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A kingdom established by the warrior king Ewuare. Its top exports were cotton, gold, and rough wood. The Benin Empire was a pre-colonial empire located in what is now southern Nigeria. Its capital was Edo. And this should not be confused with the modern-day country called Benin.
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The canal lock is of utmost importance within the technological advancements of trade. It allowed ships to travel up through rivers if there was a cliff or drop of some sorts, the ships would now be able to travel through them, thus, opening up numerous routes of travel and expansion of trade throughout the civilizations. The canal lock revolutionized travel, it enabled ships to take days/months of traveling off their journey
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Major technological developments, such as the navigational maps, improved transportation and communication networks across the trade networks. The navigational maps were a revolutionary invention, that change the aspect of travel and trade. They made it easier for travelers, via ships, to get to their destination throughout the Indian Ocean. The navigational maps provided insight on how to navigate the surrounding waters. The navigational maps at that time were like our modern day GPS
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A third route for the Silk Road was created in the north. The Black Plague spread into Europe through the routes of the Silk road. The disease was carried by rats and fleas during trade all throughout Europe, starting near the black sea ports. This event is important because it caused the death of thousands during this time period and its main way of travel was through the silk road. http://www.themiddleages.net/life/blackdeath.html
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These bronze head sculptures were found at Ife in Nigeria. Ife was the religious center of the Yoruba people. The Yoruba people regard the human head (ori) as the most important part of a person. Likewise, the head is the most prominent part of Yoruba sculpture, the head constitutes a person's life-source and controlling personality and destiny.
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Sundiata conquers Ghana and establishes Mali. Mali's primary export was cotton because they were rich in it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali -
As marine ships became more advanced, additional technologies were added on and integrated into many vessels throughout the Indian Ocean basin. The caravel was a revolutionary ship that had an increased amount of speed and capacity as compared to the other ships of that time. It made for a perfect trading and voyaging ship, and was considered the boon for a sailor.
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The Toltec civilization was one of the few powerful powers in South America. It is significant because it had disintegrated because of either war or abandonment. https://www.google.com/search?q=toltecs&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=826&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-koOak8fSAhXmqVQKHXNrBkMQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=bbfpJSmHvroSrM:
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Expeditions and trips from the Spanish had caused them to explore new places that needed horses. After they had brought the horses, their popularity drastically increased. Horses had spread through the great plains from the border of Mexico. https://www.google.com/search?q=horses&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=782&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGuKu5lMfSAhXH4iYKHaEmD2sQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=34FuMqA6d3Fn-M:
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Aztecs start to expand their domain further into the Mexico Valley, making advancements towards their colonies. The Mesoamerican aztec people had created a regime that originated in the Mexico Valley. The Valley of Mexico was also called the Basin of Mexico because
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The magnetic compass aided sailors in maritime navigation, making it easier to travel long distances by sea in the Indian Ocean. Sailors would use the compass to obtain a course of direction while traveling across waters. The magnetic compass essentially revolutionized travel. It provided direction for traders and travelers embarking on journeys across vast oceans. We still use the compass to navigate.https://www.britannica.com/technology/compass-navigational-instrument#ref132105
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The Chaco canyon was the central area to thousands of South
Americans in 1115 CE. Having a central area to meet and trade goods causes a new path to growth within a community. Parts of the canyon often collapsed due to rock slides. https://www.google.com/search?q=chanco+canyon&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=782&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6zcaxrMfSAhVGQCYKHQwBDxwQ_AUIBygC&dpr=2#imgrc=KoBEjWEvSFtGeM: -
The Mesa Verde was the home to the cliff dwellings who were known as the ancient ones. Not only was the archeological findings so helpful to researchers, there was also oral stories that were passed down. http://www.livescience.com/27360-mesa-verde.html https://www.google.com/search?q=Anasazi+cliff+dwellings+flourish/Beginning+of+Incas&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwixhdiurcfSAhXB6iYKHVw7A4IQ_AUICCgB&biw=1440&bih=782#imgrc=Ob8kJyAV0b3tMM:
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Toltecs expanded by moving into the Mexico Valley from the deserts of the northwest. It is significant because leader Ce Técpatl Mixcoatl was the one who actually started it. It was one of the first exceedingly powerful civilizations. The toltecs first settlement was Colhuacan. Colhuacan was supposed to be the capital, but was later changed to Tollán. Tollán amassed an area of 14 km^2 and had maintained a population of 30,000.
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Igbo-Ukwu bronze ceremonial objects start being made in Nigeria. The people of the Igbo-Ukwu territory excelled in metalworking. Their people worked metal through hammering, twisting, bending, and incising. They were one of the first West African groups to produce bronze sculptures.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igbo-Ukwu -
The Maya decline occurred because people were abandoning villages and towns over time. What caused people to leave is still unknown and many theories have been developed. Some theories are that the Mayans had used all their farming land and had to flee for survival. Others theorize that a section of drought had caused the abandonment.
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During this time China introduced invented Gunpowder and began to trade it through the Silk Road. The Silk Road was still doing very well in trading ideas all throughout central Asia and Europe and the spread of gunpowder cause many innovations. The introduction of this item is important because weapons like cannons and guns were being made, causing a difference in wars and battles which became harder. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/readings/inventions_gifts.htm
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The paddle wheel was an invention, in the Indian Ocean, of utmost importance. The paddle wheel improved the speed and capacity of seagoing vessels, because a vast number of humans did not have to row to power the ship, thus creating space and reducing weight for speed and capacity. The paddle wheel acted as a way to power the ships when there was no wind, this aloud for more river travel as well.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/paddle-wheel -
The Tang army lost to the Turks in battle. The Turks ended up capturing Chinese papermakers and the method for making paper spread to the West through the Silk Road. The western world now knew how to create paper and began trading it through the Silk Road. This is important because paper has been one of the most important resources for documentation and this is how it spread throughout Europe and Central Asia http://www.silk-road.com/artl/papermaking.shtml
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China is under the Tang Dynasty and the Silk road reaches its golden age because of its huge growth in the economy. Being one of the most powerful dynasties in history, the silk road continued to grow. Paper was also introduced into Central Asia and Europe. This is important because it is the giant increase in the economy when new resources such as paper were introduced. https://www.travelchinaguide.com/silk-road/history/tang-dynasty.htm
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During this time two huge civilizations in South America started to deteriorate. Both these civilizations in South America are significant because of their political ways of having multiple chiefdoms, and their diverse religions. Their religion was inspired by Chavin Religion which helped shape the beliefs they cherished. The Moche architecture differentiated from other civilizations because they used slanted roofs, multiple levels, and usable ramps.
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Ghana is established at the Southern end of the Saharan trade routes. Ghana was one of the first kingdoms to be established.
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A monk named Xuan Zang travels to India through the Silk Road. He then spends years traveling the route and studying the religions, and the lives of the people he came across for his future teachings. When he travels back to China he shares what he's learned along the Silk road, he taught about his studies to schools in China. Xuan Zang is important because he promoted the spread of Buddism throughout the Eastern countries. http://web.stanford.edu/group/spice/SilkRoad/SilkRoad.html
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One- or two-masted Arab sailing vessel, usually with lateen rigging (slanting, triangular sails), common in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The bows of the sails are sharp, with a forward and upward thrust, and the sterns of the larger dhows may be windowed and decorated.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/dhow
