world trade networks: the silk road & africa
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World Trade Networks: The Silk Road & Africa. The Silk Road. Linked China & the Mediterranean World 150-907 & 13 th -17 th Century Started by Chinese demand for Western Imports Horses, Alfalfa, Metals, Precious Stones Chinese Exports Peaches, Apricots, Spices, Silk, Pottery, - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
World Trade Networks:The Silk Road & Africa
The Silk Road• Linked China & the Mediterranean
World 150-907 & 13th-17th Century• Started by Chinese demand for
Western Imports– Horses, Alfalfa, Metals, Precious
Stones• Chinese Exports
– Peaches, Apricots, Spices, Silk, Pottery,
• Helped Spread Religion & Technology– Christianity, Zoroastrianism,
Buddhism, and Islam– Military tech = the stirrup
The Sasanid Empire 224-600
• Conflict & Peace with the Byzantines– Peace time = Trade Flourished– War = Religious motivated (Christianity v. Zoroastrianism)– Camel Saddle = Control of caravan trade
• Sasanid Culture– Silk Road Trade w/India & China– Zoroastrianism official religion (intolerant)– Religion = Citizenship, language, & ethnicity
Indian Ocean Maritime System
• Isolated from inland populations– West = No access to large
inland populations = lack of customers
– East = Larger pop. But not oriented towards the sea
• Traders & Sailors married local women– Women = Mediators
between cultures
Saharan Africa• Early Saharan Cultures
– Hunting / Cattle Breeders / Horse Herders
– Camels introduction = trade, travel, and contact between the people of the Northern & Southern Sahara
• Trade Across the Sahara– Southern Sahara = access to desert
salt deposits– Northern Sahara = exported
agricultural products / wild animals
– Berbers & Nomadic Trade = Copper/Goods for gold
Sub Saharan Africa• Development of Cultural Unity
– No “great” tradition instead “small”– Highly diverse (2000 languages) due
to different food productions, ecology, lack of communication = No dominant power
• African Cultural Common Characteristics– Kingship– Hoe/Digging Stick– Music / Dancing / Rituals
• Spread of Ideas– Bantu Migration (proto-Bantu)– Iron Tools– Farming methods