In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, however, new elements were introduced that began to transform the economic foundation of Western Civilization: a revival of trade, considerable expansion in the circulation of money, the emergence of specialized craftspeople and artisans, and the growth and development of towns. The revival of commercial activity was a gradual process. During the chaotic conditions of the Early Middle Ages, large-scale trade had declined in Western Europe except for Byzantine contacts with Italy and Jewish traders who moved back and forth between the Muslim and Christian worlds. By the end of the tenth century, however, people with both the skills and the products for commercial activity were emerging in Europe. Venice sent wine, grain, and timber to Constantinople in exchange for silk cloth, which was then peddled to other communities.
China, for example, supplied West Asia and the Mediterranean world with silk, while spices were obtained principally from South Asia. These goods were transported over vast distances— either by pack animals overland or by seagoing ships—along the Silk and Spice Routes, which were the main arteries of contact between the various ancient empires of the Old World. Another important trade route, known as the Incense Route, was controlled by the Arabs, who brought frankincense and myrrh by camel caravan from South Arabia. Cities along these trade routes grew rich providing services to merchants and acting as international marketplaces. Some, like Palmyra and Petra on the fringes of the Syrian Desert, flourished mainly as centers of trade supplying merchant caravans and policing the trade routes.
While the basic purpose of the Silk Road remained mostly the same, its’ goods and destinations went through many changes. The road started as a small transport route for Eurasian merchants, but later turned into an important economical and cultural necessity. Once Asian products, like spices and fabrics, were used by Europeans, they became dependent on them. This also occurred in Asia, and it began to shape both cultures. Also, due to the large amount of political changes that occurred during this expanse of time, the Silk Road also traveled through the new countries that began when the Roman Empire collapsed.
(Insert your name) Ancient Indian trading (Insert teacher’s name) (Insert subject) Ancient India trading Trade in ancient India was a major part of their culture 11/9/14 (Ancient India woven silk mat found in 2nd century Egyptian tomb) About 4500 ago India stated to expand out to sea, this started their sea trading. Once a regular sea route was established (in 2nd century) the Indian trade roaring until the Portuguese wiped out the whole trade in 1400S. Without trade India would not have had the latest weapons, medicines, news etc. Without these India would have exposed too many things like viruses or weapons like firearms. In the follow pages I will be proving that Trade in ancient India was a major part of their culture.
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa. The land routes were supplemented by sea routes, which extended from the Red Sea to coastal India, China and Southeast Asia. Extending 4,000 miles (6,500 km), the Silk Road gets its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade along it, which began during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). The central Asian sections of the trade routes were expanded around 114 BCE by the Han dynasty,[1] largely through the missions and explorations of Zhang Qian,[2] but earlier trade routes across the continents already existed. [citation needed] In the late Middle Ages, transcontinental trade over the land routes of the Silk Road declined as sea trade increased,.
The sugar trade was driven by land and climate, consumer demand, and the economy. Land and climate was a major factor in driving the sugar trade. Included in Document 1 is a Colonial Map of the Caribbean. The map presents that most Caribbean land are colonized by the British, French, and Spanish. Referring the map to Document 2, explains that an ideal climate average for the growth of cane sugar is sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit to ninety degrees Fahrenheit which slaves are forcefully working and growing sugar out in the heat.
The Growing Spice Trade In every home dining room or in most every eating establishment across the world, one phrase will inevitably be heard. "Can you please pass me the pepper?" Long ago pepper was a well sought after commodity and highly valued. In Southeast Asia, where pepper and other spices originated, the demand for spices by other countries would have a great impact and influence over the economic growth and cultural development for years to come. There were two main factors not originating in Southeast Asia that contributed to the economic development of Southeast Asia, the Crusades and the policy of the Chinese government.
This might have been seen as being selfish to other countries, which is why other nations eventually started taxing goods from France. Minimizing imports was not the only measure France took to keep their money. They also built a large navy to protect against smugglers. The actions taken because of Colbert’s Mercantil system made France very wealthy, and eventually was adopted in all parts of the world to create wealth. The surpluses of money that Mercantilism creates still finance wars all around the globe in the 21st Century, and it is amazing that Colbert invented it back in the 17th Century.
After permeating African society, Muslim merchants began capturing slaves and selling them to buyers in Arabia, where slaves were prized as status symbols. The Muslim slave trade operated throughout the Indian Ocean in order to reach Arabia and Southeast Asia. Lastly, change came to the Indian Ocean’s commerce when European’s became involved, beginning around 1500. The Portuguese, English, and Dutch vied for control of the spice trade in the Indian Ocean region. Eventually the Dutch monopolized the spice trade by capturing various nutmeg and clove producing islands and destroying regions that proved to be competition.
At a United Nations Summit recently, global trade was hailed as the reason certain newly industrialized countries such as China has become so forthright and dominant in their advances both economic and social, the following report read, ‘In recent decades, a number of developing countries, most notably the East Asian newly industrializing countries, have been able to purposefully use the elemental force of trade to boost growth and development within a relatively short time span.’ (Puri 2005 cited in UNCTAD 2005 report p.22) But this boost in International Trade has not been without its complications and challenges. With increased competition and the laws behind international trade becoming stricter year by year countries who have only recently found a foothold in the world trading community, are struggling to compete with the more economically developed countries, and are finding their trade links cheapened or cut off completely by the wave of competitors, all trying to stay ahead in these economically turbulent times. This report aims to analyse key trade and development issues facing developing countries today, but also expose the opportunities these countries