AP World History
Unit 2: c. 1200-1450
Networks of Exchange
Main Ideas of the Unit:
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Improved environmental knowledge, maritime tech, and commercial practices → Expanded reach of trade routes
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Increased volume of trade → Fostered grow of new trading cities & states
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Increased cross-cultural interaction → Diffusion of different cultures in key trading cities
The Silk Road
Unit 2: c. 1200-1450
Main Ideas:
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Improved commercial practices → Increased the reach and volume of trade → Created new trading cities
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Specialized in luxury goods such as silk, porcelain, and textiles
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Mongols conquered many different cultures & were religiously tolerant → Facilitated exchange of many different cultures & religions
The Mongols & Silk Road
A Trade Route Connecting China & Europe
Key Ideas:
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Improved commercial practices increased the volume of trade → Led to creation of new trading cities
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Use of credit system, caravanserai (inns), horses/camels, etc.
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New trading cities emerged on Silk Road such as Samarkand and Merv
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Silk Road specialized in luxury goods​
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Goods like silk & porcelain were traded as they were expensive enough to be worth transporting on a difficult overland route (compared to a maritime route)
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Mongols were religiously tolerant of all the cultures they conquered → Facilitated exchange of lots of goods, ideas, and cultures
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Mongols ruled Central Asia and had control over parts of India, China, Persia, Southeast Asia, and Europe → Connected most of Eurasia through their empire
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Pax Mongolica: Because the Mongols ruled the entire land from Europe to China, merchants could safely travel the entire Silk Road without risk
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Buddhism spread as Buddhist merchants openly practiced their religion in trading cities
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Gunpowder, paper, and bubonic plague spread
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Goods & Ideas Exchanged:
Buddhism
Bubonic Plague
Gunpowder
Silk
Porcelain
Paper
The Indian Ocean Trade Route
Unit 2: c. 1200-1450
Main Ideas:
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Improved environmental knowledge & maritime tech → Increased reach & scope of this trade route
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Growth of interregional trade → Fostered growth of powerful trading cities & states
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Merchants of different cultures congregated in key trading cities → Set up cosmopolitan cultural centers → Exchanged cultural and religious ideas with each other
The Indian Ocean Basin Trade Routes
A Maritime Trade Route Connecting East Africa, Arabia, India, Southeast Asia, & China
Key Ideas:
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Improved maritime tech and environmental knowledge increased the scope of the trade route
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Maritime tech (compass, astrolabe, stronger ships such as dhow & junk) made it easier to travel longer distances
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Knowledge of the monsoon winds (seasonal wind patterns in the Indian Ocean) allowed merchants to efficiently travel throughout the region​
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Growth of trade → Fostered growth of powerful trading cities & states
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Many cities & kingdoms profited & grew from Indian Ocean Trade
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Swahili City-States (East Africa), Chola Empire, Sultanate of Malacca, Southeast Asian kingdoms, etc.
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Many powerful trading cities emerged (Malacca, Cambay, Calicut, etc.)
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Merchants of different cultures congregated in a few key trading cities → Set up cosmopolitan cultural centers → Significant cultural exchange
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Religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam were exchanged​
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Sufi Islam was popular due to its emotional appeal & its compatibility with other religions
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Goods & Ideas Exchanged:
Hinduism
Buddhism
Sufi Islam
Spices & Tea
Cotton
Textiles
The Trans-Saharan Trade Route
Unit 2: c. 1200-1450
Main Ideas:
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Improved commercial practices → Increased the reach and volume of trade along this trade route
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Expansion of Mali Empire → More people were drawn into the trans-Saharan Trade Route
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Islam spread via North African merchants → Many West Africans converted to Islam but retained their indigenous African traditions
The Trans-Saharan Route
A Trade Route Connecting North Africa & West Africa
Key Ideas:
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Improved commercial practices increased the volume of trade
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Camels were used as they could hold heavy loads & survive long without water → Very useful in the desert
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Caravanserai were roadside inns where merchants rest for the night
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Mali Empire facilitated trans-Saharan Trade​
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Mali empire traded goods like gold & ivory → Became very rich & prosperous
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Islam spread to West Africa via North African Merchants → Many West Africans converted to Islam but retained some indigenous African traditions
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Some West Africans converted to Islam to forge better relations with Islamic North African Merchants
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Those who converted didn't fully follow Islamic sharia law & retained some indigenous African traditions
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Most West African Muslims didn't follow Islamic ideals of women subordination
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Mansa Musa was inspired by Islam and built mosques & Islamic schools in West Africa to promote Islam
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Goods & Ideas Exchanged:
Islam
Gold
Ivory
Salt
Slaves
Books