Week 1 Networks of Exchange Unit 2 | 1200-1450 CE
Unit 2, Topic 1
Connections across Eurasia: The Silk Roads
Silk Roads: Land-based trade ● Silk Roads linked the various peoples of Eurasian landmass from
routes that linked many regions of China to Europe.
Eurasia. They were named after ○ Large camel caravans (transportation) and stopped at
the most famous product traded caravanserai (located all along trade routes from eastern
along these routes. Mediterranean to China).
Caravanserai: Stops the caravans ■ Places were centers of cultural exchange as
make at inns or guesthouses. merchants from many religious and cultural
traditions met.
● Bukhara
● Samarkand: In present-day Uzbekistan
in a major river valley
○ Center of trading for goods
○ Center of cultural exchange
■ Prominent religions:
Christianity,
Buddhism,
Zoroastrianism, and
Islam
■ Highly decorated
mosques
○ Known for its artisans, centers
of Islamic learning
● Khotan/Kutan
● Kashgar: Northern edge of Central
Asia trade; Built around a river
○ Abundance of water and goods
○ Crops: Wheat, rice, fruits, and
cotton
○ Artisans produced textiles,
rugs, leather, goods, and
pottery
○ Once Buddhist city also
became center of Islamic
scholarship
● Dunhuang
○ Oases: Became thriving trade centers in Central Asia,
India, Pakistan, and Persia
The Making of the Silk Roads
● Exchanged luxury goods for elite and wealthy market
○ Silk became symbol of high status and importance in
religions
■ China originally had a monopoly on silk; By 6th
century CE, others developed silk
■ Used as currency in Central Asia
○ Paper, porcelain, lacquerware, iron tools
■ As demand grew, Chinese, Indian, and Persian
artisans increased their production of these goods
● High cost of transport made bulk goods difficult
● Technological inventions
○ Yokes
Unit 2, Topic 1
Connections across Eurasia: The Silk Roads
Silk Roads: Land-based trade ● Silk Roads linked the various peoples of Eurasian landmass from
routes that linked many regions of China to Europe.
Eurasia. They were named after ○ Large camel caravans (transportation) and stopped at
the most famous product traded caravanserai (located all along trade routes from eastern
along these routes. Mediterranean to China).
Caravanserai: Stops the caravans ■ Places were centers of cultural exchange as
make at inns or guesthouses. merchants from many religious and cultural
traditions met.
● Bukhara
● Samarkand: In present-day Uzbekistan
in a major river valley
○ Center of trading for goods
○ Center of cultural exchange
■ Prominent religions:
Christianity,
Buddhism,
Zoroastrianism, and
Islam
■ Highly decorated
mosques
○ Known for its artisans, centers
of Islamic learning
● Khotan/Kutan
● Kashgar: Northern edge of Central
Asia trade; Built around a river
○ Abundance of water and goods
○ Crops: Wheat, rice, fruits, and
cotton
○ Artisans produced textiles,
rugs, leather, goods, and
pottery
○ Once Buddhist city also
became center of Islamic
scholarship
● Dunhuang
○ Oases: Became thriving trade centers in Central Asia,
India, Pakistan, and Persia
The Making of the Silk Roads
● Exchanged luxury goods for elite and wealthy market
○ Silk became symbol of high status and importance in
religions
■ China originally had a monopoly on silk; By 6th
century CE, others developed silk
■ Used as currency in Central Asia
○ Paper, porcelain, lacquerware, iron tools
■ As demand grew, Chinese, Indian, and Persian
artisans increased their production of these goods
● High cost of transport made bulk goods difficult
● Technological inventions
○ Yokes
