Name:__Lauren Nolan________________________________Date:____Sept 15___Class:___7___

APWH|Unit Two “Networks of Exchange c. 1200-1450” Reading Guide

Directions: For each reading section define the important vocabulary words and answer the reading questions that follow using
specific details. It is imperative that you complete your readings thoughtfully and independently. Students who do not do their
reading will not do well in this course. Your answers must be TYPED and in RED, unless you get permission from your teacher to
handwrite the assignment. Any assignments not following these instructions will receive a ‘0’.

UNIT 2.1| The Silk Roads (AMSCO pages 77-81)

Key term/event Definition (Think - Who, What, When, Where…) and Significance (Why this term matters)

1. Silk Roads A vital trade route from China to Europe. It spread ideas, religions, inventions, and languages.

2. Kashgar This was a very important stop along the silk roads where people would stop to get food and let their

animals rest or even switch them out for fresh ones.

3. Samarkand Another important stop between China and the Mediterranean. It was a huge center of culture and had

diverse religions.

4. Caravanserai These were the first things to resemble hotels. They were little inns that people could stay and rest in.

5. Flying cash This was the first credit system. China developed this system. In it, you could deposit physical money in

one location and have credit in other locations. You would receive an official document stating how much

money you were “owed”.

6. Hanseatic League This was a group of cities in northern Germany and Scandinavia that fought intruders together

Objective Key Developments

Explain the A. The first ‘golden age’ of the Silk Roads came to an end after the collapse of classical civilizations like the Roman
causes of and Han empires. How were they revived?
growth of Merchants from the Abbasid empire started using them again and it flourished from there.
networks of
exchange B. What was China’s role in bringing about the ‘second gold age’ of the Silk Roads?
after 1200. China had the technology and materials to develop luxury goods. These were in high demand because of new
interest in East Asia thanks to Marco Polo and other merchants.

C. How did the Mongol empire significantly impact the expansion of trade?
This was the first time that the areas of the silk roads had one overriding power. They helped with protection and
road building.

D. Describe how each of the following technological advancements led to growth in the expansion of trade
networks:

● Caravans:
This was groups of traders that chose to travel together for safety and convenience.
 ● Saddles:
Increased the comfortability that people could ride with as well as increasing the weight load the
animals could carry.

● Magnetic compass:
Helped people navigate when they couldn’t see land or landmarks.

● Rudder:
Helped navigate when on sea.

● Junk ships:
These were huge ships that were helpful in people being less likely to sink. They were divided into
compartments.

Explain the A. Why did cities become thriving centers of trade during the growth of exchange networks?
effects of Cities existed and markets were often found in them. Markets play a big role in trade, so rban areas therefore did
growth of too because that’s where they were housed.
networks of ● Explain the significance of Kashgar, or why it was important to travelers:
exchange This was an essential rest stop that allowed people to rest and rejuvenate to keep them healthier and
after 1200. more alert during their travels. It had a bustling market too.

● Explain the significance of Samarkand, or why it was important to travelers:

This is the location known for its cultural diversity. Many different religions were found here, and it was
huge for trading. Finally, it was another rest stop that people could stay at between China and the
Mediterranean while they were traveling on the silk roads.

B. Another effect of trade networks was the use of inns known as caravanserai. How were these different than
cities and why were they important to travelers?
They were different from cities because they had inns as places to stay. They were helpful for travelers because
they were about as far apart as the distance that camels needed to stop and rest and get water. Travelers could
switch out the animals for ones that weren’t as tired and continue on their journey.

C. China developed a new financial system, although it was already considered a money economy.
● What was the system:
The system was called flying cash. It had things called bills of exchange that allowed you to deposit money in one
location and have that amount of credit in another.
● Why did they need it:
They needed it because it was becoming too inconvenient to carry around so much paper money.

● How did it impact European cities in the 1300s:

It led to banking houses that could be found in Europe starting in the year 1300.

D. The growth of trade networks also led to the creation of the Hanseatic League.
● Why did it form:
It formed to organize trade of different resources throughout Europe. They wanted to get luxury goods
from Asia.

● What was its impact:

The impact was that they were monopolizing trade and fighting intruders (such as pirates) together.
They were able to acquire many valuable goods.
 ● Why did it end:
It ended because merchants could be protected by the national governments because they became stronger.

E. How did the increase in demand for luxury goods impact places like China?
Iron and steel manufacturing increased which led to proto-industrialization in China.

