Question: Why is trade so important for countries???
World Contacts Before Columbus What was the Afro-Eurasian trading world before Columbus?
Since before Han and Roman Times, seaborne trade between China, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe had flowed across the Indian Ocean.
Indian Ocean Trading World The center of pre-Columbian world trade.
Indian Ocean Trading World
Indian Ocean Trading World A “rich commercial world in which mutual self-interest had largely limited violence and attempts to monopolize trade.” (McKay, et al., 9/e, p. 485) What does the above quote mean?? Why did actions change with the Europeans?
Merchants congregated in port cities with diverse populations.
China played a key role in the fifteenth-century revival of Indian Ocean Trade. Economic powerhouse Advanced economy How is this different from today’s world??
Admiral Zheng He led seven voyages of exploration between 1405 and 1433.
Africa
Africa – Kingdom of Mali Mansa Musa (14th c.) A mosque in Timbuktu
Africa – Legend of Prester John Prester John enthroned on a map of East Africa, in an atlas prepared by the Portuguese for Queen Mary of England, 1558. Prester John’s kingdom in what is now Ethiopia, map issued in Antwerp, 1570s.
The Middle East: Ottoman & Persian Empires
Ottoman Expansion 1453 – captured Constantinople = end of Byzantine empire 1526 – defeat of Hungary 1529 – siege on Vienna
Venice and Genoa control of luxury trade with the East support for Crusades brought land & trading privileges Goods: Eastern luxury goods: spices, silks, carpets Balkan slaves Euro. products: wool, metal, textiles