AP World History UNIT 2 REVIEW—1200-1450

Heimler's History

26 Sept 201909:21

Summary

TLDRIn this AP World History review video, the instructor compares intercontinental trade routes from 1200 to 1450, covering the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean routes, and Trans-Saharan networks. They discuss similarities, such as the role of large states in maintaining safety and facilitating technological advancements, and secondary consequences like cultural and religious exchanges. Differences in goods, technology, and religion across routes are highlighted, as well as key cities and travelers. The video concludes with a look at the Mongol Empire's vast influence on trade, cultural diffusion, and the spread of the Black Death.

Takeaways

🌍 The major trade routes between 1200 and 1450 were the Silk Roads, the Indian Ocean routes, and the Trans-Saharan Network, connecting various regions like China, Europe, East Africa, and North Africa.
🏰 All these trade routes flourished largely due to the establishment of large, stable states, such as the Mongol Empire, which provided safety and security for merchants.
⚙️ These trade routes led to the development of new technologies like the magnetic compass, lateen sail, saddles, and the sternpost rudder, which made trade more efficient.
🛍️ The primary purpose of these routes was trade, but they also resulted in significant cultural exchange, including the spread of religions like Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.
🍚 The introduction of new crops, like Champa rice to China and bananas to East Africa, had profound environmental and societal impacts, such as population growth and migration.
🏙️ The growth of major trading cities like Chang’an, Calicut, and Timbuktu was a direct result of the flourishing trade along these routes.
📦 Each trade route specialized in different types of goods: Silk Roads in luxury goods like silk and porcelain, Indian Ocean in common goods like rice and ivory, and Trans-Saharan in salt and slaves.
🧭 The technologies that emerged along the trade routes varied: Silk Roads developed saddles and caravanserais, while the Indian Ocean routes advanced in maritime tech like the astrolabe and compass.
✝️ Religions spread differently across the trade routes: Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism traveled along the Silk Roads, Islam across both the Indian Ocean and Trans-Saharan routes.
☠️ Trade also facilitated the spread of disease, with the Black Death traveling across Afro-Eurasia, leading to population loss and significant social changes, especially in Europe.

Q & A

What are the major trade routes discussed in the video?
-The major trade routes discussed are the Silk Roads, the Indian Ocean trade routes, and the Trans-Saharan trade network.
How did large states contribute to the flourishing of these trade routes?
-Large states, such as the Mongols controlling the Silk Road, provided protection and stability, allowing merchants to feel safe while traveling, which helped the trade routes flourish.
What technological innovations were developed to facilitate trade along these routes?
-Innovations included the magnetic compass, the lateen sail, saddles for camels and horses, and the sternpost rudder. These technologies made trade more efficient and profitable.
What were some of the secondary consequences of trade along these routes?
-In addition to trade, cultural exchanges occurred, such as the spread of religions (Buddhism, Islam, Christianity), the introduction of new crops like Champa rice to China and bananas to East Africa, and the growth of trading cities like Shang'an, Calicut, and Timbuktu.
What kinds of goods were traded along the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean routes, and Trans-Saharan routes?
-The Silk Roads specialized in luxury goods like silk, porcelain, and gunpowder. The Indian Ocean routes traded common goods such as gold, ivory, textiles, and pepper, along with luxury items. The Trans-Saharan routes focused on horses, salt, gold, and slaves.
How did the religions traveling along the trade routes differ?
-The Silk Roads saw the spread of Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, and Islam. The Indian Ocean routes also facilitated the spread of Christianity, in addition to Buddhism and Islam. The Trans-Saharan routes mainly spread Islam to sub-Saharan Africa.
What were some cultural consequences of trade mentioned in the video?
-Cultural consequences included the spread of Zen Buddhism to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, the conversion of Bantu-speaking tribes to Islam, and the creation of the Swahili language, a mix of Arabic and Bantu.
Who were two significant travelers whose accounts impacted the spread of cultural awareness during this period?
-Ibn Battuta, a Muslim traveler, and Marco Polo, an Italian explorer, both traveled extensively and documented their experiences, which sparked interest in foreign goods and cultures.
What were the environmental consequences of trade routes?
-Environmental consequences included the spread of crops like Champa rice in China and bananas in Africa, but also the spread of diseases like the Black Death, which significantly reduced populations, particularly in Europe.
What impact did the Mongol Empire have on trade and world history during this period?
-The Mongols established the largest land-based empire in history and created the Pax Mongolica, which allowed trade to flourish. However, they also contributed to the spread of the Black Death. Their legacy included influencing state centralization after the fall of their empire.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Overview of AP World History Unit 2: Trade Routes and Mongol Impact

