This document discusses the expansion of trade routes between 300 BCE and 1500 CE across Afroeurasia and the Americas. Empires required long-distance networks for military and political communication, which also facilitated cultural exchange. The development of writing systems and world religions like Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam further stimulated cultural diffusion across regions. Trade routes like the Silk Roads connected East, South, and Central Asia and allowed for the spread of goods, religions, and diseases across vast areas.

1. TRADE ROUTES
Land, Sea, & Sand Trade Routes
500-1500 ce

2. 2
Expanding Networks
Routes Around 300 BCE to 300 CE, merchants,
shippers, sea captains, and empire-builders
extended and strengthened trade routes
across Afroeurasia and the Americas.
Empires Empires required networks of military and
political communication. These networks
encouraged interaction of many kinds over
long distances.
Writing With the appearance of alphabetic writing
systems in Afroeurasia, people could
communicate faster and easier than ever
before.
Religions The appearance of world religions—
Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and
Christianity—stimulated cultural interchange
across political and cultural boundaries.

3. 3
Expanding Networks:
Routes
On the map are some of the
goods traded along the
Afroeurasian networks.

4. 4
Expanding Networks:
Religions
Buddhism
Hinduism
Christianity
Judaism

5. 5
Growth of World
Religions
In Big Era Four
Hinduism
From lst
millennium BCE
Buddhism
From 5th century
BCE
Christianity
From 1st century
CE
Judaism
Communities
scattered widely in
Southwest Asia,
Northern Africa, and
Europe, especially
from the first century
CE.
Outline Map: Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2002

6. 6
Expanding Networks:
Religions
When people carried a
new religion from place
to place, they also often
took along
•A writing system (This was
useful in teaching holy scripture.)
•Trade goods (Religion was a
basis of trust among merchants.)
•Art styles (Religious ideas were
often expressed in painting,
sculpture, and architecture.)

7. SILK ROADS

8. Silk Roads

11. Trade Routes of Africa

12. Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, &
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
 On your maps, draw in the basic trade
routes and label each.
 Write the names of the main trade goods on
that route.
 SILK ROADS map p335, goods p 337
 INDIAN OCEAN ROUTES map p 342, goods
p 343
 TRANS-SAHARAN ROUTES map p 350,
goods = Gold, Salt, Slaves & page 349

13. Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, &
Trans-Saharan Trade Routes
On your maps, ADD:
 SILK ROADS –
 Buddhism FROM South Asia TO Central, SE, & E Asia
 DISEASES (like Bubonic Plague, Measles, &Smallpox)
 Islam FROM the Middle East TO central and E Asia
 INDIAN OCEAN ROUTES—
 Buddhism FROM South Asia TO SE Asia
 Islam FROM the Arabian peninsula TO East Africa & SE
Asia
 TRANS-SAHARAN ROUTES –
 Islam FROM North Africa to West Africa

14. Land, Sea, & Sand
Trade
Continuities and Similarities
5 to 1400 ce

15. CONTINUITIES and SIMILARITIES
 Trade between ecological zones started the
larger trade systems.
 Trade was often “relay” trade (and not between
“countries”) IMPORTANCE OF NOMADS!
 Routes held great diversity in cultures.

16. CONTINUITIES and SIMILARITIES
 Cities and ports were trade centers.
 “Trade” in these centers made long term
relationships that led to cultural diffusion.

17. CONTINUITIES and SIMILARITIES
 Ideas, culture, and diseases moved along
the routes with the travelers!
 “Luxury” items made up a significant
portion of the goods traded on the routes.
 Silk textiles, porcelain, cotton textiles, spices,
fragrances, precious metals, ivory, wine