UNIT 2.2| The Mongol Empire and the Modern World (AMSCO pages 85-91)

Key term/event Definition (Think - Who, What, When, Where…) and Significance (Why this term matters)

1. Mongol Empire They were pastoral, nomad, hunter-foragers who conquered much of Eurasia in the 1200s.

2. Temujin A ruthless Mongol leader who focused heavily on gaining more power. Later took the name Genghis

Khan.

3. Khan Another name for king.

4. Khanate A kingdom ruled by descendants of Khan?

5. Pax Mongolica It was a period of time between the 1200s and the 1300s.

6. Golden Horde The army of Genghis Khan’s oldest son.

7. Karakorum This is where Genghis Khan established his new capital.

8. Il-Khanate Hulegu’s kingdom that went from the Oxus River to Byzantium.

9. Yuan Dynasty This was a dynasty that unsuccessfully tried to take over the Java, Indochina, Burma, and Japan

10. White Lotus A secret gathering of people that wanted to get rid of the Yan Dynasty.

Society

Objective Key Developments

Explain the A. What was life like for the Mongols north of the Gobi Desert? How did their environment impact their culture?
process of It was very hot and dry because they lived close to the desert. Everyone was good at riding horses to make
state building traveling long distances quicker.
and decline in
Eurasia over
time. B. Who was Genghis Khan? How did he become the leader? How did he earn his reputation as a brutal leader?
Formally known as Temujin, Genghis Khan was the leader of the Mongols. He was known as being ruthless
because he killed his stepbrother to become the leader.

C. Mongols at War
● What made Mongolian soldiers so efficient?
The Mongols were efficient because they incorporated the technologies and cultures of all the places
they conquered into their fighting techniques. They were strong horseback riders, fierce warriors, and
proficient in many weapons.
 ● What strategies did they commonly use?
They used a strategy where they would send a few warriors into a enemy area, pretend to be defeated,
then send in their larger army and defeat their enemy.

● What happened to those who did not surrender to the Mongols?

People were given a chance to surrender to the Mongols and if they did not take it the artisans were
killed and anyone useful was captured.

● How did the Mongols use siege weapons and the pony express to their advantage?
They would use catapults and other large weapons to attack walls or larger structures. They used this instead of
man-to-man combat sometimes.

D. How were Mongol women treated within the empire?

The women were still expected to know how to fight, but they would take care of the animals more frequently.

Explain how A. As the Mongolian empire expanded people were surprised by his leadership. Why?
the expansion People were surprised by his leadership because they expected him to be a brutal and dictating leader
of empires because of the way he thought during wars. However, he was a decently peaceful leader and instilled some
influenced liberal (for the time) policies.
trade and
communicati
on over time. B. What was Pax Mongolica? What important developments or social policies emerged from it?
Pax Mongolic Genghis Khan soldiers expanded the silk road through Asia Africa the Middle East and Europe a was
a time span of peace. It was important because it introduced an idea of peace and religious tolerance. For its
time, please area during history was quite liberal.

C. What role did Genghis Khan and his soldiers take with the Silk Roads? How did they change them?
Genghis Khan and his soldiers expanded the Silk roads through Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. They
acted as a protecting and unifying force to help the Silk Roads thrive.

Explain the A. How was the Mongol Empire divided after Genghis Khan died?
significance It was divided amongst his 4 sons. The empire experienced a bit of division under this fragmented rule.
of the
Mongol B. The Golden Horde
Empire in ● What was it/when was it established:
larger It was the army of Batu, Genghis Kahn’s oldest son. Established in 1236.
patterns of
continuity ● Who was in charge:
and change. Batu, Genghis Kahn’s oldest son

● What was the immediate impact:

It originally caused sympathy for the Mongols because they were good at making trade more active and
they tolerated other religions.

● Why did the Mongols stop expanding into Europe:

The Great Khan had died, and Batu wanted to go home and tend to the issues about the funeral and the
next successor. He seemed to lose interest in continuing to conquer Western Europe.

● How did the Mongols rule Russia:

 They ruled by enforcing a tribute system.

● How did Russia rebel:

The leaders began setting aside money from the tribute in order to raise an army and rise up against the
Mongols. Moscow lead the army that defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Kulikovo.

● What were the long-term impacts of Mongol rule there:

Russia became more centralized, developed a stronger culture, and became overall more united.

C. The Il-Khanate
● What was it/when was it established:
Hulegu’s kingdom was called the Il-Khanate. It was established in 1260.

