Networks of Communication & Exchange 300B.C.E.-600C.E.

The Silk Road• Linked China & the

Mediterranean World 150-907 & 13th-17th Century

• Started by Chinese demand for Western Imports– Horses, Alfalfa, Wine Grapes,

Nuts, Precious Stones

• Chinese Exports– Peaches, Apricots, Spices, Silk,

Pottery,

• Helped Spread Religion & Technology– Christianity, Zoroastrianism,

Buddhism, and Islam– Military tech = Chariot & Stirrup

The Sasanid Empire 224-600

• Conflict & Peace with the Byzantines– Peace time = Trade Flourished– Control of caravan trade– War = Religiously motivated (Christianity v. Zoroastrianism)

• Sasanid Culture– Silk Road Trade w/India & China– Zoroastrianism official religion (intolerant)– Religion = Citizenship, language, & ethnicity

Indian Ocean Maritime System

• Three Regions: S. China Sea, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea

• Isolated from inland populations– West = No access to large

inland populations = lack of customers

– East = Larger pop. But not dependent upon the sea

• Traders & Sailors married local women– Women = Mediators between

cultures

Saharan Africa• Early Saharan Cultures

– Hunting / Cattle Breeders / Horse Herders

– Camel introduction = trade, travel, and contact between the people of the Northern & Southern Sahara

• Trade Across the Sahara– Southern Sahara = access to desert

salt deposits– Northern Sahara = exported

agricultural products / wild animals to the Mediterranean

– Berbers & Nomadic Trade = Mediterranean goods for W. African gold (see map)

Sub Saharan Africa• Development of Cultural Unity

– No “great” tradition instead “small”– Highly diverse (2000 languages) due

to different food productions, ecology, lack of communication = No dominant power

• African Cultural Common Characteristics– Kingship– Hoe/Digging Stick– Music / Dancing / Rituals

• Spread of Ideas– Bantu Migration (proto-Bantu)– Iron Tools– Farming methods