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Foundations 8,000 BCE – 600 CE • Trade evident even at the hunter-gatherer level • Evidence of boats used for river/sea trade • Catal Huyuk prospered from obsidian trade • Trade based on barter Catal Huyuk • Mesopotamia Had to import timber, metals, and stone from as far away as India Downriver traffic only- boats dismantled and wood sold Boats used for heavy loads such as grain Land routes used for lighter and more precious loads Invention of wheel allowed greater loads Trade initially under control of royalty/priests but devolved to merchant class over time Cuneiform developed to record business transactions Barter or silver used as means of exchange until introduction of coins after sixth century BCE Conquest used as a means to secure resources Scribes record the amount of goods • Hittites semi-control of metals including iron due to ownership of mineral deposits Kingdom of the Hittites • Phoenicians Major maritime trade state Established trade colonies throughout Mediterranean and Black seas First to use polar star for navigation Acted as “trucking company” for major states Phoenicians trading with Egyptians • Egypt Extensive trade with Mesopotamia, the Minoans, and indirectly with India Strong interest in Nubia and trade with south and central Africa Imported raw resources, slaves, gold, and aromatic resins for mummification Egyptian trade routes • Nubia (Kush) Acted as intermediary between Egypt and Africa in trade Possessed natural resources (gold) Slave trade Kushite pharaoh Geographic shift towards Meroe Meroe culture moved away from Egyptian influences towards sub-Saharan Economy collapsed after Rome shifted trade to Red Sea and Axum (Ethiopia) Iron-making in Meroe • The Indus (Harappa) Harappan Seal Widespread trade contacts in east and west – Mesopotamia and possibly China Access to rich metal ores = more metal tools than Mesopotamia and Egypt Seals may be the names of merchants • Shang China Despite isolation, trade contacts with India and Central Asia Some evidence of contact with Mesopotamia Large use of bronze = emphasis on trade routes for copper and tin Shang bronze vessel • Greece Natural harbors and islands made sea travel fastest and cheapest mode of trade Lack of natural resources such as metals and timber and lack of arable lands made trade vital Success or failure in trade impacted the rise and fall of civilizations The coastline of Greece • Minoans Major maritime trade state Trade contacts with all of Mediterranean and Middle East Spread Egyptian and Persian ideas to Mycenaeans and later Greek societies Linear A possibly used to record lists of goods and other business transactions The Minoans • Mycenaeans Linear B used to record lists of goods and business transactions State control of key industries including wool production Supplanted Minoans as regional transporters Metals in great demand: gold for rulers and copper/tin for bronze Mycenaeans both traders and pirates – preyed on weak states Conflict with Troy and Hittites over control of trade in the Aegean and Back Seas • Carthage Established as a colony by Phoenicians Maritime trade power – dominated the western Mediterranean Economic policies focused on protection of sea lanes and securing natural resources Some evidence of trade w/sub-Saharan Africa and British Isles City of Carthage • Greek City-States Colonies established to Act as bases for trade Relieve population pressures Provide food for mother city-state Sparta To emphasize equality – Spartans banned precious metals and coins Spartans forbidden to engage in commerce Spartan hoplites • Athens Size of Athenian navy allowed Athens to project power to enhance commercial interests Transformation of Delian League into trade association Commercial estates = wine and oil exports An Athenian Trireme • Hellenistic Civilizations Greek culture widespread – based on empire of Alexander the Great Alexandria – nexus of Mediterranean and Indian Ocean trade (via Red Sea) Hellenic Trade Routes • Rome Central location – positive impact on trade Territorial expansion brought in revenue and surplus goods from new provinces Roman provincial towns drew in artisans and merchants from all over Busy Roman port The Roman military spurred trade in the provinces Pax Romana – era of peace and prosperity Major import was gain to feed poor Poor Romans crowd the busy streets Roman grain trade Roman Mediterranean trade Roman eastern trade • China Encouraged technological innovation Construction of roads and canals stimulated trade Development of the Silk Road Silk exports Merchant class held in low esteem • India Due to absence of strong rule (political fragmentation), merchant guilds became very powerful Trade contacts with China and Roman Empire Decline of Rome resulted in increased trade with SE Asia and China – export of Indian culture Hindu temples – Angkor Wat, Cambodia • Changes Move from barter to coins as system of exchange Greater interaction between civilizations – direct links between Rome and China Cultural diffusion through trade – spread of religion, architecture, disease Decline in trade in Europe after fall of Rome • Continuities Dominance of India and China in trade China’s demand for silver The Silk Road and Indian Ocean trade routes Constantinople as western trade hub