AP World History: Unit 2 - Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)

Big Picture

• Timeframe: 1200 to 1450
• Focus on interconnection of states and empires through networks of exchange (trading routes)
• Networks facilitated not just economic interaction but also cultural diffusion and transfers

Major Networks of Exchange

1. Silk Roads
2. Indian Ocean Network
3. Trans-Saharan Trade Network

General Developments Across Networks

• Expansion: Geographical range increased from pre-1200 levels
• Innovations: Advances in commercial practices and technology drove expansion
• Wealth and Power: States grew wealthy and powerful; some rose, some fell

Silk Roads

• Key Goods: Luxury items like Chinese silk and porcelain
• Innovations:
  • Caravanserai: Inns that provided safety and cultural exchange opportunities
  • Money Economies: Introduction of paper money (e.g., Flying Money System)
  • New forms of credit: Bills of exchange, banking houses
• Key Trading Cities: Example - Kashgar

Indian Ocean Network

• Understanding of Monsoon Winds: Crucial for maritime trade
• Goods Traded: Both luxury and common goods like textiles and spices
• Technological Innovations:
  • Magnetic Compass
  • Astrolabe
  • Ship designs: Chinese Junk
• Key States: Swahili city-states in East Africa became Islamic, grew wealthy
• Cultural Diffusion: Diaspora communities spread culture and religion (e.g., Swahili language)
• Key Figures: Zheng He's voyages spread Chinese technology and culture

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

• Technological Innovation: Improved camel saddles for larger cargo loads
• Key Empire: Mali Empire, wealth from gold trade
• Key Figure: Mansa Musa, expanded Mali's wealth and trade influence

Consequences of Connectivity

Cultural Consequences

• Spread of Religions: Buddhism into China
• Literary and Artistic Transfers: Islamic scholars' translations contributed to the European Renaissance
• Scientific and Technological Transfers: Spread of gunpowder from China to Europe
• Travelers' Accounts: Ibn Battuta documented travels across Dar al-Islam

Environmental Consequences

• Crops: Champa rice increased food supply in China
• Diseases: Bubonic plague spread along trade routes, devastating populations

The Mongol Empire

• Establishment:
  • Replaced powerful empires (Song Dynasty, Abbasid Empire)
  • Ruled through Khans in various territories
• Facilitated Exchange:
  • Enhanced safety and trade across Silk Roads (Pax Mongolica)
  • Encouraged Persian-Chinese cooperation
• Cultural and Technological Transfers:
  • Medical knowledge transmission to Europe
  • Adoption of Uyghur script for communication across empire

• Resources: AP World History Heimler Review Guide for further study

These notes summarize key elements and consequences of the networks of exchange from 1200-1450, providing a high-level overview for studying Unit 2 in AP World History.