Silk Road Research Paper

Indian Ocean Trading Network - Long distance trade in dhows and sailboats made it a dynamic zone of interaction between peoples, cultures, and civilizations.

In the period between 650 C.E. and 1750 C.E., the Indian Ocean region endured both change and continuity. One continuity is simply trade, for this 1,100 years the Indian ocean was an important trading zone. One change in Indian ocean trade over those years was which country dominated trade their. Over those years the Indian ocean was controlled by the Indians, the Arabs, the Chinese, and last but not least the Europeans. Their was continuity and change in trade in the Indian ocean over the aforementioned years.

Both traded along the Indian Ocean using maritime trade. As the Ming traded along the Indian Ocean, they attained luxuries, for example silver, in exchange for Chinese exports such as cotton, silk and porcelain. The Ming Emperor, Zheng He, also sailed across the Indian Ocean. He is best known for the 7 sailing expeditions, which navigated across the Indian Ocean and the Southeast Asian archipelago. Zheng He's ships carried export goods; silks and porcelains, and he also brought back foreign luxuries such as spices and tropical woods. As for the Ottoman Empire, they also traded along the Indian Ocean; however, with items they had already attained. Armenians and Jews would often go to the port of Izmir, along the Ottoman Empire, and bring wool, beeswax, cotton and silk, causing great traffic. The Ottomans then traded these items in exchange for other luxurious items. Another similarity between the Ottoman and the Ming was why they traded along the Indian Ocean. Both traded along the Indian Ocean due to geography. The Ottomans were located closely to the Indian Ocean; they also had the right technology to trade along it, including ships and compasses. The Ming also traded along the Indian Ocean due to their geography. They were located nearest to the Indian Ocean, which then caused them to trade along it; also Zheng He had also laid out the groundwork for the Chinese to start trading

Throughout early history, civilizations often sought to receive resources from afar to sustain their societies and keep themselves thriving, and to this end trade relations and eventually trade routes began to emerge. This aided civilizations in their discovery of foreign items that they may use to better their societies. These items traded ranged from complex technology to something as simple as nutmeg. The main trade routes that were utilized in East and South Asia were the silk road and the Indian Ocean Trade Network. In the 7th- 12th centuries, both the silk road and Indian ocean trade route had affected east and south Asia by the introduction of religions such as Buddhism changing government forms and altering the belief systems of society and changing how individuals live their daily lives, however differences were present in the impact that these routes had on daily lives, such as the Indian Ocean Trade Route giving rise to an entire new culture in Africa known as the Swahili and leading to the innovation of the sailing boat known as the Dhow, and the silk road led to the transmission of religion and resources throughout Eurasia and it led to utilization of caravans and animals as a means of trade.

During the postclassical era many great empires arose. Two of the most powerful and influential groups of the time were the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate. Both the Abbasids and the Byzantines were places where important cultural hubs existed and where trade flourished throughout the whole empire. Even though culture was present in each area, the cultures were not the same and there were separate religious beliefs and practices; for example the Byzantine Empire was mainly Orthodox Christian while the Abbasid Caliphate was Sunni Muslim. Use of religion throughout the empire, methods of rule, and eventual ways of declining all caused the Byzantines and Abbasids to have a distinctive and lasting

There were good things about being a seafaring civilization. As the Ancient Greeks migrated to the coast of the Mediterranean, and Black Seas, they were able to put all of their energy into maritime trade, eventually making them dominant of the busiest waterway in the ancient world. (Acrobatic, 2014)

Commerce in the Indian Ocean region was transformed between the years 650 CE and 1750 CE. Multiple changes, as well as continuities shaped the Indian Ocean commercial trade, including the continued use of overseas trade routes, which were constantly affected by the monsoon winds during transit. In addition, certain key changes throughout the time period, involve the rise and fall of the major powerful empires, such as the Delhi`, Sultanate, Tang, Song, Ming, and the Mongolian, which all played significant roles in facilitating inter-regional trade. Not to mention, the increase of maritime trade technology, which reshaped the way merchants traveled. All together, the Indian Ocean trade network underwent numerous changes, as well as continuities, which improved the commerce during this era.

