increasing in these two trade routes. Increases in technology helped trade become more efficient and faster. For example, the compass helped people trade along the Indian Ocean sea lanes.
During the mid-fourteenth century, a plague hit Europe. Initially spreading through rats and subsequently fleas, it killed at least one-third of the population of Europe and continued intermittently until the 18th century. There was no known cure at the time, and the bacteria spread very quickly and would kill an infected person within two days, which led to structural public policies, religious, and medical changes in Europe. The plague had an enormous social effect, killing much of the population and encouraging new health reforms, it also had religious effects by attracting the attention of the Catholic Church, and lastly, it affected the trade around Europe, limiting the transportation of goods. As a response to the plague that took place