By Simon Shalmiyev, Bharati Dev, Noor Sheikh, Victoria Lamberti, Alaina Lynch, Demetria Thaten

 Started when nomadic people bartered their steeds for silk  Buddhism and Hinduism  Economies of many empires were filled with fortune, such as the Islamic empire, the Byzantine empire, the Tang and Song dynasties of China, and India.  Horses played a major role in the transportation of goods

 China: exports- porcelain, metallurgy, gunpowder, and compasses  Middle east: exports- staple crops (sugarcane, rice), vegetables (spinach, eggplants), fruits (oranges, bananas) and industrial crops (henna, cotton), dyes, textiles, Islamic religion  Imports- Persian administrative ideas (kingship), theology, philosophy, law, literature, poetry, Indian mathematics system, science, medicine, astronomical calculations (Greek).

 Byzantine: exports- fashioned jewelry, dyed raw woolen cloth  Imports- silk, porcelain, textiles, spices, carpets (Persia), slaves, timber, honey  India- exports: refined sugar, leather tanning, stone carving, carpet weaving, iron and steel production  Imports- silk, porcelain, southeast Asian fine spices, incense, horses, and dates from southwest Asia, gold, ivory, and slaves from Africa

 -Under the leadership of Genghis Khan, the Mongols rapidly proceeded to conquer a huge region of Asia.  -The former Han city of Jiaohe, to the west of Turfan, was destroyed by the Mongols as they passed through on their way westwards.

 The Empire stretched from Central Asia to China, Persia, and the Mediterranean.  After Genghis' death, the western section of the empire divided into three main groups.  Kubilai Khan completed the conquest of China, subduing the Song in the South of the country, and established the Yuan dynasty.

 The Silk Road was important to the Mongols because it connected the many regions of the Mongols’ empire. Their emphasis on trade resulted in the close supervision of the Silk Road trade routes, which promoted travel safety.  Because of the decline of the Mongol Empire starting in 1262, the barriers rose again on the land route between East and West.  Even with the Mongols, trade along the Silk Road never reached the heights that it did in the Tang Dynasty  The Silk Road became obsolete because sea trade became popular.

-Born in Venice, Italy -Travelled the silk road, making way for other Europeans -Journey throughout Asia lasted for 24 years -Made many accounts on the Mongols -The Travels of Marco Polo, his accounts of his travels, allowed Westerners to understand the ways of life of the people of the Far East

Mr. Polo’s accounts on the Silk Road suggested that trade was safe during the Mongol reign. Marco Polo, speaker of four languages, became a favorite of Kublai Khan Paper money was new to him because he was used to gold and silver currency. He also described the efficient communication system of the Mongol world

 Marco Polo stayed at Kublai Khan’s court for 17 years. When Kublai was 70, Mr. Polo decided to return home because he feared that if Kublai were to die, Mr. Polo wouldn’t be able to return with all the fortune he had made.

Before his death in Venice, Polo left the famous epithet “I have only told half of what I saw”. Many people considered his accounts as fairytales but they were later confirmed true by other travelers Marco Polo made way for other Westerners to embark upon the Silk Road trade routes and create trading relations with the East Asia

Quiz 1. What were Marco Polo's accounts of his travels called? The Travels of Marco Polo 13

Quiz 2. What did Marco Polo write about? Detailed account of the rise of the mongols, the Great Khan's life and empire, Silk Road Travels, Mongolian warfare, etc. 14

Quiz 3. Why did Marco Polo decide to leave Kublai Khan’s court? He decided to return because he feared that if Kublai were to die he wouldn’t be able to return with all the fortune he had made. 15

Quiz 4.What led to the demise of the silk road and why? Because of the decline of the Mongol Empire starting in 1262, the barriers rose again on the land route between East and West. The Silk Road became obsolete because sea trade became popular. 1

Quiz 5. In what way did the Mongols used the Silk Road? The Silk Road was important to the Mongols because it was a path of communication between different parts of the empire, and this helped their use of trade. 17

Quiz 6.What did the Middle east NOT export? a)staple crops b) industrial crops c) textiles d) gunpowder Answer: D) Gunpowder 18

 The End 19