World Contacts Before Columbus What was the Afro-Eurasian trading world before Columbus?
Indian Ocean Trading World The center of pre-Columbian world trade.
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) Medieval China had the most advanced economy in the world.
Africa
Africa – Kingdom of Mali Mansa Musa (14 th 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, 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
control of luxury trade with the East support for Crusades brought land & trading privileges Goods: o Eastern luxury goods: spices, silks, carpets o Balkan slaves o Euro. products: wool, metal, textiles Venice and Genoa