World Travel and Trade

Chapter 3 Lesson 1

Trade With China

Before 1500, there was almost no contact between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Most people in Europe, Asia, and Africa did not know the Americans existed. Often merchants were the first to travel to distant places looking for new goods to trade.

merchant: someone who buys and sells good to earn money.

Trade with ChinaIn 1271, three merchants from Venice, Italy, began a trading

journey to China. Marco Polo, about 17 years of age, was one of them. The journey took about 3 years. Polo stayed in China for 16 years. He worked for China’s ruler, Kublai Khan. While there, Polo saw many inventions. He wrote a book about his adventures. He told about a trade route that connected Europe and China, called the Silk Road. He described inventions, such as paper, printing, and gunpowder. Many Europeans were interested in his discoveries. Merchants began to travel the routes to China to buy silk, spices, and other goods.

Trade With China

In 1405, the Chinese began exploring and trading with people in distant places. The ruler in China wanted to impress other countries with China’s power. Admiral Zheng He was sent on a series of voyages and sailed with hundreds of ships throughout Southeast Asia to the east coast of Africa. Zheng He traded goods, such as gold and silk, with the people he met. In 1434, a new ruler of China stopped all Chinese exploration. He believed that China did not need to have contact with other countries. Zheng He’s voyages came to an end.

African Trading Kingdoms

People in Africa also traded. Some West African kingdoms became powerful through trade. In the 700s, Ghana was rich in gold but did not have enough salt. Salt was used to keep food from spoiling. Merchants from Arabia crossed the Sahara (the largest desert in the world) in big caravans to trade salt for gold.

kingdom: a place ruled by a king or queen.

African Trading Kingdoms

Arab merchants taught people in Ghana about their religion, Islam. Many people in Ghana became followers of Islam. In 1234, the kingdom of Mali conquered Ghana. Mali’s cities became new trade centers. One of its most important cities was Timbuktu. In 1324, Mali’s ruler, Mansa Musa, traveled to Mecca. Mecca was the most holy city in Arabia. He set up trading agreements.

African Trading Kingdoms

When Mansa Musa returned to Mali, he brought scholars and artists from Arabia with him. They made Timbuktu an important center for learning, art, and trade. In 1468, a new kingdom called Songhai took over most of Mali. The kingdom grew weaker after Mansa Musa’s rule, but trade continued for over a hundred years.

Summary

Trade connected people in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Marco Polo, Zheng He and Mansa Musa spread new ideas as well as goods. Their travels inspired others to explore event farther, seeking new trade routes and new knowledge.

Why was this important?

Trade and travel brought the people of Asia, Europe and Africa in contact with each other. Ideas and goods began to flow freely between them.

Compare voyages of Mansa Musa and Marco Polo

Marco Polo Mansa Musa

Merchant King of Mali

Traveled from Venice, Italy to China

Traveled from Mali to Mecca

Wrote a book about his journey

Brought scholars and artists back to Mali

Question

What effect did Mansa Musa’s trip to Mecca have on Mali?

What did Europeans learn from Marco Polo’s trip to China?

Answer

The scholars and artists who returned to Mali with Mansa Musa helped make Timbuktu a center of learning, art and trade.

Answer

They learned about paper, printing, silk, and gunpowder. They also learned about different trade routes to China.