1. Creation, Interaction and Expansion of Economic Systems
Classical Era
600 BCE- 600 CE

2. Afro-Eurasian Trade Patterns before 600 CE
What are the four most well known ancient trade routes?
Mediterranean Sea Maritime Trade (c BCE – Present)
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes (c. 800 BCE – Present)
Indian Ocean Maritime Trade Route (c. 300 BCE – Present)
Eurasian Silk Road (c. 200 BCE – Present)

3. Trade Networks in the Classical Era
Silk Roads
roads linked China, India, and Mesopotamia
trade often facilitated by Central Asian herders (middle-men)
roads extended by Romans to include the Mediterranean region
important route that gave access to luxury goods and exotic spices from the East to the West
Nomads linked to more advanced civilizations through their participation in trade (often offering use of their animals)
allowed the diffusion of ideas (including religious beliefs and scientific discoveries), goods, technology, and diseases

4. The Silk Roads
Cotton

5. Trade Networks in the Classical Era
Indian Ocean Trade
an extension of the Silk Roads that allowed trade primarily between China, India, and Africa
sea merchants/sailors from China, India, Persia, Africa, Southeast Asia
movement possible from monsoon winds to go from section to section across the Indian Ocean

6. Trade Networks in the Classical Era

9. Trade Networks in the Classical Era
Trans-Saharan Trade
trade across the Sahara desert
use of camel caravans to cross the desert
primarily exchange of salt and palm oil for gold and ivory
significant in that sub-Saharan Africa was linked to North Africa and therefore the Mediterranean trade routes, as well as the silk roads that the Romans extended into North Africa

10. Trade Networks in the Classical Era

11. Afro-Eurasian Trade Patterns before 600 CE TRANS-SAHARAN TRADE ROUTES

12. obstacles to unification and communication
Early History
Sahara-forest/deforestation
-economy: hunting societies, cattle herders, horse herders/chariots
-culture:
-Griots-story tellers,
passed history down
-dancing, masks, drums
- Rock art
Geographically diverse
-Mediterranean
-desert
-rainforest
-savannah
-mountains
obstacles to unification and communication
To Rome
camel herders
Christianity
exotic animals, wheat, olives
copper, cloth, weapons,
manuf. goods
Axum
--controlled internat’l trade (ivory, gold, emeralds, salt, manf. goods, iron, copper)
-cosmopolitan cities (Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian)
Islam
Kings Of Ghana
-controlled salt/gold trade
-resisted Islam influx
-fell 1076 to Arab Muslims
Kola nuts & Palm oil
salt
gold
Bantu Migrations
Iron working
Clay sculptures
Bantu Migrations
-Proto-Bantu – parent tongue – 900 languages
-farmers, herders/knowledge of iron
-moved south & east – pop. Increases. Looking for fertile land

13. Camel Caravans linked Red Sea ports to Arabia by land

14. Trade in the Classical Era
Mediterranean Sea Lanes
Originated by Phoenician Sea-faring traders (c BCE), expanded/intensified by the Romans
Centered on the Phoenician trade centers of Carthage, Cyrene and Tyre, later Rome, Constantinople
Travel by sea was usually by means of a man-powered vessel with oars
Roman navy protected the sea lanes
Pax Romana- era of peace and prosperity, when trade flourished

16. Roman grain trade

17. Roman Mediterranean trade

19. NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT FACILITATED LONG DISTANCE TRADE
YOKES
Wooden beam that allows work animals to pull together.
SADDLES
Supportive apparatus to support riders on horses, camels, etc.
STIRRUPS
After the Chariot & Saddle, it's the most important advancement in warfare prior to gunpowder.
LATEEN SAILS
Triangular sail dating back to the Roman Mediterranean and used heavily in the Indian Ocean trade.
DHOW SHIPS: Ships with one or more Lateen sails primarily used in the Indian Ocean trade.

20. THINGS TRADED ALONGSIDE GOODS:
DISEASES
PLAGUE OF GALEN
Smallpox killed 5 million people (1/3 of the population) in Rome in 165 CE.
PLAGUE OF JUSTINIAN
Bubonic Plague in 541 CE
killed 40% of Constantinople
& spread killing 25 million
worldwide.
PLAGUE OF CYPRIAN
Smallpox outbreak in 250 CE
that lasted 20 years, killed the
Emperor, and was blamed on
RICE
The most important
crop for human
consumption today.
COTTON
Accounts for
2.5% of earth’s
arable land today.
QANAT SYSTEM
Provides water in arid climates. Spread from
Iran to North Africa and the rest of Asia where
many people depend on the Qanat for water.

21. Religion THINGS TRADED ALONGSIDE GOODS: BUDDHISM
Buddhism took on different characteristics wherever it spread (China, SE Asia, Japan)
HINDUISM
SE Asian societies made Hinduism fit their history/society.
CHRISTIANITY
Took on a structure like the Roman Empire
and adding the “Trinity”

22. The spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity, 200 BCE – 400 CE

26. Classical Civilizations
Han China
Monopolized production of iron, salt, and liquor
Rise of the Silk Road
Mauryan India
Ashoka built irrigation systems and roads to promote trade
Mayans
Terrace farming improved production of cotton, maize, and cacao

27. Classical Civilizations
Ancient Greece
Cities, such as Athens, become centers of trade
Economy depended heavily on slavery
Rome
Latifundia – large landed estates focused on commercial agriculture (olive oil, wine, wheat)
North Africa was the major grain producing region
Depended on slave labor
Roman roads promoted trade and linked empire to Silk Road

28. Classical era labor systems
China
Free peasants were the backbone of the labor force
Peasants ranked just below bureaucrats but above artisans and merchants
Qin Shi Huangdi ended the manorial system
“Recruited” labor to build the Great Wall
Silk weaving supplemented farm income
“Men as tiller, woman as weaver”
During the Han dynasty, slaves made up less than 1% of the total population

29. Classical era labor systems
Greece & Rome
Slaves made up 1/3 of the population
Slaves worked as domestic servants, miners, and farmers
In Greece, slaves could serve as tutors
In Rome, development of commercial agriculture led to the rise of slavery
Rome also used slaves as gladiators and chariot racers

30. Classical era labor systems
India
Caste system was based largely on job classification
Farmers did not rank high in prestige
Merchants had a higher social standing than they did in China or the Mediterranean
Slaves played almost no role in the economy
Sudras (lowest caste) and untouchables took the place of slaves