BY BRITTANY KEYSER, CHEYENNE QUINDARA, ZAC HOFFMAN, SHANE

BRIDGMAN AND AARON KONDZIOLA

TRADE CIVILIZATIONS

THE SILK ROAD

• Major road that connected linking the Mediterranean with China• Chinese General Zhang Jiang made the first

journey across in 128 B. C. E.• Items traded between East and West included silk

(duh,) horses, various crops, oil, spices, and ideas

THE SASSANID EMPIRE

• 224-600 B.C.E• Present day Iran• Helped long distance trade along the Silk Road• Cities- military stronghold that protected the this

trade instead of producing products for trade• Used religious prosecution. Religion was used as

a political tool (official faiths)• Established Zoroastrian faith

IMPACTS OF THE SILK ROAD

• Helped the spread of people throughout the continent• Served as a conduit for the spread of knowledge,

ideas and cultures, as well as religious ideas.• Spread technology and military strategies such as

the domestication of Bactrian Camels, the Stirrup, and chariot warfare.

THE SILK ROAD

THE SILK ROAD..... AGAIN

INDIAN MARITIME SYSTEM

• Established by multi-cultural society of seafarers• It created a strong connection between the

regions of the Mediterranean and Southern Asia.• Three areas were major trade hubs: the South

China Sea, the area from Southeast Asia to Eastern India, and from the West coast of India to the Persian Gulf and areas of Eastern Africa.

THE IMPACT OF INDIAN MARITIME SYSTEM

• Spread culture and heritages • Facilitated the spread of manufactured items and

other luxury goods (ivory, spice, pottery)• Supplied and helped to grow small ports • Supplied kingdoms and empires

INDIAN SAILORS VS. MEDITERRANEAN SAILORS

Indian Sailors Mediterranean Sailors

• Vessels had triangular lateen sails and usually did without oars

• Ships were tied together with palm fiber and caulked together with bitumen

• Covered long distances out at sea

• Triremes: ships with square sails and three banks of oars

• Nailed vessels together • Always kept close to land

INDIAN MARITIME SYSTEMS

TRADE ACROSS THE SAHARA

• Trade existed between north and South Africa, with the sub-Saharan trading with the desert nomads.• The trade system mainly handled necessities like

agricultural and manufactured products, not luxury goods.• Camels were first used in 46 B.C.E. according to a

Latin text- they were probably from Arabia. • The Tuareg saddle sat the rider over the animal’s

withers increasing the camelry’s military efficiency.

SAHARAN TRADE

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY

• The Silk Road traders helped to spread Christianity after the fall of the Roman Empire and the crucifixion of Jesus• The invention of the Armenian alphabet also

helped spread Christianity because Armenia was in the center of trade and the Silk Road.• Constantinople sent out missionaries to convert

the Yemens and Ethiopians.• Aksum kings Frumentius and Ezana established

Christian communities-spread the religion.• Christianity spread into Nubia and to Egypt,

including the Nile River Valley.

THE SPREAD OF BUDDHISM

• Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire in India and King Kanishka of the Kushans in northern Afghanistan promoted Buddhism in their empires. Caused a large majority of people to convert to Buddhism.• Buddhism was spread though monks and

missionaries traveling the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean system.

BUDDHA!

SOCIAL AND GENDER DISTINCTIONS

•In the Indian Ocean region, slaves were abundant and quite popular• While Islam was spreading, women received a slight elevation in status.• Punishment became less severe and the law was sometimes easier on women than men. •Women were still sent off to be married at a young age but they weren’t sent off until they were ready to leave their father’s household. Women were also required to raise and educate her husband’s children.• In the tropical areas of Asia and Africa, women were supposed to do daily chores. She would be expected to collect firewood, bring home the food, get fresh water, make clothes, and make pots for everyday usage.

GAME TIME!

RULESSS!

• Set up into groups of four, por favor and we will explain the rules from there.• Han• Greeks • Romans• Indians