The political aspect of The Indian Ocean trade route stayed the same by evolving and successfully growing under the rule of strong empires. Trade routes extended all the way to Song China when under the rule of 10th century C.E Fatimad Empire and expanded even more under the control of the Yuan Empire in the 14th century. The technology of how the goods were transported advance with the times as well, going from planks tied together with palm fibers and controlled by the monsoons to bigger, more efficient ships that didn't come around until the 13th century. When the 16th century rolled around technology advanced even more and ships like the dhow and the junk came out, which could carry from 400 to over
From the year 650 CE to 1750 CE it has gradually become easier and easier for goods to be exchanged through different sea routes. As the time progresses, trade and commerce becomes more convenient for merchants because as they travel by sea more and more frequently, they are able to become familiarized with the ocean and establish safer, faster, and more efficient sea routes. Another reason that trade and commerce have become easier, is through the development of many different navigational instruments to aid them through the ocean, such as the magnetic compass, the mariners astrolabe, and the marine chronometer. Many merchants and traders heavily depend on their navigational instruments and monsoon winds to avoid danger and to transport materials faster. An example of this would be that the Chinese and the Arabs, who had compasses, were able to cross large expanses of open water without the fear of getting lost or injured.
From 750BC international trade grew, and being motivated by social and political factors including inner-state alliances, the continuing uniformity of measurements, warfare, the spread of currency, colonisation, and safer seas subsequent to the willpower to eliminate piracy, contacts spread across the Mediterranean. From 600 BCE trade was largely aided by the creation of specially designed merchant ships, and particular permanent trading places (such as the port shown in source 1) where merchants of varying backgrounds met to trade
The trade patterns remained the same in previous years. Not only goods and products were traded through out years, but even more importantly was the cultural interactions and diffusion that took place. For instance, the Muslim empires adapted paper money from the Chinese. This was very important when most of Asia was taken over by the Mongols. Kublai Khan expanded the network of the Silk Roads, trading heavily with the Dehli Sultanate and Ilkhanate to the south and south west, appropriately.
As well as there being changes for the English culture there was also a lot of continuity in their lifestyle such as the Anglo-Saxon style of long hair and bushy beards and moustaches. Changes were going to be inevitably made as their was a new leader of the land but there were still a lot of cultural and social policies which stuck and in reference to the question, this challenges whether there was a major change. A massive change that occurred was the expansion of cities such as London and this was due to French markets and the Norman building programme, by 1086 there was 100,000 burgesses in England and this signifies a major change during Williams kingship. Culturally, there was change and continuum as firstly there was a large number of castles built all around England and towns such as Oxford and Norwich suffered house clearing to allow room for the castles. There was also a continuity in culture though as there was a rich tradition of written English dating back to the 890’s and this survived through the Peterbrough book showing that not everything was changing during William’s reign.
Some of the features that stayed the same are the routes, goods, greed and the monsoon winds. The routes branched from China through India and the rest of the Middle East on through Europe. At first, all the travel was done on the Silk Road with horses. Some of the goods that they transported are silk, pottery, tea, spices, medicines, etc. As their greed grew, the technology also grew.
Between 650 CE and 1750 CE, commerce in the Indian Ocean was very successful and encountered many different changes and continuities. When trade routes in the Indian Ocean emerged, the seasonal and predictable monsoons timed informed traders and merchants when to travel across the ocean. The cities on the coast of the Indian Ocean greatly benefited those who lived in them due to their ability to attract traders and merchants. In addition, as time passed, European presence began to surface as cities in the Indian Ocean became monopolized by European countries such as Great Britain. As trade routes in the Indian Ocean used to import and export goods stayed the same, Indian and semi-coastal Indian cities continued attract trade throughout 650 CE and 1750 CE, but in the midst of the continuities were changes such as the increased European presence and involvement.
As Matthew C. Perry says “Western correctors had already scooped up much of Japan’s best art” and says that “even today here are more and better examples of eighteenth and nineteenth century Japanese art in Europe and America than in Japan”(p.221) People first couldn’t understand the Japanese art but everything changed after the expeditions. Thanks to the expeditions Japanese art started to reach many countries and they started to make commerce and develop markets especially in the United States. In the Centennial Japan’s full involvement amazed America. The Bazaar that took place made a big success by selling a lot of cultural art and goods America discovered new motifs thanks to Japanese art America embraced the Japanese art and idea as Matthew C. Perry says “Never before had a style or fashion been promoted so vigorously and never had admission to the select halls” of good taste “ been so unabashedly sold. Elite and popular art became aligned as never before or since” (p.235) So we can say that by looking to History we can see that Japan influenced the art and design of America.
The Indian Ocean was a power trading region that encouraged the spread of religion, crops, languages and people. Goods and ideas were traded consistently throughout this 1,100 year time period, but the traders, merchants, powers, trading systems, and some of the products changed from 650 to 1750. Trade flourished as the spices, textiles, manufactured goods, and raw goods of the Indian Ocean became staples that the western world came to depend on heavily. But, trade of these items was already in effect long before the Europeans arrived. This continuity of sea trade can be seen throughout 650-1750, rising and falling at times.
Western Europe, Africa and the Americas underwent major changes due to the contact with the Atlantic world. These changes occurred from 1492 until 1750 and affected these areas socially and economically. New products and ideas were introduced into the world of trade. Lasting connections would also be made during this period. Western Europe experienced the largest amount of changes because the main countries that were becoming involved in international trade were located here.