● What was the immediate impact:

It caused a lot of conversion into Islam, later supported the massacre of Jews and Christians, and taxed
the citizens heavily.

● How was it governed:

It was governed by Mongolian rulers, Persian ministers, and officials at both the province and local
levels.

● What were the long-term impacts of Mongol rule there:

It made it so there was a lot more Muslims in the area and lay the foundation for Russia to take back over and the
Kiev to emerge very strongly.
D. The Yuan Dynasty
● What was it/when was it established:
The Yuan Dynasty was a dynasty developed by Kublai Khan after he defeated Chinese forces. It was
established in 1271.

● What were the immediate and long-term impacts:

The immediate effects were that Kublai Khan rebuilt Zhongdu, naming it Dadu, practiced religious
tolerance, and he was appreciated by Chinese citizens. Long-term were that he increased prosperity and
culture by trading with other countries, all the way to Europe.

● How did the Yuan Dynasty rule:

They kept a little closer to traditional Chinese customs and strayed from Mongolian tendencies.

● How did the Yuan Dynasty decline:

They started becoming to separate between Mongols and Chinese. Foreigners were appointed to the
government instead of locals, and Kublai Khan failed to conquer Japan, Burma, the island of Java, and Indochina.
The White Lotus Society began to rise up against the dynasty too.

E. How did the Mongol decline in China echo the decline of the overall empire?
The Mongols in China began to struggle to conquer new areas, face opposition, and start to be unable to govern
their whole empire. This was happening throughout most of the empire, therefore mirroring the decline of the
Mongols in China.

F. Fill in the blank for Mongolian Long-Term impacts:

● Mongols conquered a larger area than the ___Romans______________, being the largest continuous
land empire in history

● During Pax Mongolica, Mongols revitalized:_____ trade between the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and
Europe that was interregional.___________________________________________
 ● What cultural exchanges occurred:
○ _____________science_______________ from Islam to China

○ _______________paper___________from China to the world

○ __knowledge of medicine and the Arabian number system_______went to Western Europe

● Mongol conquests spread the _____Bubonic plague___________________________ or Black Death

from China to West

● The Mongols used _____________centralized________________ power

● Mongol fighting techniques led to the use of _____________knights in armor_________________ in

Western Europe

● _____________the walled city time period______________________ came to an end in Europe due to

the cannon and siege tactics of the Mongols

G. In your own words, list the various continuities and changes of the Mongol Empire below:
● Continuities:
The leaders typically conquered brutally but led somewhat tolerantly or leniently. They would attack and
conquer with force and sneaky strategy, but let their conquered areas retain a lot of their cultural
elements and religions. Another thing that stayed consistent was their desire to constantly be expanding
and conquering new areas.

● Changes:
In the Il-Khanate Russia it was the ONLY time that the Mongols converted to Islam. They did this because
it was such a huge part of the area around them and it was pretty much necessary for them to convert if
they wanted any form of cooperation. Some places the Mongols took brutally and violently, but in others
the people surrendered and they could take over more peacefully.

UNIT 2.3| Exchange in the Indian Ocean (AMSCO pages 95-100)

Key term/event Definition (Think - Who, What, When, Where…) and Significance (Why this term matters)

1. Calicut A city on the west coast of India that were huge trading centers that benefitted from their trading

experiences with Southeast and East African merchants. They specialized in spices.

2. Spice Islands Islands that exported cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Today it is Malaysia and Indonesia.

3. Monsoon Winds Winds that change direction with the seasons. Typically from the northeast in the winter and the

southwest in the summer. This effected the merchants traveling calendars.

4. Lateen Sails These were triangular sails that allowed improvements in naval travel because they caught the wind
 coming from many different directions.

5. Melacca A powerful Muslim city-state that became prosperous by charging merchants traveling between India

and China.

6. Diaspora Communities that arose through trade which would combine aspects of their settler culture and

indigenous culture.

7. Swahili City-States City-states in Africa along the East Coast. They gained wrath through intense trade, especially with China.

8. Zheng He He was a Muslim admiral. His voyages took him all around India and Africa. He had a huge fleet of over

300 ships. He explored a lot of territory and brought a lot of wealth and knowledge back to China.

Objective Key Developments

Explain the The Indian Ocean Basin’s location allowed thriving trade with regions like South Asia. Note important
causes of the information about the causes of expanded exchange in the Indian Ocean below using specific details and
growth of complete sentences.
networks of
exchange after 1. Spread of Islam:
1200.
A. How did the expansion of Islam expand the Indian Ocean Trade network?

