TRANSREGIONAL
NETWORKS OF
COMMUNICATION AND
EXCHANGE IN THE
CLASSICAL AGE
4 MAJOR TRADE ROUTES
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Mediterranean
Indian Ocean Basin
Trans-Saharan Caravan Routes
Silk Road
THE MEDITERRANEAN
 Persians, Greeks, Phoenecians, Romans
 Maritime connection between Italy and Egypt important for
Roman Empire (wheat from Egypt)
 Ships with squared sails
 War common in the seas because of limited space
 Ports on Eastern Mediterranean tied with Eurasian Silk Roads
INDIAN OCEAN BASIN
 Sea lanes in Indian Ocean more extensive but trade volume
lower
 Ability to sail long distances
 Diasporic communities established because distances so far
that traders and sailors less connected with home society
 Less war because fewer ports
TRANS-SAHARAN CARAVAN ROUTES
 North-South trade in Nubia to connect Egypt with the South
 Connected with Roman Empire: When Rome was strong they
looked north and when Rome declined, they looked south
 Caravan routes traveled by camels
 Slavery was common
THE SILK ROADS OF EURASIA
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More than 4,000 miles long
2 eras of existence: 100 BCE – 900 CE and 1200s- 1600s
Overland transport longer but cheaper
Huge impact on transfer of technology, culture, and religion
“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, MONEY,
MONEY…..”
 1000 BCE first used in China
 Made out of base metals
 Would develop into primitive versions of round coins
 Often had holes in the middle to put them on a chain
 700-500 BCE
 Metal coins thought to be used separately in each of the classical
civilizations
 Developed out of lumps of silver – so had more inherent value
 Stamped with gods and emperors
 When do we start using paper money???? Not until 806 in
China!
INNOVATIONS IN TRANSPORT
LAND TRAVEL
 Domesticated Pack Animals
 Horse, llama, camel
 Stirrup- emerged in Central Asia and assisted in greater
stability while riding hoses and camels
 Yokes and collars- allowed animals to pull heavier loads
 Pack saddles- also out of Central Asia enabled animals to
carry more at a time
SEA TRAVEL
 Galley – oared ship with squared sail – used in Mediterrean
and too unsteady for open -water navigation
 Dhow - used lateen sails that could handle stronger winds used in the Red and Arabian Seas
WE TRADED MORE THAN GOODS…..
 Technology Transfer
 People traded new ideas- especially related to agricultural output
 Environmental impact
 Crops moving from one place to another changes the environment
 Spread of Diseases
 Bubonic Plague from India to China by 600s CE and to the Eastern
Roman Empire by 500s
 Smallpox affected Roman and Han empires
 Religious and Cultural Borrowing
 Religions began to spread far beyond their origin
 Buddhism to China
 Christianity to Europe