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The Silk Road was an ancient trade route that linked together China and Rome.
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Mayan trade routes extended as far south as Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Islands
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the complex trade routes and amount of goods that were traded is what made the trade network significant. By trading with other civilizations growth in the Mayan society took place.
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Exports:
-silk
-jade
-minerals
-rice
-pearls
-tea Imports:
-India: herbs, spices, cotton, dyes
-Persia: carpets, muslin, horses
-Europe: wine, grapes, glass -
Cacao beans were worth transporting over large distances because they were a luxury item.
-Tomato- 1 bean
-Turkey egg- 3 beans
-Pumpkin - 4 beans
-Rabbit- 100 beans
-Slave- 1000 beans The most important goods were salt, obsidian, jade, cacao beans, and quetzal feathers -
Coastal Mayan groups used canoes to supply inland groups with salt, dried fish, shells, and pearls. The Mayans didn't have wheels or animals to carry their heavy loads. Instead, trade goods were transported on the backs of slaves who traveled along well established routes.
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Items traded:
-corn
-fish
-squash
-potatoes
-honey
,beans
-chocolate drinks
-limestone
-marble Heavy commodities include:
-mortars
-pestles
-bags of salt -
By 760 the Tang government lost control of the western region and trade on the Silk Road ceased.
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Marco Polo traveled along the silk road visiting the Yuan capital city Dadu (todays Beijing).
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Trade on the Silk Road revived when China became largely dependent on its silk trade.
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As land trade routes became increasingly dangerous, and travel by sea became more popular, trade along silk road declined. By the end of the fourteenth century, trade and travel along the route decreased significantly.
