The Silk Roads
This animal was essential for trade across the Silk Roads due to its ability to travel long distances with little water.
What is the camel?
This seasonal weather pattern was essential for maritime trade in the Indian Ocean.
What are Monsoon Winds?
This West African empire grew wealthy from gold and salt trade.
What is Mali?
This language developed in East Africa as a blend of Arabic and Bantu.
What is Swahili?
Marco Polo served at the court of this famous Mongol ruler.
This powerful Central Asian empire helped revive trade along the Silk Roads during the 13th and 14th centuries with the Pax Mongolica.
What are the Mongols?
These ships, common among Chinese merchants, were known for their massive hulls for hauling goods.
What are Junk Ships?
Also on the Silk Road, these trade route side inns provided shelter and protection for travellers and gave them an oppertunity to spread culture.
What are caravanserais?
Trade and conquest spread this Middle Eastern religion across Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe.
What is Islam?
These groups of travelers, often merchants, journied together for safety and efficiency, particularly across challenging terrains such as deserts.
What are Caravans?
This Central Asian major city became a thriving trade hub on the Silk Roads, known for its diverse population and luxury goods.
What is Samarkand or Kashgar?
This East African city-state flourished due to Indian Ocean trade.
What is Kilwa?
This famous Mali ruler made a lavish pilgrimage to Mecca, showcasing the empire's wealth and causing inflation across Africa.
Who is Mansa Musa?
These were the mobile professionals who helped spread religion, culture, and knowledge across trade networks.
What are Merchants/Traders?
Enviornmental consequences of the Indian Ocean Trade Route included the spread and trade of new fruits like this into the mainland of Asia from Southeast Asia.
What are bananas or citrus?
The silk road was known for it's specific transfer of these types of goods.
What are luxury goods?
This religion spread widely along the Indian Ocean trade routes, especially to Southeast Asia.
What is Islam?
This major North African city was a key center for trade, learning, and Islam.
What is Timbuktu?
Along with culture and goods, this infamous illness made its way to Africa and Europe along the trade routes of AfroEurasia.
What is the Bubonic Plague?
As an avid traveler, this European woman documented her pilgrimages to holy sites like Jerusalem, Rome, and Constantinople, offering a glimpse into the motivations and experiences of medieval pilgrims.
Who is Margery Kemp?
These were the financial tools developed to support long-distance trade, including letters of credit.
What are banking houses or flying money?
This Chinese admiral was born into a muslim family in china and was exposed to Chinese culture, led massive voyages that expanded Chinese influence throughout the Indian Ocean.
Who is Zheng He?
These were the two most valuable commodities exchanged across the Trans-Saharan routes.
What is Salt and Gold?
Word of all of this cultural diffusion and diaspora spread back to Africa and Europe due to the historical writings of these two travelers.
Who is Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo?
silk production was a highly valued industry, and the Chinese were known for their expertise in growing these animals and weaving their cocoons into fabric. This industry became a cornerstone of the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected China with the rest of the world.
What are silkworms?