300 BCE 1100 CE Networks of Communication and Exchange The Silk Road Idea of the Silk Road 1500 BCE long distance trade between Central Asia and other peoples Rome: wanted to link Mediterranean lands with China through Mesopotamia 100 BCE beginning of Silk Road Zhang Jian (Zhang Qian) Chinese general under Wu Father of overland trade 128 BCE: exploratory journey of Inner Asia Tibet, Ferghana Horses 18 eventual expeditions Introduced new plants to China Alfalfa (horse fodder) Wine grapes China soon demanded western products (especially horses) Steppe Nomads Scythians Great riders, hunters, herdsmen Central Asia Mounted archers Yurts Provided animals and protection for merchants and traders Dependent upon settled civilization for metals Stirrups Tools Weapons TO CHINA FROM CHINA Pistachios, walnuts, pomegranates, spinach, sesame Medicine: jasmine oil, sal ammoniac (medicine ingredient) Oak galls: tanning, ink making Copper, zinc, precious stones Peaches, apricots Silk Cinnamon, ginger Spices Art Goods Impact of the Silk Road Language: Turkic languages spread into Iran Homes: yurts vs. mansions Religion: Buddhism, Christianity, etc spread and change Chariot warfare Art Paintings show Chinese silk, Iranian fabrics, horses and camels in same picture Stirrup Kushan invention (Afghanistan) Allowed for mounted warriors Bow/arrow, lances Stability in the saddle Asklepios, the Greek God of Medicine This representation, found in the sea off the coast of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, reflects the extension of Greek culture along sea routes into distant lands. Greek medical knowledge and principles became known as far away as India. The crude craftsmanship of this effigy indicates that it was locally made and not imported from Greece. Iranian Musicians from Silk Road This three-color glazed pottery figurine, 23 inches high, comes from a northern Chinese tomb of the Tang era (6 th -9 th centuries C.E.) The musicians playing Iranian instruments confirm the migration of Iranian culture across the Silk Road. At the same time, dishes decorated by the Chinese three-color glaze technique were in vogue in northern Iran. The Indian Ocean Maritime System Location South China Sea Chinese and Malay traders East India / SE Asian islands Indian and Malay traders West India / Persian Gulf Persian and Arab traders Indian Ocean Mediterranean Triangular Lateen sails NO oars (usually) Used the wind for power Travelled far from land Vessels tied/caulked Rectangular sails Banks of oars Stayed within sight of land Vessels nailed together Technology-Ships Indian Ocean Trade Long distances and time between voyages No political ties to homeland c years ago Migrations from SE Asia to Madagascar Canoes 5 th C. CE Mozambique Bananas, yams from SE Asia Goods Africa: exotic animals, wood, ivory (also from Mesopotamia, India) Arabia: frankincense, myrrh Persian Gulf: pearls Oman: copper India: spices, manufactured goods SE Asia: spices, pottery from China Impact Less trade than Mediterranean due to distance and cost Small ports, little water in desert areas of Arabia, Africa Best areas: E. India, Malaysia, Indonesia Merchants married local port women Bilingualism/biculturalism Cosmopolitan areas Saharan Trade African Geography Sahara Desert Red Sea to Atlantic Ocean Nile River Isolation from Mediterranean 300 BCE: only nomads know routes with water Early Saharan Culture Oasis: areas with water in the desert Rock paintings indicate that the desert wasnt always so Desert-y Elephants, giraffes, crocs Hunting Cattle breeding Horses and chariots Mycenaean/Minoan civilizations? Camels Romans or camels? No evidence for Roman introduced trade Most likely Saharan trade began with domestication of camel Crude rock paintings Camels and Saharan garb 46 BCE: First mention of N. African camels in Latin text From Arabia/Egypt? Camel Saddle The militarily inefficient south Arabian saddle seats the rider behind the animals hump atop its hindquarters. The rider controls his mount by tapping its neck with a long camel stick. Camel Saddle The Tuareg saddle seats the rider over the animals withers, leaving his hands free to wield a sword and letting him control his mount with his toes. Trade Two systems linked Sahara (Northern) Wanted food (kola nuts, palm oil) Some trade with Roman Empire Sub-Sahara (Southern) Wanted salt Sahel: coast of southern Sahara Farming middle men/traders Sub-Saharan Africa Boundaries Saharan Desert Atlantic, Indian Oceans Red Sea 4000 miles of land Steppes Savanna Tropical rain forest African Steppe African Savanna African Rainforest Sub-Saharan Culture Full of small traditions Oral tradition Local customs Opposite of great traditions Written language Legal/belief system Ethic/moral code (empires) 2000+/- languages Hunter/gatherers Farming Bananas, yams, sorghum, grain Cattle herding Larger, more diverse area of land Much smaller population density Limited contact between groups Iron Bantu Hittites Anatolia 1500 BCE Smelting process No evidence that ironworking spread to Sub-Saharan Africa from the North Discovered it for themselves Kilns and pottery 300 different languages People Niger-Congo family Nigerian homeland Near early iron sites Fishing, canoes, nets, hooks Permanent villages Farming (yams, grain, nuts) Domesticated goats, dogs Iron and the Bantu Migrations Evidence of Spread of Ideas Pigs Domesticated in SE Asia Ritualized/ceremonial eating of pork Egypt: sacred animal Israel/Muslims: prohibited eating pork Spread of religious ideas Gandharan Art Greek Pakistan/Afghanistan Gandharan Sculpture The art of Gandhara in northwest Pakistan featured Hellenistic styles and techniques borrowed from the cities founded by Alexander the Great in Afghanistan. Though much Gandharan art is Buddhist in spirit, this fourth-century C.E. image of a flower-bearer is strongly Greek in the naturalistic treatment of the head and left arm. Buddhism Ashoka Trade Routes Faxian Chinese pilgrim Written journal Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka Java (Hindu site) Missionaries Syria, Egypt, Macedonia Burma, Thailand Tibet Theraveda Sri Lanka Nirvana Mahayana East Asia Bodhisattva Christianity Spread to Africa, Asia Jerusalem (Palestine) Antioch (Syria) Alexandria (Egypt) Armenia Anatolia Zoroastrianism Armenian alphabet Armenian Apostolic Church Ethiopia Missionaries from Constantinople Port of Aksum Ship killed 2 boys Aedisius Cupbearer to king Frumentius Secretary to king Served as regent Became bishop Spread Christianity to Nubia