AP Silk Road
Dean Yeostros Silk Road Essay
10-12-12 Period 6 During the time between 300 C.E. and 1450 C.E. the trade routes between the Eurasian landmass and Africa were primarily along the Silk Road which ran from Eastern China to the Middle East. The sea based trade was also very large between India and Africa. These trade routes were affected by factors such as religion, the extensive trade of precious items and the rise and fall of several empires. But through it all, there were continuities that remained, such as the use of monsoons between China and India. Another continuity is the constant spread of diseases throughout each of the continents making a simple disease a deadly plague that affects the whole world. The most obvious change that took place between these two areas was the change in items they traded. When people think of the Silk Road they think that only silk was traded between Asia and Europe, but actually the trade was much more expansive. China traded large amounts of silk to the west but also traded porcelain and other technology such as the compass and gun powder. In return China received gold and silver obtained by the Arab and African trade. The new items being traded affected everyone, now China can get items like salt very quickly and easily, also areas like the east coast of Africa become more populated because of the businesses there. One of the largest changes that affected both the sea trade and the road trade were the various empires who both fell and those who rose to power based on the trade routes. One of the empires that rose to power were the Mongols after they invaded and conquered Asia. The Mongols conquered China in the 13 century after defeating the Jin Dynasty, Western Xia, the Dali Kingdom and the Southern Song. These four empires were centered on the Silk Road and the ones on the coast were based along trade along the Indian Ocean. The main export of China was silk, and this precious material was
10-12-12 Period 6 During the time between 300 C.E. and 1450 C.E. the trade routes between the Eurasian landmass and Africa were primarily along the Silk Road which ran from Eastern China to the Middle East. The sea based trade was also very large between India and Africa. These trade routes were affected by factors such as religion, the extensive trade of precious items and the rise and fall of several empires. But through it all, there were continuities that remained, such as the use of monsoons between China and India. Another continuity is the constant spread of diseases throughout each of the continents making a simple disease a deadly plague that affects the whole world. The most obvious change that took place between these two areas was the change in items they traded. When people think of the Silk Road they think that only silk was traded between Asia and Europe, but actually the trade was much more expansive. China traded large amounts of silk to the west but also traded porcelain and other technology such as the compass and gun powder. In return China received gold and silver obtained by the Arab and African trade. The new items being traded affected everyone, now China can get items like salt very quickly and easily, also areas like the east coast of Africa become more populated because of the businesses there. One of the largest changes that affected both the sea trade and the road trade were the various empires who both fell and those who rose to power based on the trade routes. One of the empires that rose to power were the Mongols after they invaded and conquered Asia. The Mongols conquered China in the 13 century after defeating the Jin Dynasty, Western Xia, the Dali Kingdom and the Southern Song. These four empires were centered on the Silk Road and the ones on the coast were based along trade along the Indian Ocean. The main export of China was silk, and this precious material was