Trade Networks and Their Impact

The video introduces the theme of globalization, focusing on the period from 1200 to 1450 CE. It discusses the expansion of trade networks, particularly in Afro-Eurasia, and the resulting cultural and economic exchanges. The Swahili Coast is highlighted as a key example of these changes. The video also addresses the impact of the Bubonic Plague on trade and society. Key questions for the unit are presented, and the video concludes with a reflection on historical pandemics.

What is the main theme of the unit introduced in the video?

• The rise of empires

• Technological advancements

• Worlds Together, Worlds Apart

• The fall of civilizations

Which regions were most affected by the expansion of trade networks from 1200 to 1450 CE?

• The Pacific Islands

• Afro-Eurasia

• Australasia

• The Americas

What was a significant factor in the economic growth during the period discussed?

• The decline of empires

• The expansion of long-distance trade

• The invention of new currencies

• The isolation of regions

Which region's transformation is highlighted as an example of trade impact?

• The Swahili Coast

• The Mediterranean Sea

• The Andes Mountains

• The Mississippi Valley

What metaphor is used to describe the impact of trade in the Indian Ocean trading system?

• A chain is only as strong as its weakest link

• A rising tide lifts all boats

• All roads lead to Rome

• The early bird catches the worm

What was a major consequence of the Bubonic Plague on trade networks?

• Collapse of major trading systems

• Increased trade routes

• Discovery of new lands

• Rise of new empires

Which disease is known to have caused the collapse of Afro-Eurasian trading systems in the 14th century?

• Influenza

• Smallpox

• Bubonic Plague

• Cholera

What was a key factor in the recovery of trade networks by the mid-15th century?

• The spread of Christianity

• The fall of the Mongol Empire

• The invention of the printing press

• The voyages of Portuguese sailors

What was the impact of new oceanic trade routes pioneered by Portuguese sailors?

• Rise of new religions

• Creation of a single global economy

• Isolation of regions

• Decline in trade

Despite increasing connections, what remained true for most people by 1450?

• They lived in isolation

• Patterns of life remained local

• They traveled frequently

• They adopted new religions