Networks of Communication & Exchange 300B.C.E.-600C.E.

The Silk Road Linked China & the Mediterranean World & 13 th -17 th Century Started by Chinese demand for Western Imports – Horses, Alfalfa, Wine Grapes, Nuts, Precious Stones Chinese Exports – Peaches, Apricots, Spices, Silk, Pottery, Helped Spread Religion & Technology – Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Islam – Military tech = Chariot & Stirrup

The Sasanid Empire Conflict & Peace with the Byzantines – Peace time = Trade Flourished – Control of caravan trade – War = Religiously motivated (Christianity v. Zoroastrianism) Sasanid Culture – Silk Road Trade w/India & China – Zoroastrianism official religion (intolerant) – Religion = Citizenship, language, & ethnicity

Indian Ocean Maritime System Three Regions: S. China Sea, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea Isolated from inland populations – West = No access to large inland populations = lack of customers – East = Larger pop. But not dependent upon the sea Traders & Sailors married local women – Women = Mediators between cultures

Saharan Africa Early Saharan Cultures – Hunting / Cattle Breeders / Horse Herders – Camel introduction = trade, travel, and contact between the people of the Northern & Southern Sahara Trade Across the Sahara – Southern Sahara = access to desert salt deposits – Northern Sahara = exported agricultural products / wild animals to the Mediterranean – Berbers & Nomadic Trade = Mediterranean goods for W. African gold (see map)

Sub Saharan Africa Development of Cultural Unity – No “great” tradition instead “small” – Highly diverse (2000 languages) due to different food productions, ecology, lack of communication = No dominant power African Cultural Common Characteristics – Kingship – Hoe/Digging Stick – Music / Dancing / Rituals Spread of Ideas – Bantu Migration (proto-Bantu) – Iron Tools – Farming methods