TRANSREGIONAL NETWORKS OF COMMUNICATION AND EXCHANGE IN THE CLASSICAL AGE

 Mediterranean  Indian Ocean Basin  Trans-Saharan Caravan Routes  Silk Road 4 MAJOR TRADE ROUTES

 Persians, Greeks, Phoenecians, Romans  Maritime connection between Italy and Egypt important for Roman Empire (wheat from Egypt)  Ships with squared sails  War common in the seas because of limited space  Ports on Eastern Mediterranean tied with Eurasian Silk Roads THE MEDITERRANEAN

 Sea lanes in Indian Ocean more extensive but trade volume lower  Ability to sail long distances  Diasporic communities established because distances so far that traders and sailors less connected with home society  Less war because fewer ports INDIAN OCEAN BASIN

 North-South trade in Nubia to connect Egypt with the South  Connected with Roman Empire: When Rome was strong they looked north and when Rome declined, they looked south  Caravan routes traveled by camels  Slavery was common TRANS-SAHARAN CARAVAN ROUTES

 More than 4,000 miles long  2 eras of existence: 100 BCE – 900 CE and 1200s- 1600s  Overland transport longer but cheaper  Huge impact on transfer of technology, culture, and religion THE SILK ROADS OF EURASIA

 1000 BCE first used in China  Made out of base metals  Would develop into primitive versions of round coins  Often had holes in the middle to put them on a chain  BCE  Metal coins thought to be used separately in each of the classical civilizations  Developed out of lumps of silver – so had more inherent value  Stamped with gods and emperors  When do we start using paper money???? Not until 806 in China! “IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, MONEY, MONEY…..”

LAND TRAVEL  Domesticated Pack Animals  Horse, llama, camel  Stirrup- emerged in Central Asia and assisted in greater stability while riding hoses and camels  Yokes and collars- allowed animals to pull heavier loads  Pack saddles- also out of Central Asia enabled animals to carry more at a time SEA TRAVEL  Galley – oared ship with squared sail – used in Mediterrean and too unsteady for open-water navigation  Dhow- used lateen sails that could handle stronger winds- used in the Red and Arabian Seas INNOVATIONS IN TRANSPORT

 Technology Transfer  People traded new ideas- especially related to agricultural output  Environmental impact  Crops moving from one place to another changes the environment  Spread of Diseases  Bubonic Plague from India to China by 600s CE and to the Eastern Roman Empire by 500s  Smallpox affected Roman and Han empires  Religious and Cultural Borrowing  Religions began to spread far beyond their origin  Buddhism to China  Christianity to Europe WE TRADED MORE THAN GOODS…..