Networks of Communication and Exchange - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Networks of Communication and Exchange

c. 500 B.C.E.-500 C.E.Slide2

Before classical times, long-distance trade was risky and costly

Two developments reduced the risks of long-distance trade and stimulated trade during classical times

Empires invested heavily in the construction of roads and bridges—Why?

Classical societies built large imperial states that sometimes expanded to the point that they bordered on one another

campaigns of Alexander Slide3

Alexander’s conquests brought Greek civilization into contact with societies and cultures stretching to northwestern IndiaSlide4

Break-up of Alexander’s Empire Slide5

Indian Ocean Monsoon

Seasonal monsoon winds, which affected historic sailing routes in the Indian Ocean, were discovered by mariners from Ptolemaic Egypt about 40 C.E.

The prevailing winds blow from the southwest in the summer and from the northeast in the winterSlide6

Major trade routes of the Classical PeriodSlide7
Slide8

Two major types of trade contacts during the Classical Era

Land Routes:

Trans Saharan Trade Routes

The Silk Road

Sea Routes:

The Indian Ocean System

The Mediterranean System Slide9

Trans Saharan Trade

Prior to the Classical Age the Sahara Desert served as a natural geographical barrier between Sub-Saharan Africa and those living in north and east

Introduction of

camel

(probably around 1

st

century B.C.E.) from Arabia, made trade caravans possibleSlide10

Saharan Trade

technological advancement: camel

saddle

allowing trade goods to be transported

items from Sub-Saharan Africa would make their way to eastern Africa and then into Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea trade networks

“silent trade” was often usedSlide11

Saharan Trade: What was traded?

desert salt was an important trading commodity

for export traders from Sub-Saharan Africa brought forest products, kola nuts, palm oil, rhinoceros horns, tortoise shells, ivory, emeralds and gold

imported cloth, glass, olive oil, wine, brass, iron and copperSlide12
Slide13

the Silk Road was a linking of trade routes that took silk from China to the Middle East and Mediterranean

depended on effective Chinese control of a territory that reached in Central Asia, the organization of the Parthian (Persian) Empire and other Hellenistic successor states

no evidence exists to prove that any one person traveled from one end of the route to the other

The Silk RoadSlide14

Silk Road

Silk Road extended overland from Chang’an (Xi’an), China to eastern Mediterranean

Began in 2

nd

century B.C.E. when a Chinese general made it to the Tarim Basin in central Asia and discovered “strong horses”Slide15

Silk Road

Chinese had many goods to trade, especially highly prized silk

now willing to trade silk for horses and high-quality jade

Tarim Basin connected to the western trade routes

By 100 B.C.E. Greeks could buy silk from Mesopotamian traders who had traded with the nomads of Tarim Basin

Goods made it all the way to Rome Slide16

Silk Road: What was Traded?

Traders going

west

from China carried peaches, apricots, cinnamon, ginger, spices and silk

Traders going

east

carried alfalfa (for horses), grapes, pistachios, sesame, and spinach

Technologies:

stirrup

(major innovation) came from Afghanistan and made its way both to China and Europe

Ideas: Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity

Much of Silk Road held together and managed by nomads of central Asia (provided protection)Slide17

Indian Ocean Trade Slide18

Indian Ocean Trade

Indian Ocean traders traveled back and forth from one of its three legs

Southeastern China to Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia to the eastern coast of India

The western coast of India to the Red Sea and eastern coast of AfricaSlide19

Indian Ocean Trade:

What was Traded?

Exotic animals and wood: from Africa

Ivory: from Africa, India, and Mesopotamia

Frankincense and myrrh (fragrances): from northern Somalia and southern Arabia

Copper: from Oman and southern Arabia

Pearls: from Persian Gulf

Spices: from India and Southeast Asia

Manufactured goods—pottery: from ChinaSlide20

Differences in Sailing Vessels Mediterranean and Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

Strong seasonal winds making navigation difficult, so

lateen

sail (triangular) was used –more maneuverable

Boats smaller than used in Mediterranean

Mediterranean Sea very calm water

Sails large and flat to pick up wind

Galleys had rowers & stayed close to shoreSlide21

Lateen sail for rough monsoon watersSlide22

Mediterranean shipsSlide23

Mediterranean Sea Trade

Specialized production of agricultural commodes and manufactured goods set the stage for vigorous trade

Rome exported pottery, glassware, bronze goods, jewelry, works of art, decorative items, perfumes, wool and linen textiles, iron tools, olive oil, and wine

Sea lanes linked the port of Rome (Ostia) to Syria and Palestine to Spain and north Africa

Roman military and naval power kept the Sea lanes largely free of piratesSlide24

Mediterranean Sea Trade:

What was Traded?

