Unit 3 – Resources & Wealth Dec. 5th, 2016

What do we mean by Resources & Wealth When addressing resources and wealth we are talking about the means in acquiring and the distribution of goods/resources for the civilization. What does it mean to acquire? What does it mean to distribute? As we have seen in our ancient civilizations, each civilization had a means of acquiring resources in order to better their life within their civilization. Definition of acquire: buy or obtain (an object) for oneself – gain, receive, earn Definition of distribute: deal out or give out

In what ways do we acquire resources?

When the first civilizations did begin trading with each other thousands of years ago, many of them got rich…and fast. When people first settled down into larger city-states in Mesopotamia and Egypt, self-sufficiency – the idea that you had to produce absolutely everything that you wanted or needed – started to fade.

However, a downfall to this trade was that it was often very slow and often dangerous. But for merchants (men who performed the trading of goods), they were willing to take the risk as there was great reward for the trade. Of course, this reward was money or other luxuries goods.

Historians believe that the first long-distance trade occurred between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley in Pakistan around 3000 BCE. Many believe that these long-distances trades during this period was limited to luxury goods like spices, precious metals and jewelry.

Silk Road The Silk Road was one of the most important trade routes during ancient times. It is the name given to the many trade routes that connected Europe and the Mediterranean with the Asian world linking powerful civilizations such as Rome and China. The route was considered to be over 8,000 Km long and got its name because the Chinese primarily traded silk along the road. Distance from Victoria to Halifax – 6,200 km

The Silk road and Ancient Trade – Crash Course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfe-eNq-Qyg As you watch this video, make some notes about information you find important (and trust me there is important information). A couple of things to watch/listen for: The video states that people who did the trading would simply get richer, but there are three ways in which the silk road affected the rest of the people. What are these three ways? Make sure you can explain them as well.

3 impacts of the Silk Road

1. Economic Impact Creating jobs, not only for merchants but for manufacturers as well. Civilization Profit Economic wealth for governance – Still impacts us today! “City Hubs” along the Silk Road would grow in population and economic growth, as merchants would frequently have to stop for food, water and other pleasures. Thus spending money at those cities.

2. Trading of Ideas & Thoughts More importantly though, this trading route also gave way to ideas, inventions and religions being transmitted from East to West.

More than just trading of resources The Chinese Four Great Inventions paper making, printing techniques, gunpowder and the compass) This greatly sped up the development of the entire world as it allowed for inventions, writing and exploration.

Religion Religion would find expand itself along the trade route as well The Silk Road would be the primary route for the spread of Buddhism into China and Central Asia. Zoroastrianism & Islam (eventually Christianity) were cultural treasure of the ancient west that made their way East to India and China. Buddhism was beginning to dwindle in India, but contact with other culture and traditions allowed it to become one of the prominent religions in the world.

3. Worldwide Interconnectedness of Peoples Spread of disease would travel along the Silk Road to Europe causing significant loss of life throughout Europe. Measles, Smallpox and the Bubonic Plague were all introduced through the Silk Road via East to West. You also have the exchange of culture and technologies on a scale that had been previously unprecedented.

The end of the Silk road….the beginning of new trade In the early Middle Ages traffic along the route decreased because of the decline of the Roman Empire. Trading along the Silk Road became stronger again between the 13th and 14th centuries. Why? During the Age of Exploration the Silk Road lost its importance because new sea routes to Asia were discovered. Decline in Roman Empire – No longer protection along the silk road to transport goods. Germanic Barbarians who pillaged and robbed merchants of their goods. Trade along the Silk Road became strong again because of the Renaissance period, which continued to look for new ideas and build this idea of worldwide interconnectedness.