Song China
This fast-ripening, drought-resistant rice strain from Vietnam helped cause a massive population boom.
Champa Rice
All muslims must make-a a pilgrimage at least once to this city
Mecca
These roadside inns were built along the Silk Road to provide rest for merchants and their camels.
Caravanserai
This is the name for the seasonal winds that dictated the timing of voyages across the Indian Ocean.
Monsoon Winds
This major desert in North Africa was either a barrier or a bridge between central Africa and the Mediterranean--depending on how you see it
The Sahara
Saltpeter, Charcoal, and Sulfer
Gunpowder
This term denotes the united family of muslims around the world
Umma
This is the name for a large group of merchants traveling together, often with camels, for safety and efficiency.
These triangular sails, which allowed ships to sail against the wind, were a crucial innovation for Indian Ocean merchants
Lateen Sails
These two goods were the primary basis of trans-Saharan trade for empires like Ghana and Mali.
Gold and Salt
This revival of ancient wisdom combines elements of Daoism and Buddhism within it
Neo-Confucianism
This mystical form of Islam emphasized personal spiritual experiences and was highly effective in spreading the faith to Central Asia and Africa.
Sufism
This Chinese invention allowed travelers to navigate more accurately and always find their "true north"
Magnetic Compass
This invention helped sailors calculate their latitude on the open ocean
Astrolabe
This ruler of the Mali Empire is famous for his extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca and for spreading stories of his kingdom's wealth.
Mansa Musa
This practice, which began with wealthy women and spread to other classes, became a symbol of social status and patriarchy.
Foot-binding
This city hosted the House of Wisdom, a center of learning and a major trading hub
Baghdad
This financial innovation, which allowed merchants to deposit money in one location and withdraw it in another, facilitated long-distance trade.
Flying Cash
This area on the eastern coast of Africa had a high demand for Indian textiles and Arab merchants
Swahili Coast
This major city in the Mali Empire became a center of Islamic scholarship and trade in the trans-Saharan network.
Timbuktu
A quicker route between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers
Grand Canal
This ruling dynasty oversaw the "Golden Age" of Islam
Abbasid Caliphate
One of the busiest trading hubs on the Silk Road, travelers often referred to the "Road to [This City]" in modern-day Uzbekistan
Samarkand
This major port city in Southeast Asia was a key hub for trade between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
Sultanate of Malacca
This the name for the powerful kingdom in southern Africa, known for its massive stone architecture
Great Zimbabwe