As Islam spread it brought more of the areas around the Indian ocean under one religion. Empires expanded,
leading to more area under one ruler. As read religion spread, new connections between leaders and
civilizations were formed. This eventually led to a lot more trade connections and expansions in the Indian
Ocean Trade Network.

B. What trading partners are connected?

East Asia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, and South Asia.

C. Who were the Muslim Persians and Arabs, and what was their role?
They were seafarers who would travel and trade/transport goods.

D. Why is Calicut an important example of a bustling port city?

This is an example of a bustling port city because people would make stops here and interact and mill around as
they traveled on to purchase rare spices. It showed how important port cities were at the time and how much
influence they could have on people since so many people would come through these.

2. Increased Demand for Specialized Products:

A. List the items that India offers: steel, carpet, fabrics, stone, and pepper.

B. List the items that Malaysia and Indonesia offer: cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg.

● What are they called and why?

 They are called the Spice Islands because of the rare and coveted spices they exported.
C. List the items that Swahili Coastal cities offer:

● Name two of these cities:

Mombasu, Sofala

D. List the items that China exported:

Silk and porcelain.
E. List the items that Southwest Asia exported:
Dates, figs, horses.

F. Summarize the slave trade prior to the West/Central African slave trade in the 1500s (where were they
taken, what was life like?). Use specific details.

Buyers from India, the Middle East, and Africa would purchase eastern African slaves to the islands that were
found off the southeast coast of Africa or to the Americas. Life was better for the slaves who weren’t shipped
overseas because they had more opportunities for a better lifestyle, especially in Islam communities.

3. Environmental Knowledge

A. Explain the importance of monsoon winds:

Monsoon winds impacted when merchants could leave and sail to new places to trade. In the summer months
they would blow from the northwest, while they would blow from the south or southeast in the winter months.

4. Advances in Maritime Technology:

A. Explain the significance of:

● Lateen Sails:
They were able to travel faster n’a use it caught the wind in a lot of directions.
● Stern Rudders:
It allowed for stability and increased navigation abilities for the Chinese.
● Astrolabes:
This made Muslim navigators able to know how much distance north or south was between them and the
equator.

5. Growth of States:
A. How did the growth of states lead to further growth of trade?
States growing helped lead to institutionalization because of revenue collected from trade. Having a
strong state with efficient ways to manage and induce trade prior to embarking on trade voyages
secured the stability of that state and helped them thrive from when they did trade. People want to
trade with strong, impressive states, so having one built helped when trading.

B. Explain how Melacca is an example of this.

Melacca was based on trade as opposed to mining, manufacturing, or agriculture. They thrived by taxing the
people passing through the Straits of Malacca.

Explain the Some of the factors that caused expansion of trade networks also became effects. Note important
effects of the information here using specific details and complete sentences.
growth of
networks of A. Diasporic Communities:
exchange after ● What is ‘diaspora’:
1200. Diaspora were communities that arose through trade which would combine aspects of their
settler culture and indigenous culture.

● Why did many Arab and East African merchants stay in Indian port cities?
When they arrived, they would have to wait to continue their travels and would end up meeting and
marrying women there.

○ How did this impact Southern Asia?

It brought the religion of Islam to Southern Asia.

B. Response to Increased Demand:

● How did increased demand lead to the increased role of the state (government)?
Increased demand meant that the government needed to help with regulations and the order and
manufacturing/ collection of items being traded. They had to help raise money by charging for certain things
such as passage through waterways.

○ How was Gujarat an example of this?

Gujarati was a Rajput kingdom bringing in lots of wealth as a result of trade. They were known
as a main passage way between the East and West. The government had to help oversee this
crossroads and control/ manage the revenue coming in from its booming trade economy.

C. Swahili City States

● What were the Swahili City States? What were they referred to as in Arabic?
These were city-states on the western coast of Africa. They were called “coasters” in Arabic,
known as the Zanj Coast.

● What was the role of these city states - what did they trade/bring to the network?
The role was to help facilitate trade and bring wealth to the area. They contributed ivory,
exotic items, gold, and even slaves.

● These city states became extremely wealthy - what evidence do we have of this?

They left behind technologically advanced architectural ruins and they had tools and items that
signified wealth.