In this video, the presenter reviews Unit 2 of AP World History, focusing on intercontinental trade routes and the role of the Mongols. The key trade networks from 1200 to 1450 include the Silk Roads, the Indian Ocean routes, and the trans-Saharan routes. These routes connected major regions, fostering not just trade but cultural and technological exchange as well. The Mongols played a crucial role in protecting these routes, ensuring their prosperity and facilitating safe trade.

05:00

🌍 Similarities in Major Trade Routes

The three major trade routes were similar due to their reliance on large states for security and flourishing. New technologies, like the magnetic compass and the lateen sail, were introduced to improve trade. Additionally, the primary purpose of these routes was trade, but they also enabled cultural exchange, including the spread of religions like Islam and Buddhism. The routes also contributed to the growth of trading cities like Shang'an, Calicut, and Timbuktu.

🔍 Differences Between Trade Routes

While the trade routes shared similarities, they also had notable differences in the types of goods, technologies, and religions they carried. The Silk Roads specialized in luxury goods, while the Indian Ocean routes facilitated the transport of both luxury and common goods, and the trans-Saharan routes focused on items like gold and salt. Each route had unique technological advancements, such as caravanserai for the Silk Roads and the astrolabe for the Indian Ocean. Religions also varied, with Buddhism spreading on the Silk Roads and Islam moving across the trans-Saharan routes.

🕌 Religious Spread Along Trade Routes

Religions traveled extensively through the trade networks. The Silk Roads saw the spread of Buddhism and Islam, while the Indian Ocean routes facilitated the spread of Christianity and Islam. Along the trans-Saharan routes, Islam was the dominant religion, spreading into sub-Saharan Africa. The interaction between merchants and local populations led to religious conversions and the blending of cultures, such as the creation of Swahili through the interaction of Bantu and Arabic-speaking people.

🛤️ Cultural Consequences of Trade

The trade networks fostered cultural exchange, with significant effects on local cultures. For example, Zen Buddhism spread from China to Korea and Japan, while African Bantu tribes adopted Islam through merchant influence. The stories of travelers like Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo sparked interest in faraway lands and their goods. These exchanges changed how people viewed the world and led to the adoption of new ideas and innovations.

🌿 Environmental and Health Impacts of Trade

Trade brought environmental consequences, such as the spread of crops like Champa rice in China and bananas in Africa. However, it also spread diseases like the Black Death, which decimated populations across Afro-Eurasia. The plague's impact was particularly severe in Europe, where it reduced the population drastically, giving surviving workers leverage to demand better wages and working conditions.

⚔️ The Mongol Empire: Brutality and Legacy

The Mongols established the largest land-based empire in history under the leadership of Genghis Khan. Though known for their brutality, they also contributed to trade security through the Pax Mongolia, facilitating trade across regions. However, they also played a role in spreading the Black Death. Despite their vast empire, the Mongols left a minimal cultural legacy, but their methods of centralizing power influenced the rise of states in Asia and Europe after their decline.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Silk Roads

The Silk Roads were a network of trade routes that connected China to Europe, passing through Central and Southwest Asia. They were crucial for the exchange of luxury goods like silk and porcelain. The video emphasizes that the safety provided by large states, like the Mongols, made the Silk Roads thrive, fostering trade and cultural exchanges.

💡Indian Ocean Trade Routes

These routes connected East Asia with East Africa, involving regions like Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Southwest Asia. Unlike the Silk Roads, which specialized in luxury goods, the Indian Ocean routes also carried common goods such as textiles, pepper, and rice. The video highlights how advancements in maritime technology, like the magnetic compass and sternpost rudder, helped facilitate trade along these routes.

