Growth of International Trade 1000-1500 CE

OBJECTIVES Interconnectedness of global trade pre-1450 Trade links from Greenland to Western Europe Western and Eastern Europe to Muslim World Muslim world to Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia East Africa to India to SE Asia to East Asia Role of Central Asia in Trans-Eurasian trade Global Trade did not begin with the European maritime empires Cultural diffusion resulted from trade Facilitated rise of Europe before 1450 Spread civilization to periphery of established cultures Spread religions and technology Show influence of trade routes

TRADE MAP c. 100 C.E.

IMPORTANCE OF LAND TRADE Spread Religions Islam to Central, Western Asia, China Buddhism to China, Korea, Japan Christianity to Russia, China, India Technology diffused throughout Eurasia Foodstuffs, germs, flora/fauna diffused Mongolians kept trade routes open, working Influenced European desire to get to China Influence European desire to bypass Muslims

AFRO-EURASIAN TRADE c. 1400 C.E.

TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE The Camel From West Africa Made trade across desert possible Could carry great loads to trade From West Africa Gold, ivory, slaves, exotic feathers, spices Male slaves carried goods, then sold From Muslim North Africa Cloth, glass, metalwork, books Merchants, missionaries, travelers visited

AFRICAN TRADE NETWORKS Finished Goods, Iron Weapons, Books, Horses, Spices Gold, Slaves, Ivory, Feathers

SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANS-SAHARAN AND EAST AFRICAN TRADE Spread Civilization and Rise of Powerful African States Aided in the rise of West African Empires Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Kanem-Bornu, Hausa people Swahili Culture blends Islam and Bantu elements Swahili trading cities: Zanzibar, Pemba, Pate, Mogadishiu Zimbabwe Central African Bantu kingdom Links Cultures to Wider World Contact between the Mediterranean and Sahel Africa Linked East Africa to S.W. Asia and India Linked Forest West Africa to Sahel regions Linked Central Africa to East Africa Provided most of Eurasia’s pre-Columbian gold, Islam’s slaves Spread Islam to West Africa

MARITIME TRADE ROUTES Maritime Routes co-existed with land routes Often safer than land because fewer stops Seas nevertheless were not as forgiving as the land Requirements to maintain Secure governments and states with agreements Merchant conventions for exchanges Elimination of piracy Good navigation technology, knowledge of the seasons Items with high profit margins to exchange Cities on coast with protected harbors link to land routes Primary Geographic Areas North Sea, Baltic Sea, English Channel Mediterranean and its adjacent bodies of water Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf Bay of Bengal, Straits of Malucca, East China Sea

IMPORTANCE OF MARITIME ROUTES Established cross-cultural contacts Exchanged ideas Furthered development of new ideas Opened interiors to trade with coast Coasts often most developed New ideas, products spread inland Caused rise of trading cities Port cities and entrepots grow into key cities Many became their cultures leading cities Spread religions Spread diseases

TRANS-ATLANTIC TRADE Danish-Norwegian Empire Settled Faroes and Shetland Islands,Iceland, Greenland Conquered parts Scotland, Ireland, England Created new states in Normandy, S. Italy, S.W. Asia Products Furs, fish, and walrus ivory from Greenland Iron, wood, glass, and grain from Norway Wheat, wool, jewelry, leather from England, Ireland Swedish state ruled Sweden, Finland Iron, copper, wood, fish, grain from Sweden Wax, honey, skins, slaves, amber from Russia, Finland, Baltic Established state in Russia Spread Christianity to Periphery lands Both later established ties to Hanseatic League

EUROPEAN TRADE ROUTES European Revival around 1000 CE Cities began to rebuild, expand Church was a major supporter of this revival, expansion Many cities on pilgrimage routes Manufacturing arose again as did guilds Giant Fairs arose as merchants moved goods between cities North Sea/Baltic Trade Routes Hanseatic League: Northern German cities Maintained factories, trading depots in neighboring lands Cloth, wines, fish, timber, salt, iron, amber, copper Flanders and Low Countries: Brugges, Ghent Cities prospered under supportive nobles Came to specialize in woolens, wines, fine manufactures Both Hansa and Venice had trading agreements with Flanders

MEDITERRANEAN TRADE Cities: Constantinople, Alexandria and Venice Byzantine Empire Major terminus on the Silk Roads until 1206 Stole technology to raise silk from Chinese Provided a large market and stable currency for whole region Venice Fine glass, woolens, cloth, wines from Europe Naval fleet (mude) was a middleman to transport goods Spices, silks, and other Asian goods to Europe from Muslim regions Egypt The commercial centers between three continents Linked Europe, Africa, Middle East, Indian Ocean regions Long distance trade handled by middlemen Jews between Europe and Muslim world Armenians, Nestorians between Muslim world and Asia