Between 1000 and 1300 CE, sea routes was the main factor that led to an explosion of global trading. There were some positive changes in certain tools that made long-distance trade safer. Navigational aids were upgraded and mapmaking improved a lot because it helped travelers on sea get to their destination faster with no problems. People also build more ships because it was an important source that transports large amounts of goods across the sea. Compared to animal-drawn wagons that can carry up to ten pounds worth of goods, dhows can carry at least five tons of goods. Needle compasses were also useful because it gave people precise directions on where to go. This way, it saves a lot of time and traders can avoid any pirates that want to

Throughout the development of human communication, no service proved more useful than that of the Silk Road. It was a network of trade, employing travelers to trek across the world to buy and sell goods along the eastern hemisphere. This constant web of bartering and trading led to societies becoming more intertwined and connected with one another, creating a large social and economic trades. Throughout 500 BCE - 1000 CE, the eastern hemisphere experienced a series of changes and continuities directly from the emergence of the Silk Road. The eastern hemisphere societies underwent heavy population increase due to trade, but the purpose of the Silk Road never changed. Some trade routes that comprised the entire network include overland trade from China to Rome and the Indian Ocean Sea Lanes that joined Asia, Africa,and the Mediterranean basin.

During the post-classical era, larger ships and improved commercial organization supported a dramatic sure in the volume and value of trade in the indian ocean basin

Though the routes of the Silk Road thrived in the second century, it is said that this thirst for trade is to have begun in 53 BC, during a battle between the Romans and the Parthian army. During this battle the Parthian’s unleashed large banners of a translucent material, material that the Roman army had never seen anything like before (video). Due to this confusion, the Romans fled from an otherwise definite victory over the Parthians causing 20,000 men to die on the battlefield. This confusion though, turned into curiosity and fascination, causing silk to become highly desired in ancient Rome. Parthian

Nearly three quarters of the earth is covered with water, so it is only natural that navigation plays a crucial part in the course of human history. A brief review of maritime history illustrated the impact of water on the life as we know today. Perhaps, exploring the seas started from a curiosity for men, yet, slowly but surely it evolved into an indispensable aspect of life, providing a reliable and fast transportation path, whether for trade, exploration, or warfare, while playing the role of a reliable source of food through fishery. Historically, navigation played a crucial and undeniable role in the determination of the victorious side of warfare and conflicts. The Greco-Persian Wars, a half of century battle among the Achaemenid Empire

Venice, located on the north coast of Italy, known as the 'Floating City’, thrived by trading in the Middle Ages. Taking advantage of the location on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, Venetian merchants gained wealth, by charging customs on goods which passed through the city. Consequently, many merchants came to venture the East through the Silk Road to China, returning with a variety of exotic eastern treasures to trade.

In Maritime Archaeology and Ancient Trade in the Mediterranean, Andrew Wilson argues that ancient maritime trade peaked in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. First, he identifies Parker’s graph of known shipwrecks as inaccurate evidence on the trade intensity of the ancient maritime world. Next, Wilson details several technologies, specifically the bilge pump, and hydraulic cement, that enabled the expansion of trade during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Finally, Wilson concludes that it was Roman standardization of currency and language, not new technologies, that allowed trade to increase in the ancient world. When the Roman empire deteriorated, trade decreased, leading to the loss of harbors and shipping technologies.

The Mediterranean Sea was a central component of the Roman Empire. With several societies nearby the Romans were able to trade constantly. There was always a variety of products circulating which led to a diverse culture and lifestyle (Bednarz 81-82). Goods that could not be produced in Rome were shipped in from other places like Italy, Greece, Africa and even Spain (Robinson 1). This trading was appealing to the citizens because they could purchase