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1200
The Silk Road
An ancient network of trade routes, formally established by the Han Dynasty of China, which linked the regions of the ancient world in commerce. The Silk Road was important because it helped to generate trade and commerce between a number of different kingdoms and empires. Some items traded on the Silk Road were silk, wools, gold, silver, gems, glass, pomegranates, carrots, and even some religions like Christianity and Buddhism traveled from the Silk Road. -
Period: 1200 to 1450
Impact of Culture
As Buddhism spread into China it met with Taoist beliefs about the way of nature and produced a new religion known as Zen Buddhism that became very popular. Neoconfucianism was also created, it originated in China but spread to Korea and Japan. When Muslims encountered the Bantu speaking Africans they became believers in Islam and their languages combined to make a new language called Swahili. There were medical advances in this time. The Lateen Sail and Astrolabe were invented in this time. -
Period: 1200 to 1450
Impact on the Environment
Champa rice was introduced to China by merchants who traveled from Vietnam. The introduction of this crop led to terrace farming. With the introduction of bananas to Africa, people were allowed to migrate more than before. Overgrazing in Great Zimbabwe led to the city being abandoned in the late 1400's. In Europe the land was changed through deforestation which led to erosion of the soil. A little Ice Age started in the 1300's. The Black Death was spread due to merchants/trade and the Mongols. -
1206
The Rise Of The Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire began in the Central Asia steppes and lasted throughout the 13th and 14th centuries. The empire sent invasions in every direction, ultimately connecting the East with the West with the Pax Mongolica, which allowed trade, technologies, commodities, and ideologies to be disseminated and exchanged across Eurasia. -
1250
Indian Ocean Trade
The Indian Ocean trade routes connected Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. Domestication of the camel helped bring coastal trade goods such as silk, porcelain, spices, slaves incense, and ivory to inland empires as well. It was a key factor in East-West exchanges throughout history. -
1300
Trans-Saharan Trade
The Trans-Saharan was important because large numbers of Africans were sent North, generally to serve as domestic servants or slave concubines. Sub-Saharan African slaves were bartered for bars of salt and other Mediterranean goods. The two factors that led to the growth of the Trans-Saharan trade were the introduction of the camel and the spread of Islam. Rather than slaves, goods like gold and kola nuts were also traded. -
1450
Image for Impacts of Culture
Image: The Lateen Sail -
1450
Image for Impacts on the Environment
Image: The Black Death
