Ways of the World: A Brief Global History

First Edition CHAPTER 8

Commerce and Culture 500–1500

Copyright © 2009 by Bedford/St. Martin’s

Robert W. Strayer!

Silk Roads: Exchange across Eurasia

•  Linked pastoral (northern) and

agricultural (southern) peoples •  None knew the full extent of the

network’s reach, it was ‘relay trade’.

Growth of Silk Roads

•  What lay behind the emergence of Silk Road Commerce, and what kept it going for so many centuries?

Growth of the Silk Roads •  Pastoral peoples traded with and raided

agricultural people to the south •  These movements diffused languages, horse

based technologies •  Xiongnu, Uighurs, Mongols •  Silk Road trading networks prospered most

when large and powerful states provided security for merchants and travelers –  Byzantine Empire –  Abbasid dynasty –  Tang Dynasty

Goods in Transit

•  What made silk such a highly desired commodity across Eurasia?

•  What were the major economic, social, and cultural consequences of Silk Road commerce?

Goods in Transit

•  Most were luxury goods rather than staple goods

•  Only readily moved commodities of great value could compensate for the high costs of transportation across such long and forbidding distances

•  High demand for silk, but also cotton from India •  By 6th century, silk making knowledge had left

China, into Korea, Japan, India, and Persia

Cultures in Transit

•  What accounted for the Spread of Buddhism along the Silk Roads?

Cultures in Transit •  Silk Roads were a conduit of culture •  Buddhism spread because of merchants along the silk

roads •  Was preferred due to its universal message to that of

Brahmin dominated Hinduism •  Duhuang Caves •  Merchants felt they could earn religious merit by building

monasteries •  Buddhism changed

–  Became involved with secular affairs –  Mahayana=Buddha is a diety and merit can be earned –  Western side shows Greek influence statuary

•  Christianity in the East=Nestorian

Disease in Transit

•  What was the impact of disease along the Silk Roads?

Disease in Transit •  People were exposed to unfamiliar diseases

–  Athens, Rome, Han •  Paradoxically, these strengthened the appeal of

Christianity and Buddhism. •  Intermittent outbreaks ravaged Mediterranean brought by

trade –  Constantinople: 534, ended expansion –  10,000 people a day, 44 days

•  Later, (1300’s) the Mongol empire prompted the spread –  Impacted economy, allowed poor farmers to demand wages

•  This also allowed the dominance of the West as they went to America due to acquired immunity.

Sea Roads: Exchange across the Indian Ocean

•  Weaving the Web of an Indian Ocean World •  Sea Roads as a Catalyst for Change: Southeast

Asia and Srivijaya •  Sea Roads as a Catalyst for Change: East Africa

and Swahili Civilization

Sea Roads

•  How did the operation of the Indian Ocean trading network differ from that of the Silk Roads?

Sea Roads

•  Ships could accommodate larger and heavier cargo

•  All items included •  Understanding monsoons,

accumulating technology of shipbuilding and oceanic navigation – Compass – Dhow – Junk

Weaving the Web of an Indian Ocean World

•  Early ventures hugged the coast •  Malay sailors went to Madagascar in

open water – Brought Bananas to Africa

•  Other merchants spread culture – Christians in Ethiopia and S. India

•  India was the fulcrum

•  What lay behind the flourishing of Indian Ocean commerce in the postclassical millennium?

•  Third Wave civilizations •  Tang and Song China (618-1279) •  China economy reemergence •  Improved technology •  Islam encouraged trade •  First example of African slaves

– Sent to Iraq by Arabs

Sea Roads as a Catalyst for change: Southeast Asia and

Srivijava •  What is the relationship between the

rise of Srivijava and the world of Indian Ocean commerce?

•  Malay kingdom controlled Strait of Malacca – Large amounts of goods – Charged a toll to pass

•  Hindu and Buddhist influences – Borobudur – Angkor Wat

Sea Roads as a Catalyst for Change: East Africa and

Swahili Civilization •  What was the role of the Swahili

civilization in the world of Indian Ocean commerce?

•  Somalia to Mozambique – Lamu, Mombasa, Kilwa, Sofala

•  Bantu based languages – Eventually adapted Arabic writing

•  East African goods sought after •  Great Zimbabwe

Sand Roads: Exchange across the Sahara •  Commercial Beginnings in West Africa •  Gold, Salt, and Slaves: Trade and Empire in West

Africa

•  Innovations in travel: Camel saddle •  Gold and Salt trade •  Empires of Ghana, Mali and Songhai •  Cities of Timbuktu, Gao, Jenne •  Conversion to Islam •  Leaders: Sundiata, Mansa Musa

– Visited by Ibn Battuta

An American Network: Commerce and Connection in the Western Hemisphere

Chapter 8 Commerce and Culture, 500–1500

•  Map 8.1 The Silk Roads (p. 219) •  Map 8.2 The Sea Roads (p. 226) •  Map 8.3 The Sand Roads (p. 234) •  Map 8.4 The American Web (p. 236) •  Spot Map 8.1 Southeast Asia ca. 1200 C.E. (p. 229) •  Spot Map 8.2 The Swahili Coast of East Africa (p. 231) •  Travels on the Silk Road (p. 216) •  Dunhuang (p. 223) •  Borobudur (p. 230) •  The Gold of Mali (p. 235) •  Inca Roads (p. 237)