If you've read a history book before, you know about how obsessed the world is with trading. Even today, people talk about the economy and how good or atrocious it is.
But what was trade really like back then? Was it mainly via the Silk Road, or were there other main types of trade?
That's what this chapter is on! Today will be all of Chapter 7, a whole thirty pages! That was a lot to read in one sitting...
The Beginning of Chapter 7
Despite the controversy and working conditions that Amazon is notorious for, their business model is pretty revolutionary. The longest I've had to wait for an order was a month, and that was from Japan. Back then, if I were to order from Japan, I would have to wait a lot longer than a month.
But international trade is nothing new. For centuries, countries have traded with each other using large animals and trade routes, giving each other their goods, technology, and germs. Oh, and animals, too. Why else would there be cows all across the world?
But there is one trade item that was extremely popular, and even had a trade route named after it: silk.
Silk Roads: Exchange Across Eurasia
Do I even need to talk about the Silk Road? It's so well-known at this point, I don't even need to explain it.
But I will explain China's landmark product, silk. Silk used to be only made in China by women due to only China knowing how to make it. However, after a controversial origin that is still disputed to this day, the rest of the world learned how to make silk. It was still highly valuable in the world, and was even restricted to the wealthy in some parts of the world.
But silk wasn't the only thing traded on the Silk Road; culture was also spread in the Silk Road. Remember Buddhism? Despite it's original aversion to materialism, some who adopted Buddhism were rich and loved materialism. So in a way, the evolution of Buddhism is similar to the evolution of Christianity; it was anti-materialistic at the start, but that faded a bit when the rich started to adopt the religion.
However, not all was good on the Silk Road. Plagues were also spread on the trade route, most notoriously the Black Death. We don't need to talk about how disastrous that was, especially when the Europeans went to the Americas.
Sea Roads: Exchange Across the Indian Ocean
Not only was there trade by land, but trade by sea as well! Welcome to the Indian Ocean, the former largest maritime trade route.
Many Eurasian countries far and wide traded in the sea. Persia, China, African countries, India... it's a shock the history books barely talked about this trade route!
But there's one thing I want to talk about, and that's the Islamic influence in the Indian Ocean. Unlike Buddhism, which was anti-materialistic, Islam was founded by a merchant. This means that Muslims contributed greatly to the maritime culture. There were many Muslim merchants that traded in the Indian Ocean, and they converted many people to Islam.
In a nutshell, Buddhism is to the Silk Road as Islam is to the Indian Ocean.
Sand Roads: Exchange Across the Sahara
Along with the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean, there was the Sahara. And the African people couldn't do it without one animal: the camel.
We've talked so much about the culture of trade, but not enough about the animals who accomplished it. The camel has survived days without water, but it keeps on going, helping to transport the goods of the African people. Although cars replaced it in the 20th century, that doesn't excuse the centuries of trade the camel has brought the people of Africa.
Africa would have been more separated without the camel. Thank you, camel.
Speaking of separated and unable to trade very much...
An American Network: Commerce and Connection in the Western Hemisphere
We haven't forgotten about the Americas! So how did their trade fare without large animals to help out with their trade?
Well, they weren't as connected. They definitely weren't communicating with Eurasia frequently until Columbus, despite the Vikings coming over, so they weren't trading with them. And due to the lack of large animals, they didn't trade as much with each other as Eurasian countries did with each other.
However, there were signs of trade between the civilizations. For example, there was a rubber ball game that has traces in the Caribbean, Mexico, and northern South America. Also, there was an "American web" of trade that existed. However, it was not to the extent of the Eurasian trade routes, and it was more informal.
So it's not that they lacked trade. Instead, they were more loosely connected with an "American web" of trade.
Trade is amazing, isn't it? Even if it can spread diseases, it brings so many cultures together and unifies them. Trade, in a way, was the first step to globalization, and it helps us understand many different cultures.
Also, camels are cool. They can survive many days without water!
Until next time!
Oh, I forgot to mention, the Siberian people gave people walrus tusks on the Silk Road. These beautiful creatures don't deserve this treatment, especially since their tusks are so important to the species... (sorry, I just love walruses)
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