D. Significant Cultural Transfers

● What does the chapter mean by ‘significant cultural transfers’ - what are those?
Significant cultural transfers were when something took pieces of the culture such as religion, knowledge,
or customs from one place and brought it to another. This could be from trade, exploration, or missionary
travels.

● Who was Zheng He? What was the purpose of his voyages?
Zheng He was a Muslim Admiral who’s purpose was basically to show the power of the Ming
Dynasty and collect tribute from conquered people.

● How did the voyages impact China and the Chinese government?
China gained prestige and new trade opportunities. They gained knowledge of places beyond
their borders and got to see lots of new inventions.

● Why did his voyages end?

His voyages came to an end because Zhu Gaozhi put an end to all sailing away from China.
 ● The end of his voyages marked strict isolation by the Ming Dynasty - what evidence do we
have of this?
We know that Zhu Gaozhi was a strict ruler who didn’t want much communication or trade
with other countries. He wanted China to be self-sufficient and not have to take help or ideas
from other countries. He banned ships with more than two sails and we see a decrease in
people leaving China on explorations.
● How can you use Zheng He’s voyages as an example of cultural transfers?
He brought back items from his travels to China, transferring part of the places he visited
cultures back to China. While he was traveling, he could tell of where he was from and transfer
Chinese culture to the places he visited.

Explain the 1. Answer the following question about the role of environment in the expansion of networks of exchange.
role of
environmental A. Describe the role of environmental factors (geography, monsoon winds, etc) in expanding trade
factors in the networks.
development Geography and the environment both play a big part in any civilization. Monsoon winds determined
of networks of when and where merchants could travel during what season, while things like mountains and valleys
exchange acted as natural barriers against attack. Deserts drove people to go seek better land. In fact, drying of
1200-1450. Mongolia is what sparked the Mongols to move out and begin conquering territory.

UNIT 2.4| Trans-Saharan Trade Route (AMSCO pages 103-107)

Key term/event Definition (Think - Who, What, When, Where…) and Significance (Why this term matters)

1. Sahara Desert A large expanse of hot and dry land about the size of China located in Africa.

2. Oases These were places where humans were capable of settling because there was access to underground

water.

3. Camel Saddles These helped improve the amount of amount of weight camels could vary as well as have different

features to improve the camel riding experience.

4. Trans-Sahara Trade Trade that happened across the Sahara Desert that brought attention from all over Africa, Europe, and

Asia.

5. Mali An extremely powerful trading society that made a big profit from gold since it was such a commodity.

6. Timbuktu A great city known for being wealthy and housing Islamic learning and scholarship.

7. Sundiata Sundiata was an underdog that took the throne and helped the Mali kingdom grow and prosper. He had a

touching backstory (see below) that won over his subjects.

8. Mansa Musa Mansa Musa was a famous ruler, most well-known for his massive caravan and display of wealth that he

took on is pilgrimage to Mecca. He simultaneously solidified his religion (and many of his fellow travelers’

religions) and showed the world the prowess of his empire.

9. Songhay Kingdom The new ultimate power in West Africa was the Songhay Kingdom. It replaced Mali.
Objective Key Developments

Explain the A. What was life and trade like in the Sahara Desert prior to the early 1200s?
causes of the There was little life here because it was too hard to sustain a population due to the lack of adequate farming land.
growth of
Trans-Sahara B. Why did Muslim merchants travel on camels? Why were they better for travel than horses?
trade.
Camels were chosen because of their convenience of not needing water as often or do as long and horses did.
They could carry massive weight loads.

C. Which saddle had the greatest impact on trade - why?

The most significant saddle was one made by East African Somalis. This allowed the camel to transport up to 600
pounds of baggage while traveling. It made moving and trading easier; as well as assisting in the semi-nomadic
lifestyle.

D. How many trade routes were there across the Sahara Desert - what was their significance?
There were 9 total routes. It was significant because it slowed for cultural transfers and shared information and
technology to the people surrounding the Sahara Desert, bringing with it wealth and Islam.

E. Certain commodities became famous along these routes. What was the most famous, and what else was
traded along this route?
Gold was the most famous, but ivory, salt, slaves, textiles, and horses were also traded.

● How did trading these items impact West Africa, particularly Ghana and Mali?
Being in the middle of all this trade definitely had positive impacts on Ghana and Mali. It brought great wealth to
their nations. It also spread Islam into Mali and Ghana.

