Trade Routes and Cultural Diffusion

Major Trade Patterns

• During the medieval period (1000-1500 C.E.), several major trading routes developed in the Eastern Hemisphere.– These trading routes developed among Europe, Africa

and Asia!• Remember, when you trade you don’t only pass

goods! Trade is the main route of cultural diffusion!– Cultural diffusion: spread of beliefs, culture, religion,

technology, ideas, etc!

Trade Route – Silk Road Products - spices, silk, porcelain, tea

Trade Route – South China Sea Products – Chinese goods, spices

Trade Route - Indian OceanProducts – textiles

Trade Routes – Trans-Saharan Products – gold, salt

Trade Route–Western European Sea & River Products- European Goods

Mediterranean Sea

Trade Route – Northern Europe Black-Baltic Sea

Products – furs, amber

Cultural Diffusion• Regional trade networks and long-distance

trade routes in the Eastern Hemisphere aided the diffusion and exchange of technology and culture between Europe, Africa and Asia!

Goods• Gold

– Traded along Trans-Sahara in Africa• Spices

– Lands around Indian Ocean• Textiles

– India, China, Middle East, later Europe (esp Britain)• Porcelain

– China and Persia• Amber

– Baltic region (northern Europe)

Technology

• Paper– From China though the Muslim world to Byzantium

and Western Europe• New crops (sugar cane plant)

– From India• Waterwheels and windmills

– From Middle East• Navigation

– Compass from China– Lateen sail from Indian Ocean region

Ideas• Spread of religion across the hemisphere

– Hinduism and Buddhism from India to Southeast Asia

• Buddhism continued to move to China and further into Korea and Japan

– Islam from Middle East into West Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia

• Other ideas– Printing of books in China– Paper money from China