💡Trans-Saharan Routes

The trans-Saharan trade routes connected North Africa and the Mediterranean Basin with Sub-Saharan Africa. These routes were key in trading goods like gold, salt, and slaves. The video points out that Islam spread through these routes, and cities like Timbuktu became major trading centers due to their location at the crossroads of these networks.

💡Mongols

The Mongols were a nomadic people who, under the leadership of Genghis Khan, established the largest land-based empire in history. They played a critical role in ensuring the safety and stability of the Silk Roads, a period referred to as the Pax Mongolica. The video mentions that while their reputation was brutal, they significantly influenced trade and state-building techniques in both Asia and Europe.

💡Technology

Technology refers to the various innovations that improved trade efficiency, such as the magnetic compass, sternpost rudder, and lateen sail. The video describes how these technologies were developed to meet the specific needs of different trade routes, with innovations like saddles enhancing overland trade and maritime tools boosting oceanic travel.

💡Cultural Exchange

Cultural exchange refers to the spread of ideas, religions, and customs along trade routes. The video explains that in addition to goods, trade routes facilitated the spread of Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. For example, Zen Buddhism spread from China to Japan and Korea, while Swahili emerged as a blend of Arabic and Bantu due to interactions along the Indian Ocean routes.

💡Champa Rice

Champa rice was a strain of rice that was drought-resistant and allowed for multiple harvests per year. The video highlights its introduction to China through trade, which led to a population explosion. This is an example of how new crops spread via trade routes, altering agricultural and demographic patterns in regions.

💡Black Death

The Black Death, also known as the bubonic plague, spread along trade routes such as the Silk Roads, especially during the period of Mongol rule. The video explains how this disease had devastating effects on populations, with some areas losing up to 75% of their people. This spread of disease is a significant negative environmental consequence of increased interconnectivity through trade.

💡Trading Cities

Trading cities emerged at key points where trade routes intersected. The video mentions examples like Chang'an in China, Calicut in India, and Timbuktu in Mali, which grew due to their strategic positions along major trade networks. These cities became centers of commerce, culture, and technological innovation.

💡Pax Mongolica

Pax Mongolica, or the 'Peace of the Mongols,' refers to the period of stability and safety across the Mongol Empire, which allowed trade to flourish. The video explains that during this time, merchants felt secure traveling across vast distances, facilitating the exchange of goods, technologies, and ideas between Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Highlights

Introduction to unit 2 of AP World History, focusing on intercontinental trade routes and the Mongols' role in the period from 1200 to 1450.

Three major trade routes during this period: the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean routes, and trans-Saharan network.

Similarity: All trade routes depended on the establishment of large states for protection, which allowed merchants to travel safely and promote trade.

New technologies like the magnetic compass, lateen sail, saddles, and sternpost rudder helped transport goods more efficiently across these routes.

Similarity: The primary purpose of these trade routes was trade, but secondary consequences included cultural exchanges such as the spread of religions like Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.

Champa rice introduced to China, leading to a population explosion due to its drought resistance and multiple harvests per year.

Introduction of bananas to East Africa by Indonesian merchants led to large-scale migration of the Bantu-speaking people.

Growth of trading cities such as Chang'an, Calicut, Sri Vijaya, and Timbuktu due to the convergence of major trade routes.

Different trade routes specialized in different types of goods: luxury goods on the Silk Roads, common goods like rice and textiles in the Indian Ocean, and horses, salt, gold, and slaves on the trans-Saharan routes.

Technological differences: Saddles and caravanserai on the Silk Roads, maritime technology like the astrolabe and lateen sail on the Indian Ocean routes.

Religions spread differently: Buddhism on the Silk Roads, Christianity along the Indian Ocean routes, and Islam across the trans-Saharan routes.

Cultural consequences of trade included the spread of Zen Buddhism to Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, and the conversion of Bantu-speaking tribes to Islam, resulting in the creation of the Swahili language.

Famous travelers like Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo helped broaden people’s imaginations and created a demand for goods from far-off places.

The Black Death spread through trade routes, starting in China and wiping out large portions of populations, especially in Europe.

The Mongols established the largest land-based empire in history, creating the Pax Mongolica, which allowed for safe trade and the spread of goods and ideas across Asia, Europe, and Africa.