Why was the Silk Road so important?

Why was the Silk Road so important?

The Silk Road was important because it helped to generate trade and commerce between a number of different kingdoms and empires. This helped for ideas, culture, inventions, and unique products to spread across much of the settled world.

What happened in the 15th century in Africa?

The transatlantic slave trade began during the 15th century when Portugal, and subsequently other European kingdoms, were finally able to expand overseas and reach Africa. The Portuguese first began to kidnap people from the west coast of Africa and to take those they enslaved back to Europe.

What effects did trade have on African kingdoms during the Middle Ages?

They traded salt and cloth from North Africa and the Sahara for gold and ivory from western Africa. The trade led to the growth of cities in western Africa. Eventually, rulers of these cities began to build a series of empires.

Why did the West African gold and salt trades depend on various modes of transportation such as camels boats and donkeys?

Islam spread as the trading networks grew. Q. Why did the West African gold and salt traders depend on various modes of transportation such as camels, boats, and donkeys? The trade network connected many different cultures that all used the mode of transporation with which they were most comfortable.

Why did merchants travel in large caravans?

They were needed as safe havens—not just from extreme climates and weather, but also from bandits who targeted caravans loaded with silks, spices, and other expensive goods. In fact, caravanserais were built at regular intervals so that merchants would not have to spend the night exposed to the dangers of the road.

What were the disadvantages of the Silk Road?

The Silk Roads contributed a lot to the Black Plague. Bandits and thievery were a big problem as well. Bandits would raid merchant caravans and outposts, and often murdered the merchants as well, which made traveling the Silk Roads alone very dangerous.

What were some of the challenges African traders faced when traveling across the Sahara?

Trans-Saharan Challenges: Smuggling, Terrorism, and the Struggle for a State (Part 2) By the 1600’s it is known that caravans crossed the Sahara to Tripoli to Timbuktu. Annual caravans across the desert could be protected by thousands of armed men and carried with them paper, glass beads, textiles, and pewter.

When was Africa’s golden age?

The years between 1100 and 1600 were known as the “golden age” of trade, when West African gold was in high demand. This led to an increase in the need and use for trade routes. From 1300 the Trans-Saharan trade routes were used for trade, travel, and scholarship.

Why was trade important to the growth of African civilization?

The trade routes of Ancient Africa played an important role in the economy of many African Empires. Goods from Western and Central Africa were traded across trade routes to faraway places like Europe, the Middle East, and India.

Why was salt the most important trading commodity in the Sahara?

Salt was a highly valued commodity not only because it was unobtainable in the sub-Saharan region but because it was constantly consumed and supply never quite met the total demand. There was also the problem that such a bulky item cost more to transport in significant quantities, which only added to its high price.

What are some fun facts about ancient Africa’s trade routes?

Fun Facts about Ancient Africa’s Trade Routes. To prepare for a trip, camels would be fattened up for the journey across the desert. Caravans moved at about three miles per hour and it took them 40 days to cross the Sahara Desert.

What were the effects of the Atlantic slave trade on Africa?

For some it intensified effects already present among its rulers and kingdoms. The Asante (Ashanti people) Empire dominated the area known as the Gold Coast (Ghana). They traded in gold as well as slaves. They fought many wars to defend and expand their empire. The impact of the Atlantic slave trade was felt across all levels of African societies.

What were the two most important trade routes dominated by merchants?

These bills were used to purchase British manufactured goods. The two most important trade routes were dominated and controlled by British merchants. These trades were the tobacco and sugar trades. American merchants controlled two small trades routes.

Why did merchants come to America in the 1600s?

The British had colonized America since the 1600’s, when many its inhabitants settled in the country to obtain religious freedom and a more prosperous life. Merchants came to America to profit off the land since land was either free or very cheap.