Cultural Consequences of Connectivity

Cultural Consequences of Connectivity

by Marlin Farrington

​Trade in History

​The world has always been connected by trade. it has caused some nations to prosper, and some to fall. There are three major trade networks that connected the world before railroads, cars, and planes. They were the Trans-Saharan trade routes, the Silk Road, and the Indian Ocean trade network. They connected the old world and served as a way to move people and goods from place to place. The movement of people means the movement of ideas and cultures.

​Buddhism and the Silk Road

• ​Introduced in the first century A.D.

• ​Gained massive popularity as it spread throughout China

• ​traveled up the Silk Road during the Han dynasty

• ​Still holds a massive influence of the customs of Chinese citizens years later

​Additional Information

• ​The Silk Road carried Ceramics, Tea, Rice, and, obviously, silk

• ​There are 3 distinct forms of Buddhism: Theravada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism

• ​Buddhist Monks printed books on the cultivation of rice and agriculture for distribution to farmers around China

​Indian Ocean trade network

• ​Buddhism and Islam traveled to southeast Asia

• ​Moved goods from Africa to south, southeast, and southwest Asia

• ​Moved people and cultures from one continent to another

​Additional Information

• ​One of the largest empires in southeast Asia was the Majapahit empire

• ​They controlled most of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore

• ​They were ruined by internal strife, but the influence of outside cultures played a minor role in their downfall

​Trans-Saharan trade routes

• ​Spread Islam throughout northern and western Africa

• ​Increased literacy rates throughout northern and western Africa

• ​stimulated the local empires, making them exceedingly wealthy

Additional Information

• ​Mansa Musa showed off his wealth during his pilgrimage to Mecca

• ​Brought back a renowned architect to design buildings

• ​Merchants brought goods and language with them