Pre-IB World History Notes Chapter 8

Mediterranean Sea Exchange Begins with Mediterranean Sea trade Participants = Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans Italian city of Venice = major center of commerce

Red Sea Exchange Begins with Red Sea trade Participants = Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Africans Alexandria = major port and city of commerce

Indian Ocean Exchange

Like the Silk Roads, trade grew because of: Environmental and cultural diversities in each region Desire for goods not available at home Same goods traded from each region as on the Silk Roads Unlike the Silk Roads: transportation costs much lower Ships could carry much more at one time than camels or horses Sea Roads carried more bulk and staple goods  not just luxury items like on the Silk Roads

Monsoons Made Indian Ocean exchange possible Monsoons = alternating wind currents Blow predictably eastward in summer months Blow predictably westward in winter months

Indian Ocean Exchange Not just between countries Not just between entire regions But importantly between individual merchant towns

Growth of Indian Ocean Trade 2 major transformations occurred between 500 and 1500 that led to major growth of the Indian Ocean trade network 1) Economic and political revival of China 2) Rise of Islam in the 7 th century

China’s Comeback 4 centuries after the collapse of the Han dynasty Reestablished a unified government Encouraged sea trade Economic growth = allowed Chinese products to pour into trade networks Technological innovations = larger ships; magnetic compass

Rise of Islam Islam = friendly to commercial life (unlike Confucianism) Creation of an Arab Empire Stretching from Atlantic Ocean to India Brought together a wide range of economies in a single political system Powerful and wealthy empire = continued to stimulate Indian Ocean trade

Sea Roads = Change Indian Ocean trade transformed ALL of its participants in one way or another Some regions experienced: Political change  rulers used wealth to construct larger states Cultural change  exposure to new religions

COMMERCE & CULTURE CE TRANS-SAHARAN “SAND” TRADE Pre-IB World History – Chapter 8 Notes

The Sand Roads  Trans-Saharan trade route  Linked North Africa and the Mediterranean world with West Africa

Trans-Saharan Trade  Like the Silk and Sea Roads  this trade begins as a result of environmental variation  What does each region have to offer?  North African coastal areas = cloth, glassware, weapons, books  Sahara region = copper and salt  Savanna grasslands = grain crops  Sub-Saharan forests = tree crops like yam and kola nuts

Trans-Saharan Trade  Made possible by the CAMEL!  1 st traders = camel-owning people from desert oasis  Major traders became = North African Muslim Arabs  What did they come to West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa for?  GOLD!, ivory, kola nuts, slaves  Gave in return: SALT!, horses, cloth, weapons, tools

Caravans  As many as 5,000 camels  Hundreds of people  Traveled at night  Length of journey = about 70 days  miles walked per day

Construction of Empires  New wealth and resources from trans-Saharan trade allowed some regions to construct large empires or city- states  Between 500 and 1600 CE  Major empires = Mali, Ghana, and Songhai

West African Empires  All monarchies  Drew upon wealth of trans- Saharan trade  Relied on slaves  Females used as = domestic servants and sex slaves  Males used as = state officials, craftsmen, miners, agricultural laborers

Cities Within the Kingdoms  Urban and commercial centers  Traders met and exchanged goods there  Centers of manufacturing  Items created: beads, iron tools, cotton textiles, etc.  Largely Islamic Mosque in Timbuktu (in Mali)