Silk Roads
This luxury good traveled from China to Rome and was so valuable that the Romans worried about gold leaving their empire.
What is Silk?
From Africa came this precious metal and ivory to Asian markets through these routes.
What is Gold?
Caravans crossed this desert carrying salt and gold.
What is the Sahara Desert?
These conquerors created the largest land empire in history, reviving Silk Roads safety under the “Pax Mongolica.”
Who were the Mongols?
Venetian merchant whose travels to China fascinated Europe
Who was Marco Polo?
This route helped spread this religion from India to China.
What is Buddhism?
These seasonal winds allowed merchants to predict travel times and expand trade safely across the sea.
What are Monsoon winds?
This “golden” empire built its wealth on a trade with a salty substance essential for life.
What is the Mali Empire?
This Venetian traveler visited the Mongol court and later wrote a book inspiring European exploration.
Who was Marco Polo ?
This Mongol ruler of the Yuan Dynasty welcomed foreign merchants like Marco Polo.
Who was Kublai Khan?
These Chinese inventions made both warfare and navigation possible in faraway lands.
What were Gunpowder & Compass?
Arab traders brought this religion to East Africa, India, and Southeast Asia, blending with local cultures.
What is Islam?
Consider one if not the richest man in history, who crossed the desert on a pilgrimage, spreading gold so widely that it lowered its value in Egypt.
Who was Mansa Musa?
Their invasions of this important city toppled the Abbasid Caliphate in 1258 but also connected China to Europe like never before.
What is Baghdad?
Muslim traveler who visited much of the Islamic world and beyond, writing detailed accounts.
Who was Ibn Battuta?
A devastating traveler that moved along this route in the 14th century, wiping out millions of people in Eurasia.
What is the Black Death?
This trade network connected these regions, spreading goods like ivory, spices, and textiles along with Islam and other cultural influences.
What were East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia?
This route helped the growth of this important city as a center of learning and commerce.
What was Timbuktu?
This term refers to the period of stability and peace that made trade safer across Eurasia.
What was Pax Mongolica?
English Christian mystic known for her pilgrimage writings.
Who was Margery Kempe?
Merchants carried such, like porcelain and paper from East Asia to Europe.
What were luxury goods?
These 2 major cities thrived as trade hubs here.
What are Calicut and Malacca?
Camels carrying this innovation revolutionized desert trade by increasing speed and carrying capacity.
What were Camel saddles?
The empire used this relay system of horses for fast communication.
What was the Yam system? (or Örtöö)
Chinese admiral who led massive maritime expeditions in the Indian Ocean.
Who was Zheng He?