Rome imported

exotic animals and wood: from Africa

grain: from Sicily and Egypt

silk, cinnamon and ginger: from China

spices from Arabia

pepper, sesame oil, cotton textiles, pearls, coral and ivory: from India

cloves, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon and

cardamon

: from southeast AsiaSlide25

Mediterranean Sea TradeSlide26

Movement of ideas, people and disease during the Classical Period Slide27

The Spread of Ideas along Trade Routes

Buddhism spreads to China along the Silk Road and Southeast Asia by land and sea

Hinduism spreads to Southeast Asia via sea trade routes

Christianity becomes the dominant religion in Roman empire—spreads via trade

Christian communities flourished in Mesopotamia, Iran and as far away as India

The Spread of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity 200 B.C.E.- 400 C.E.Slide28

Spread of Buddhism

By the 3

rd

century BCE Ashoka spread Buddhism to Bactria and Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

Particularly successful in attracting merchants as converts

When they traveled they observed their faith and explained it to others

Gradually, Buddhism made its way along the silk roads to Iran, central Asia, China, and southeast Asia

Buddhist first established presence in towns along the silk road—these towns allowed Buddhist to build monasteries

By the first century B.C.E. Buddhists established some Buddhist communities in China—mostly foreign merchants

Beginning in the 5

th

century C.E. many Chinese people began to convert to BuddhismSlide29

Spread of Buddhism

By the

post classical

era Buddhism became the most popular religion in east Asia, including Japan, Korea, and China

Imported Buddhism brought its artistic styles and literature to these countries including ChinaSlide30

Borobudur—Buddhist temple built in the 8

th

-9

th

c. C.E. by the rulers of Shrivijaya on the island of Java Slide31

Angkor Wat: Hindu Temple in Cambodia built in the early 12

th

century

merchant mariners regularly traveled between India and southeast Asia during the late centuries B.C.E.

clear signs of cultural influence of India by the first century C.E.

rulers of some southeast Asian states called themselves “rajas”

they adopted Sanskrit as a written language

promoted Hindu cults of Shiva and Vishnu; some converted to Buddhism

built temples in the Indian style Slide32

Spread of Christianity

Christian missionaries took full advantage of Rome’s network of roads and sea lanes—Christianity soon spread throughout the Mediterranean Basin

By the late 3

rd

century Christian missionaries brought the religion to Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Egypt, north Africa and Iran—even as far as India

Don’t forget Aksum (Ethiopia)

many Christian communities in Mesopotamia and Iran practiced strict asceticism (inspired by Indian religious traditions)—helped to inspire the formation of Christian monastic communities in the Mediterranean Basin Slide33

A Number of significant migrations took place in late classical era

Huns: 4

th

century C.E. nomadic Huns from central Asia began a westward migration

Attila the Hun created a great attacking army and invaded a lot of the Roman Empire territories in Balkans, Gaul, and northern Italy

Huns invaded the Indian continent in late 5

th

century exhausting Gupta treasurySlide34
Slide35

Migrations in late classical era

C.E. 200-600

Germanic People: Germanic people had been contesting the Roman Empire, but with its collapse they began to settle their own regions

Many of these groups formed their own states in what is now Europe:

Franks: what is now France

Angles and Saxons: invaded and conquered EnglandSlide36

Germanic Migrations C.E. 400-526Slide37

Migrations in late classical era

C.E. 200-600

Bantu: Originated around the Niger River in modern Nigeria

Migration was over a long period of time

Went into Sub-Saharan Africa first south and then southeast

By end of classical era Bantu had spread not only their language, but had introduced iron metallurgy and agriculture to many areasSlide38

Bantu Migrations 1000 B.C.E.-500 C.E

.Slide39

Migrations in late classical era

C.E. 200-600

Polynesians: their migration was like the Bantu—very gradual over long time period

Most islands west of New Guinea had been visited and settled

These were people who originally came from Asia and expanded eastward to Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa

Ships were double canoes that carried a platform between them

Had large triangular sails and traveled long distances

By 18

th

century Polynesians had explored and colonized almost every habitable island in PacificSlide40

Polynesian Migrations (up to C.E. 300)Slide41
Slide42

Fall of Great Empires

Between C.E. 200-600 all three great classical civilizations had collapsed

Western part of Roman Empire fell

Han Dynasty ended in disarray

Gupta had fragmented into regions

There were some common reasons

What were they?Slide43

Fall of Great Empires

Common Reasons

Attacks by nomadic groups

Migration of Huns impacted all three

Hun migration caused other groups to leave their area and created stress in Rome, India and China

Serious internal problems

All had trouble maintaining control over their vast lands; governments incapable of ruling this size

Rome and Han China had landowner and peasant disputes (conflict between rich and poor)Slide44

Fall of Great Empires

Common Reasons

Problem of interdependence:

When one empire weakened it impacted all

As a trade route would be disrupted it stopped the flow of trade goods into another region

Disease spread along trade routes devastating populations

Some estimates state that as many as half of its citizens were lost in the late classical eraSlide45

Spread of Epidemic Disease

During the 2

nd

and 3

rd

centuries C.E. the Han and Roman empires suffered large-scale outbreaks of epidemic disease

Smallpox, measles and possibly bubonic plague

Roman population went from about 60 million, during the reign of Augustus, to 45 million by the 2

nd

century

165-180 an outbreak of smallpox furthur reduced population to 40 million and killed Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (180)Slide46

Spread of Epidemic Disease

Epidemics appeared slightly later in China

Han population fell from about 60 million in C.E. 200 to 50 million by 400 and to 45 million by 600

Persia, India and other lands most likely experienced demographic, economic and social problems similar to China and Rome

Evidence is not as clear as for Rome and China Slide47

Spread of Epidemic Disease

Demographic decline brought economic and social change

trade within the empires declined

economies move to regional self-sufficiency

Helped to bring about serious instability in China after the fall of the Han

In weakening the Mediterranean society it helped bring about the fall of the western Roman empireSlide48

Results of Fall of Great Empires

Rome

: never regained its identity

India

: rebounded with the glue of Hinduism

China

: rebounded into another dynasty with Confucianism the glueSlide49

The End