Explain the A. Why did Ghana decline? What took over?

effects of the
growth of Ghana began to decline due to numerous wars with societies in their area. What took over was several societies
Trans-Sahara with strong trade alliances, such as Mali.
trade.

B. Why did Mali become more prosperous than Ghana ever had been?
Mali prospered so much more because of the gold industry as well as the taxes they placed on all trade that came
through West Africa.

C. Although most in Ghana were farmers cultivating sorghum and rice, other cities grew in prominence. Explain
the significance of Timbuktu to Mali.
Timbuktu was important because of its great prosperity and Islamic knowledge. People payed more for books
than for most other goods, and it became an overall center of learning.

D. How did the growth of trade and wealth give rise to an expanding role of states?
As trade expanded, the governments had to take on new and bigger responsibility such as providing a common
currency, enforcing that the trade routes were safe, and keeping communication with fellow trading nations
secure. This led to government having increasing importance and the growth of states increasing.
 E. Who was Sundiata and why was he important? Give contextual information about this leader.
Sundiata was an underdog that took the throne and helped the Mali kingdom grow and prosper. He started out
as a young boy whose enemies saw him as too little of a threat (because of his injury) to bother killing him. Once
his great strength was put on display, he was exiled. He later came back stronger than ever with allies and
regained the throne. He was a very popular ruler because of his Muslim faith, heartwarming story, and great rule.

F. Who was Mansa Musa and why was he important? Give contextual information about this leader.
Mansa Musa was a leader known for his religious impact. He was a faithful Muslim who made a pilgrimage to
Mecca in an extraordinary fashion. He took a giant caravan and showed off Mali’s impressive wealth. He also
contributed to the spread of Islam.

G. How did Mansa Musa impact Mali through Islam?

Mansa Musa brought lots of new followers to Islam and overall deepened the connection of Islam in Mali. He
established new schools and religious areas that helped promote Islam.

H. What was the Songhay Kingdom, and how did it become more powerful than Mali?
The Songhay Kingdom was the kingdom that took over Mali. It became more powerful by doing the same
processes Mali did, just building on the foundation Mali had already set.

Explain how A. Using the information from this section, explain how the expansion of empires influenced trade and
the communication over time, particularly with the Trans-Sahara trade route.
expansion of Growing empires had more capability to extract natural resources or manufacture ones that required it.
empires They had better technology to allow for further and less dangerous travels. States were united by
influenced leaders and religion. The Trans-Saharan route connected the empires throughout Africa.
trade and
communicati
on over time.

UNIT 2.5| Cultural Consequences of Connectivity (AMSCO pages 111-117)

Key term/event Definition (Think - Who, What, When, Where…) and Significance (Why this term matters)

1. Diffusion (Definition not in book) Spread of something (typically cultural aspect like religion) from its place of origin

2. Zen Buddhism Daoism fused with Buddhism. It was focused on peacefulness and included the scholar gentry.

3. Neo-Confucianism A syncretic religion based on Confucianism that uses philosophy. It was created in the 9th century.

4. Black Death A deadly disease that killed millions across the world, also known as the Bubonic Plague. It traveled along

the Silk Roads.

5. Marco Polo He was an Italian who traveled all across the world. He played a big role in sparked interest Europe had

about China.

6. Ibn Battuta He was a Muslim scholar that traveled all throughout Central Asia. His travels were largely based on his

Islamic faith.

7. Margery Kempe She was a Christian that wrote a book without being able to read or write. She told of her travels to

scribes and they wrote it down.

Objective Key Developments

Explain the 1. Religious, Cultural, and Technological Impacts of Interaction

intellectual A. Generally, in what ways did cultural diffusion in c. 1200-1450 effect places?
and cultural Culture and innovations were shared by groups that weren’t related through trade and travels. It effected the
effects of the places by increasing the speed of their advancement in various fields.
various
networks of
exchange in B. Buddhism in East Asia
Afro-Eurasia ● How did it spread to China?
from c. 1200 to It spread by the Silk Roads.
c. 1450.

● What was Zen Buddhism and why was it so popular?

It was a combination of Buddhism and Daoism. It was popular because it didn’t have a caste
system which the lower classes liked.

● How did printing impact Buddhism in China? How was literature itself impacted?
It impacted it by making scriptures more available. More people became literate and religious
texts became more popular as well.

● What does it mean that Japan and Korea were “countries in China’s orbit”? Why would they
adopt Confucianism and Buddhism at this time (think back to the Song Dynasty).
Japan and Korea followed in the footsteps of China, they revolved around what China did a lot
of the time. They switched to Confucianism and Buddhism because they saw the success of it
in China.

