Silk Road

Trade route that linked China, Mesopotamia, Central Asia, the Mediterranean
and Iran.
o The Parthians helped foster the Silk Road by sharing customs with the
steppe nomads.
General Zhang from China discovered it. He brought Alfalfa and wine grapes
to China
o Traders carried Chinese fruits to western countries, and China
imported metals, precious stones, and medicine.
It is said that the Silk Road could not have functioned without the nomads.
They protected it, but they were self-sufficient
Nomads who spoke Turkic became pastoral and constructed settlements due
to silk road.
o They lived in round portable huts called yurts
o Also lived in Mongolian gers
o Wealthy Turks and Iranians lived in big homes with brightly colored
wall paintings which was probably a symbol of wealth.
Kushan people invented the stirrup

Indian Ocean Maritime System

Was a trade network across the Indian ocean and South China sea
Created ties between East Africa, Southern Arabia, the Persian Gulf, India,
Southeast Asia, and southern China.
Trade took place in three distinct regions: (1) the South China Sea,
dominated by Chinese and Malays; (2) Southeast Asia to the east coast of
India, dominated by Malays and Indians; and (3) the west coast of India to
the Persian Gulf and East Africa, dominated by Persians and Arabs.
Trade was dependent upon seasonal monsoon winds, which was discovered
by Hippalus.
Indian oceans hips were different from western ships
o Western ships ha square sails and long banks of oars
o Indian Ocean ships had triangular lateen sails and small banks of oars.
Trade could have originated in East Africa.
o Also is said to have originated with migrations from Southeast Asia to
Madagascar.
The trading system included spices, pearls, incense, Chinese pottery, fruits,
etc.
Traders married women from the countries they traded with.

Sahara

There was rock art found that shows that they might have been charioteers.
 The camel was introduced from Arabia and its introduction and domestication
in the Sahara was probably related to the development of the trans-Saharan
trade.
o The camel gave the people of sahgara more access to other people.

Trade across the Sahara developed slowly when two local trading systems,
one in the southern Sahara and one in the north, were linked. Traders in the
southern Sahara had access to desert salt deposits and exported salt to the
sub-Saharan regions in return for kola nuts and palm oil. Traders in the north
exported agricultural products and wild animals to Italy.

The Berber people of these areas revolted against the Arabs in the 700s
and established independent city-states including Sijilmasa and Tahert.

The Berbers traded with parts of West Africa with gold for salt. North Africa
traded copper and other goods to southern desert nomads.

Documents-

Travel Accounts Of Africa And India

o Shows that the People Of India And Africa Had Different Way Of
Styles Even Though Influenced Primarily By Same People
o Also shows that religion played a mjor role in economy and political
system in both Africa and India.

Camel Saddles
o Shows that the newer ones were better for heavier loads.
o Saddle from north Arabia.