Continuity
Beginning
Middle
Changes (turning points events?)
End
Topic
Category A:
Category B:
Category C:
Beg /
Beg /
Beg /
End
End
What category changed? What category remained the same? BOOM!
End
 Thesis paragraph
 Body paragraph on change(s)






Claim
Global Context
Evidence of change/turning point #1
Analysis: reason for change/effect of change
Evidence of change/turning point #2
Analysis: reason for change/effect of change
 Body paragraph on continuities
 Claim
 Global Context
 Evidence of continuity from early in the time





period
Analysis: reason for continuity
Evidence of continuity from early in the time
period
Analysis: reason for continuity
Evidence of continuity from early in the time
period
Analysis: reason for continuity
 Conclusion paragraph
 Restate thesis differently
 It is important to recognize
these changes and
continuities reflect the global
processes of….
 Evidence of the impact of
these changes globally was
also seen in…
 So what?
Big Picture /
Background
First sub-claim
Second sub-claim that
is EVALUATIVE
Increased global connections and trade from 600 to 1750 in Eurasia are the defining
feature of this period in history and forever altered the economic and cultural make
up of the world. An important continuity in Eurasian trade from 600 to 1750 was the
value and importance of resources exchanged and the diffusion of cultural practices
between regions. However, and more significantly, trade in Eurasia changed as the
result of increased involvement of Europeans later in the time period.
 An important continuity in _________________ (topic) from ________ (year) to _______
(year)was…
 __________________ (topic) changed from ________________ to ______________________
in the period from _______ (year) to _______ (year).
 What global processes/factors/events impacted this event? In other words, things
that affected most of the world /regions involved during this time period?
Sample claim:
Eurasian trade from 600 to 1750 changed from being mostly facilitated by Asian
empires and merchants early in the time period to being heavily facilitated by
Europeans towards the end.
Sample Global Context:
It is important to recognize that early in this time period, Western European society was
highly decentralized in the feudal system. Due to this, Europeans did very little trading
with other regions. Meanwhile, Asian societies, including Islamic dynasties and the Tang
and Song dynasty, were mostly stable early in this period and were the primary
facilitators of trade along both the Silk Roads and in the Indian Ocean Basin.
 A turning point that led to Europeans being more involved in trade was the Crusades in
the 11th and 12th centuries. Europeans traveled to Muslim lands hoping to take them back
in the name of Christianity. The result of the Crusades was that Europeans returned with
Asian and Middle Eastern goods and began trading them in growing port cities in
Western European regions like France and Italy. Around this time, Marco Polo also
traveled to China and returned to Italy sparking a new interest in Asian goods like silk
and spices among the elite of Europe. As naval technology improved and competition for
resources and goods from Asia increased, Europeans began looking for faster ways to
get to Asia in order to avoid the lengthy, dangerous over land trade routes that were
controlled by Islamic empires like the Ottomans and Safavids in the 14th to 17th centuries
following the period of Mongol rule known as the Pax Mongolica. By the late 15th century,
new naval technology like the steer post rudder and smaller, safer, faster ships called
caravels allowed Europeans like Vasco Da Gama to travel to Asia and return with more
valuable Asian goods for European markets. Additionally, in the mid-15th century, the
powerful Ming dynasty decided to focus on domestic affairs, allowing Europeans to insert
themselves more into Asian markets in the Indian Ocean. As European nations like
England and the Netherlands grew in size and power, competition for the resources from
Asia increased, leading to the creation of joint-stock companies and increased
colonization in places like India, Vietnam and China. By 1750, Europeans were more
heavily involved in facilitating trade between Europe and Asia than they had been early
in the time period.
Eurasian trade from 600 to 1750 changed from being mostly facilitated by Asian
empires and merchants early in the time period to being heavily facilitated by Europeans
towards the end. It is important to recognize that early in this time period, Western European
society was highly decentralized in the feudal system. Due to this, Europeans did very little
trading with other regions. Meanwhile, Asian societies, including Islamic dynasties and the
Tang and Song dynasty, were mostly stable early in this period and were the primary
facilitators of trade along both the Silk Roads and in the Indian Ocean Basin. A turning point
that led to Europeans being more involved in trade was the Crusades in the 11th and 12th
centuries. Europeans traveled to Muslim lands hoping to take them back in the name of
Christianity. The result of the Crusades was that Europeans returned with Asian and Middle
Eastern goods and began trading them in growing port cities in Western European regions
like France and Italy. Around this time, Marco Polo also traveled to China and returned to
Italy sparking a new interest in Asian goods like silk and spices among the elite of Europe.
