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– Religious tradition– Iron Tools– Farming methods