Overview
This lecture explains how trade networks, especially the Silk Road, changed under the Mongol Empire, highlighting innovations that made long-distance trade safer, faster, and more profitable.
The Risks and Importance of Trade
- Trade connects people, countries, and cultures by distributing goods, technology, and ideas.
- Before modern times, trading was slow and risky due to hazards like raiders, tough terrain, and disease.
The Silk Road: Early Development
- The Silk Road was a network of trade routes from China to Europe, established by the Han Dynasty (2nd Century BCE–200 CE).
- Goods, especially silk, traveled thousands of miles, passing through many traders and increasing in value with distance.
- Travelers faced extreme weather, geographic obstacles, and threats from raiders and disease.
Mongol Empire Innovations
- The Mongol Empire unified and secured trade networks during the Pax Mongolica (13th–14th centuries).
- The yasa, a code of laws, imposed severe penalties on theft and raiding, reducing attacks on merchants.
- Caravansaries (trade posts) provided safe resting places and fostered local trade.
Ortoy Merchant Partnerships
- Ortoy were merchant associations allowing traders to pool resources, share profits, and divide losses.
- Ortoy partnerships often had support from Mongol leaders, lowering individual trader risk and encouraging commerce.
The Yam Communication System
- The Mongols built yam stations every 20–30 miles to serve as rest stops and post offices, protected by military patrols.
- The yam system enabled faster communication and increased safety for traders and messengers.
Broader Impacts of Mongol Trade Systems
- Overland and new sea routes under Mongol control expanded trade in goods like porcelain, spices, and metals.
- The success of Mongol trade inspired other nations (e.g., Portugal, Spain) to seek their own trade routes.
- Increased trade led to more production, lower prices, and wider access to goods, sparking global economic growth.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Silk Road — A network of trade routes connecting China with Europe across Eurasia.
- Pax Mongolica — A period of peace and stability under Mongol rule that promoted trade.
- Yasa — Mongol legal code with strict penalties for crimes like theft.
- Ortoy — Merchant partnerships where traders pooled resources and shared profits/losses.
- Yam — Mongol relay station system for communication and trade route security.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Visit gostudyhall.com to learn about online courses and earning college credit.
- Review the key terms and examples of Mongol trade innovations for exam preparation.