State Building in Afro-Eurasia
This empire located in the Americas was known for its extensive and complex roads.
The Incas
This philosophy became the dominant ethical and political ideology in Song Dynasty China, promoting social harmony and meritocracy.
Confucianism
This overland trade network facilitated the exchange of silk, spices, and other goods between China and the Mediterranean.
The Silk Road
Name of the weapon invented by the Mongols as a result of their expansion and their combination of various weapon technologies.
The cannon
This Venetian merchant's travels to China and the Mongol Empire were later recorded in a famous book that spread knowledge about the East to Europeans.
Marco Polo
Known for its long-standing feudal system, this civilization was ruled by shoguns and daimyos while the emperor served as a figurehead.
Japan
Name of the religious mission called by Pope Urban II to take control of Jerusalem from the Muslims.
The Crusades
This maritime trade network linked East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The Indian Ocean Trade Network
This highly accurate instrument, used by sailors to navigate the Indian Ocean, was crucial for measuring the position of celestial bodies.
The Astrolabe
These seasonal winds played a critical role in shaping maritime trade across the Indian Ocean.
The monsoon winds
This Chinese dynasty is known for reviving Confucianism and ruled from 960 to 1279.
The Song Dynasty
Name of the library in Baghdad known for its extensive collection of rare books, classical texts, and center for scholars to meet up in.
The House of Wisdom
This empire provided stability and safety along the Silk Road, allowing for increased trade and cultural exchange during the 13th and 14th centuries.
The Mongol Empire
During the Pax Mongolica, this military technology, originating in China, was spread to Europe and transformed warfare.
Gunpowder
This West African city, known for its wealth and learning, became a key center for trade and Islamic scholarship.
Timbuktu
This empire ruled over parts of India and established a period of Muslim influence in the region.
This literary work by Ibn Battuta details his extensive travels across the Islamic world in the 14th century.
The Rihla
The use of these animals revolutionized trans-Saharan trade, making it possible to cross vast desert regions with goods like salt and gold.
Camels
This Song Dynasty innovation revolutionized the production of texts and led to an increase in literacy across East Asia.
Woodblock Printing or Movable Type
This explorer's voyages along the Indian Ocean connected the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia, spreading goods, people, and ideas.
This West African empire flourished from trade in gold and salt and was known for powerful rulers like Mansa Musa.
The Mali Empire
The rise of the Swahili city-states was influenced by the blending of Bantu and this culture, which was brought by traders from the Arabian Peninsula.
Arab/Muslim Culture
This Central Asian trading city became a key hub of trade, culture, and diplomacy during the height of the Silk Road.
This innovation allowed merchants and travelers to travel on camels for longer distances and more efficiently.
The camel saddle
This North African empire was known for its control over trans-Saharan trade routes, and its wealth was greatly increased by gold and salt trade.
The Ghana Empire