Trade Networks of Asia and Africa Chapter 1.3

Muslim Link in Trade Trade linked groups who lived at great distances from one another. Merchants carried their cultures with them as they traveled. The growth in trade was also linked with the rise of the religion of Islam.

Rise of Islam. The founder was Muhammad. Muhammad taught about one true God. Followers of Islam call themselves Muslim. Quran The sacred book of Islam. Believed to be the exact word of God as reveled to Muhammad. Transmitted rapidly through conquest and trade.

Advances in Learning Arab scholar contributions: Helped develop algebra, later passed on to Europe. Astronomers measured the size of Earth, supporting Greek belief that the Earth was a sphere. Built large ships with triangular sails that allowed captains to use the wind even if it changed direction.

African Link in Trade Egyptian sailers brought to Egypt cedar logs, silver, and horses. Following routes from Egypt, they traded for ivory, spices, copper, and cattle.

Zimbabwe Became the center if a flourishing empire in the 1400s. Lay on the trade route between the east coast and the interior of Africa. Traders passing through had to pay taxes on their goods.

Kilwa The chief trading center along the east coast of Africa. Attracted merchant ships from as far away as China. Kiowa traders did a brisk trade with the African interior, exchanging both clothing, pottery, and manufactured goods for gold, ivory, and furs. An active slave trade also developed between East Africa and Asia across the Indian Ocean.

West African Trade Centers Ghana was the first major center of trade in West Africa. Gold and salt trade Shifting trade routes and disruptions caused Ghana to weaken. Empire of Mali took over.

Mali Reached its height with Muslim ruler Mansa Musa. As it prospered, it's great city of Timbuktu became a center of learning. Rulers of Songhai captured Timbuktu in 1468 and restored it as a center of Islamic learning.

East Asian Link in Trade The China empire had expanded and so had its trade. 1200s, the city of Hangzhou was one of the world's largest cities. China had a higher level of technology at the time. Made great advances in navigation. Invented the magnetic compass.

Spice Trade and the Silk Road Chinese silks, bronze goods, pottery, and spices flowed west from China along a route known as the Silk Road. Silk Road was one of the great trade routes of ancient times. Series of roads that stretched over 5,000 miles. The Silk Road declined in importance when alternative se routes were discovered.