● In Korea, who studied which religion and why?

They studied Buddhism because they got it from Chinese Buddhism. It lasts longer than
Confucianism did. Korea is an extension while Vietnam fights is more. The higher class held on
to Confucianism.

● How was Neo-Confucianism significant to East Asia?

It was the most prominent religion in Korea, and it was also a big part of the culture in Japan and China. It
effected things such as social status, government, and household culture.
C. Spread of Hinduism and Buddhism in Southeast Asia

● How did it spread to Southeast Asia?

It spread through the Indian Ocean trade mostly.

● What evidence do we have that Buddhism had a strong influence?

There are many statues, artifacts, and texts left behind. It spread to a lot of the world and
many religions share some aspects with it.

● How does the Khmer Empire (Angkor Wat) evidence religious diffusion?
It shows diffusion because it was originally a Hindu temple that was converted to a Buddhist
temple as that religion transferred to being more important in Southeast Asia.

D. Spread of Islam
● How and where did Islam spread?
It travels on all three major trade routes to most of Afro-Eurasia.

● List TWO specific impacts for each region below:

○ Africa:
■ Swahili (mix of Arabic and Bantu)

■ Slavery

○ South Asia:
■ Contributed Hinduism and held solid to it.

■ Spices and Indian Ocean trade

○ Southeast Asia
■ Islamic “Green Revolution” into the Middle East

■ Sea based trade.

E. Scientific and Technological Innovations

● How did technology spread?
Technology spread through diffusion by travelers, merchants, and traders. It also spread
through missionaries.

● List FIVE examples of technology that spread through diffusion:

○ paper
○ Printing press
○ mathematics
○ medicine
○ Translation of Greek texts
 ● What did Marco Polo’s writings show?
His writings showed that China was successful and prosperous.

● How was Hangzhou similar to Timbuktu/Calicut in being a center of trade?

It grew because of traders and merchants’ presence in the city. It was diverse because of this
trade and able to grow and develop.

● What factors contribute to the growth of cities?

Increased trade, knowledge, better agriculture technology, stable government.

● What factors contributed to the decline of cities like Constantinople and Kashgar?
Constantinople was weakened by the fourth Crusade, while Kashgar was invaded by nomads.

F. Effects of the Crusades

● What was the Black Death?
It was a deadly disease that killed millions across the world.

● What was its impact on the world of this time?

It killed about 2/3 of Europe’s population and spread across the world. Trade across the Silk
Roads increased its spread across Afro-Eurasia.

2. Traveler’s Tales
A. How did traveler’s tales become popular?
They became popular because paper and printing were becoming available and people were becoming
very curious about travels throughout the world.

B. Marco Polo
● Where was he from and where did he travel to?
He was from Venice, Italy. He famously traveled to China and told of what he saw to people in
Europe.

● What was his Point of View?

His point of view was as a merchant.

● What was the impact of his writing?

People became curious and it caused people to want to pursue the technology to travel.

C. Ibn Battuta
● Where was he from and where did he travel to?
He was from Morocco and he traveled to China, Spain, Mali, North Africa, South Asia, Central
Asia, Southeast Asia, but mostly to places that practice Islam.

● What was his Point of View?

His point of view was that of a devoted Muslim.
 ● What was the impact of his writing?
He told people a lot of details about the places he went. He gave them a lot of ways to see
diversity.

D. Margery Kempe
● Where was he from and where did he travel to?
She was an English traveler who went to Jerusalem, Rome, Germany, Spain.

● What was his Point of View?

Her point of view was as a middle-class woman in the Medieval ages.

● What was the impact of his writing?

The impact of her writing was that people got to hear her profound faith and also her daily life
as a mother of 14.

UNIT 2.6| Environmental Consequences of Connectivity (AMSCO pages 121-123)

Key term/event Definition (Think - Who, What, When, Where…) and Significance (Why this term matters)

1. Champa Rice A special type of rice that was resistant to drought and could yield rice multiple times a year.

2. Overgrazing Animals would eat in the grassy areas around civilizations. Eventually they would eat too much and the

grass wouldn’t be enough to feed them anymore.

