Unit 2

Question 1

Silk roads

Answer 1

A system of ancient caravan routes across Central Asia, along which traders carried silk and other trade goods; known for spreading religions such as Buddhism and Islam; technological transfers like gunpowder and paper; and diseases like the Bubonic plague

Question 2

Indian Ocean Trade

Answer 2

World’s richest maritime trading network before 1450; sailors navigated seasonal monsoons to connect Europe, Africa, South Asia, and China; Buddhism and especially Islam spread through this network; facilitated spread of goods (cotton, spices), ideas & technology (mathematics, lateen sail)

Question 3

Trans-Saharan Trade

Answer 3

route across the Sahara Desert; traded gold and salt; created caravan routes using pack animals; camels and camel saddles were crucial in the development of these trade networks; facilitated the spread of Islam

Question 4

megnetic compass

Answer 4

Chinese invention that aided navigation by showing which direction was north

Question 5

junk ship

Answer 5

A very large flat-bottom sailing ship produced in the Tang and Song Empires, designed for long-distance commercial travel and participation in the tribute system within the Indian Ocean trade network. Used by Zheng He during his ocean voyages of the early 1400s (Ming Dynasty).

Question 6

paper money

Answer 6

legal currency issued on paper; it developed in China as a convenient alternative to metal coins; facilitated trade

Question 7

caravanserai

Answer 7

an inn with a central courtyard for travelers in the desert regions of Asia or North Africa; allowed caravans and their camels to rest in a protected environment, encouraging trade and exchange of culture and ideas.

Question 8

porcelain

Answer 8

a delicate, beautiful pottery that was invented in China and became a highly valued trading commodity

Question 9

monsoon winds

Answer 9

seasonal winds in India; the winter season brings hot, dry weather and the summer season brings rain; learning to navigate these seasonal weather patterns was critical for the development of the Indian Ocean trade network.

Question 10

malacca

Answer 10

Prosperous Southeast Asian port city that developed in the island straits linking the Indian Ocean to the Pacific (modern-day Indonesia). Produced highly valued spices (cloves, nutmeg) often traded in the Indian Ocean trade network. Fusion of cultural influences - Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam. After 1450, the Portuguese and later the Dutch colonized this region which they referred to as the “East Indies.”

Question 11

diaspora

Answer 11

A dispersion of people from their homeland; e.g. Muslim merchant communities from the Arabian peninsula settled and spread Islam in Southeast Asia and East Africa.

Question 12

dhow ships

Answer 12

Arab sailing vessels with triangular or lateen sails; facilitated trade in the Indian Ocean networks; adapted into European ship design after 1450;

Question 13

mansa musa

Answer 13

Ruler of Mali (r. 1312-1337). His extravagant pilgrimage through Egypt to Mecca in 1324-1325 established the empire’s reputation for wealth and prestige due to its monopoly on the gold trade.

Question 14

Timbuktu

Answer 14

Capital of Mali and key trading city that became a center of wealth and learning thanks to its location in the trans-Saharan trade networks; featured universities, mosques, and libraries.

Question 15

camel saddle

Answer 15

An invention which gives camel riders more stability on the animal; this innovation traveled along the Trans-Saharan caravan trade route.

Question 16

caravan

Answer 16

group of traveling merchants and pack animals

Question 17

khan

Answer 17

Name for a Mongol ruler

Question 18

pax mongolia

Answer 18

The period of approximately 150 years of relative peace and stability created by the Mongol Empire during the 1200s.

Question 19

Golden Horde

Answer 19

Mongol khanate founded by Genghis Khan’s descendants. It was based in southern Russia and the Caucasus; adopted both the Turkic language and Islam. The Mongol rulers collected tribute from Russian princes.

Question 20

Yuan Dynasty

Answer 20

The dynasty of Mongol rulers in China (1279-1368 CE). Established by Kublai Khan, Mongol leaders claimed the mandate of heaven , and used the Chinese centralized bureaucracy but structure was different: Mongols on top->Persian bureaucrats->Chinese bureaucrats; did not emphasize Confucianism and the civil service exams.

Question 21

Bubonic Plague

Answer 21

Also called the Black Death; the deadly disease that spread through Asia and Europe and killed more than a third of the population in some areas; hit Europe (peak 1347-1351) especially hard due to unsanitary living conditions and overcrowded cities; spread due to increased trade along the Silk Roads and Indian Ocean.

Question 22

gunpowder

Answer 22

Invented within China during the 9th century, this substance was became the dominate military technology used to expand European and Asian empires by the 15th century; spread from East to West via trade networks like the Silk Roads and help from the Pax Mongolica

Question 23

Ibn Battuta

Answer 23

(1304-1369) Moroccan Muslim scholar, the most widely traveled individual of his time. He wrote a detailed account of his visits to Muslim lands throughout the Middle East, and from China to Spain and West Africa. His writings gave a glimpse into the Muslim world of that time period, illustrating the cultural and intellectual connections that held it together.

Question 24

Marco Polo

Answer 24

(1254-1324) Italian explorer and author. He made numerous trips to China and returned to Europe to write of his journeys (some of it contained fantastical elements). He is responsible for much of the knowledge exchanged between Europe and China during this time period.

Question 25

Swahili city-state

Answer 25

Independent cities that developed along the East African Coast and actively participated in Indian Ocean. Although there was no centralized ruler, they shared a common religion (Islam) and Swahili culture that blended African (Bantu) and Arabic influences.

Question 26

Zheng He

Answer 26

(1371-1433?) Chinese naval explorer who led seven long-distance ocean voyages throughout the Indian Ocean, sponsored by the Ming Dynasty. He facilitated China’s role in the tribute system, and as a Chinese Muslim, he served as an effective ambassador to the largely Muslim world of the Indian Ocean. China’s overseas exploration ended ended when more conservative Ming officials decided it was a waste of resources.

Question 27

astrolabe

Answer 27

An instrument used by sailors to determine their location by observing the position of the stars and planets. Developed by Muslim Arab navigators based on Greek mathematics. Facilitated the expansion of maritime trade.