As naval technology improved and competition for resources and goods from Asia
increased, Europeans began looking for faster ways to get to Asia in order to avoid the
lengthy, dangerous over land trade routes that were controlled by Islamic empires like the
Ottomans and Safavids. By the late 15th century, new naval technology like the steer post
rudder and smaller, safer, faster ships called caravels allowed Europeans like Vasco Da
Gama to travel to Asia and return with more valuable Asian goods for European markets.
Additionally, in the mid-15th century, the powerful Ming dynasty decided to focus on
domestic affairs, allowing Europeans to insert themselves more into Asian markets in the
Indian Ocean. As European nations like England and the Netherlands grew in size and
power, competition for the resources from Asia increased, leading to the creation of jointstock companies and increased colonization in places like India, Vietnam and China. By
1750, Europeans were more heavily involved in facilitating trade between Europe and Asia
than they had been early in the time period.
 What global processes/factors/events impacted this event? In other words, things
that affected most of the world /regions involved during this time period?
Sample claim:
An important continuity in Eurasian trade from 600 to 1750 was the value of the
resources traded and cultural diffusion.
Sample Global Context:
Southern Asian products and cultural ideas were of great value to neighboring regions
starting before 600. The Mauryan and Gupta empires began the process of connecting
not only goods but also resources to neighboring regions including Africa, the Middle
East and Eastern Europe.
 An example of this continuity was the consistent desire for Indian spices, sugar and
cotton textiles by neighboring regions as well as the spread of cultural and religious
practices. As early as the 7th and 8th centuries, there is evidence of Indian goods being
traded in East Africa all the way to China. A byproduct of these exchanges was the
exchange and spread of religious and cultural ideas both by land and by sea. Islam in
particular became very popular across Eurasia and even in the regions of Africa that
were involved in the trade networks. Another example of cultural diffusion and the
exchange of valuable resources is the trade that happened along the Silk Roads under
the control of the Mongols during the Pax Mongolica in the 12th to 14th centuries. During
this time, Mongol authority allowed for the relatively peaceful exchange of goods and
ideas and furthered the spread of religious ideas as well as valuable resources.
Eventually, by the end of the 15th century through 1750, Europeans entered the Asian
markets seeking the same products that had been traded for centuries by Asian and
African merchants. Like Muslim traders of earlier centuries, Europeans often tried to
spread their religious beliefs in an effort to both spread their religion in the belief it was
the one true religion but also in a an effort to create favorable relationships with the
people they were trading with.
 An important continuity in Eurasian trade from 600 to 1750 was the value of the
resources traded and cultural diffusion. Southern Asian products and cultural ideas were
of great value to neighboring regions starting before 600. The Mauryan and Gupta
empires began the process of connecting not only goods but also resources to
neighboring regions including Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. An example
of this continuity was the consistent desire for Indian spices, sugar and cotton textiles by
neighboring regions as well as the spread of cultural and religious practices. As early as
the 7th and 8th centuries, there is evidence of Indian goods being traded in East Africa all
the way to China. A byproduct of these exchanges was the exchange and spread of
religious and cultural ideas both by land and by sea. Islam in particular became very
popular across Eurasia and even in the regions of Africa that were involved in the trade
networks. Another example of cultural diffusion and the exchange of valuable resources
is the trade that happened along the Silk Roads under the control of the Mongols during
the Pax Mongolica in the 12th to 14th centuries. During this time, Mongol authority
allowed for the relatively peaceful exchange of goods and ideas and furthered the
spread of religious ideas as well as valuable resources. Eventually, by the end of the 15th
century through 1750, Europeans entered the Asian markets seeking the same products
that had been traded for centuries by Asian and African merchants. Like Muslim traders
of earlier centuries, Europeans often tried to spread their religious beliefs in an effort to
both spread their religion in the belief it was the one true religion but also in a an effort
to create favorable relationships with the people they were trading with.
 The period from 600 to 1750 saw the continued importance of Asian products and
the continued exchange of cultural practices. More significantly, the increased role
of Europeans marked one of the most important changes in both the Eurasian
region and the world. It is important to recognize that the shift toward greater
involvement by Europeans in Eurasian trade was largely the result of increased
competition for the valuable resources coming from Asia and the advances in
technology that made travel and trade easier and more efficient. Eurasia was not
the only region that was forever altered by the increased role of Europeans. The
Americas were also similarly altered by the introduction of Europeans. Bigger
picture, as Europeans became the primary facilitators of trade around the world,
they grew in power and wealth and set the stage for a modern world dominated
culturally and economically by western nations.