Objective Key Developments

Explain the 1. Agricultural Effects of Exchange Networks

environmenta
l effects of A. Generally speaking, what was the impact of new crops (the good and the bad)?
the various New crops caused population growth and were another item to trade. Population growth did in turn cause some
networks of environmental damage. New crops were able to grow in areas that hadn’t been able to grow food before.
exchange in
Afro-Eurasia
from c. 1200- B. Champa Rice
1450. ● Where do we think Champa Rice originated? How did it get to China?
We think that it originated in India, came to China from Vietnam, and was given as a tribute.

● How did it impact China’s:

○ Population:
It caused a huge population increase because there was enough food to sustain a
larger population.

○ Land use:
People found new irrigation like terraced farming for high ground and paddies for
lower areas.
 ○ Migration:
People would move south towards the areas where Champa rice originally grew.

C. Bananas
● Who introduced this crop to Sub-Saharan Africa?
Seafarers from Indonesia.

● What was the major impact of bananas in this region?

It was a food with lots of nutrients that could grow in places yams could not that caused an
increase in population.

D. Sugar, Cotton, and Citrus Crops

● Who spread cotton, sugar, and citrus beyond the Arabian Peninsula?
Caliphs moving onward through the Arabian Peninsula to conquer new lands.

● Explain how cities like Samarkand were also involved in the spread of these items.
They helped to encourage the growth of markets that therefore sparked the trade of new
items.

● How does sugar impact the 1500s?

Europeans had a huge desire for sugar. So much so that it would lead to slavery and the African Slave Trade in the
1500s.

E. Environmental Degradation
● How did increases in population impact the environment?
As more people began populating areas, the natural resources were depleted and things like
overgrazing and deforestation became more common.

● How in turn did overuse of land impact places like Great Zimbabwe and the Mayans?
Places like these used their land so much that the lack of resources began to effect their civilizations and they had
to relocate in the case of Great Zimbabwe and led to their decline in the case of the Mayans.

2. Spread of Epidemics through Exchange Networks

A. How did the Mongols and caravanserai help spread the plague?
The Mongols spread the fleas that were carriers of the Black death. The animals in the caravanserai
would also carry fleas. People packed close together in caravans would spread the disease.

B. How was the impact of the plague on Europe negative and positive?
It depleted their population by about 60%. However, feudalism declined because laborers became more
important and they could require increased wages.

C. Where else did the Black Death make an appearance? How did South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa avoid
the Black Death?
It made an appearance in Central Asia, North Africa, and China. The above places were spared because there was
little opportunity for the plague to get there because of the lack of trade.
UNIT 2.7| Comparison of Economic Exchange (AMSCO pages 127-132)

Objective Key Developments

Explain the A. Summarize how the Silk Roads, Trans-Sahara Route, and Indian Ocean trade are similar via origins, purpose,
similarities and effects.
and They all originated due to increasing strength and stability of states as well as being able to because of new
differences technologies and inventions.
among the The purpose of the trade routes was simply to exchange goods that you had for what other people had to get
various what you needed. It also served to spread culture, religion, and alliances.
networks of The effects were newly established currencies and centralization of governments and states.
exchange in
the period c. B. Summarize how the Silk Roads, Trans-Sahara Route, and Indian Ocean trade are different via the goods
1200-1450. exchange, technologies they inspired, and the religions they spread.
They are different because the goods they traded were different depending on which route it was. The Trans-
Saharan was known for trading salt, people (slaves) and gold, the Silk Roads specialized in luxury items, silk, and
animals, and the Indian Ocean specialized in spices, textiles, and fruits.
The technology was different because the land routes specialized in saddles while the Indian Ocean routes
specialized in the compass, astrolabe, and lateen sails.
The religions were different because all three had Islam, The Silk Roads and Indian Ocean spread Buddhism and
Neo-Confucianism, and only the Indian Ocean had Christianity.

C. Summarize the social implications of networks of exchange in labor.

As the need for products rose, so did the need for labor. Enslaved people became a thing because of the
workload that needed to be done. People began to take on large projects such as canals, walls, and buildings.

D. Summarize the social and gender structures of the networks of exchange.

Social structures were typically caste systems. They rarely remained patriarchal societies. Women actually had a
decent amount of importance and power comparatively based on regions located elsewhere around the world.

Multiple Choice Responses (Record them here!)

Section 2.1 1. A 2.B 3. C

Section 2.2 1. A 2. D 3. A

Section 2.3 1. A 2. B 3. D

Section 2.4 1. C 2. A 3. D

Section 2.5 1. A 2. A 3. C

Section 2.6 1.B 2. B 3. C