Axum, located along the eastern coast of Africa, developed into an advanced society, and achieved many sophisticated achievements. Axum reached its height between 325 and 360. Due to Axum's location, it became a very important trade center with many trading routes around the world (Document 1). This civilization later became a transit point for goods traveling from South Asia into areas around the Mediterranean. In addition, the Axumites also traded with Greek ships from the Ptolemaic kingdom.
The period from 500-1500 CE opened Sub-Saharan Africa to a great deal of changes. The changes in world trade led to some negative and positive effects. There was a change in religion as Christianity and Islam was introduced to this region. Some beneficial changes in the economy of Sub-Saharan Africa also took place but with a cost but. Some political disturbances arose as well.
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
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.
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.
By the 7th century BC, new civilizations that were based on the new technologies that came around were on the rise. New civilizations and kingdoms appeared began to appear in Asia. City states cropped up in the Middle East and North Africa. During this period, scientific and mathematic advances were rising alongside new productive techniques. “Long-distance trade, a rise in the importance in of merchants as a social class, the use of coins…the use of phonetically-based alphabets,” all came about and changed the course of history (Harman 47).
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
Colonial Era The year 1492 marks a turning point in modern world history. Columbus' voyage of discovery inaugurated a series of developments that would have vast consequences for both the Old World and the new. It transformed the diets of both the eastern and western hemispheres, helped initiate the Atlantic slave trade, spread diseases that had a devastating impact on Indian populations, and led to the establishment of European colonies across the Western Hemisphere. During the mid- and late-15th century, Europe began to expand. They had obtained mastery over the world's ocean currents and wind patterns and began to create a European-centered world economy.
Africa experienced growth and change in their political organization and the rise and fall of kingdoms and states Before the syncretic cults, Africa's old traditions and beliefs surrounded deities, idols, and multiple gods. These god symbolized the world around them. Then, when Christianity and Islam came over to Sub-Saharan Africa, there was intermixing with the traditions and foreign religions. Christianity became popular with
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. Another change in commerce from 650 CE to 1750 CE, was the amount of trade and commerce being executed. As powerful city states began to flourish because of trade and commerce, more economic resources were made available to different regions and kingdoms. Because of these city states that served as centers for trade and commerce, the amount of products and regions that participate in the trade has grown and expanded drastically from 650 to 1750 CE. Also, as trade and commerce intensified, many