Trade Networks in Pre-Columbian Americas

The video explores American trade networks from 500 to 1500, highlighting their limitations compared to Afro-Eurasian networks. It discusses the trade practices of Mesoamerican civilizations like the Mayans and Aztecs, who controlled trade routes and dealt in luxury goods. The Incans had a state-controlled trade network supported by a vast road system. Regional trade networks existed from the Great Lakes to the Andes, with cultural exchanges occurring over time. The video concludes by comparing these networks to the Silk Roads and other Eurasian trade routes, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by American civilizations.

What was a major limitation of American trade networks compared to Afro-Eurasian networks?

• Lack of domesticated large mammals

• Abundance of large oceangoing ships

• Easy East-West trade access

• Dense population centers

Which civilization controlled trade routes through their territory to become wealthy?

• Incas

• Chincha

• Aztecs

• Maya

What was unique about the Incan trade network?

• It was controlled by professional merchants

• It was a state-controlled network

• It was based on luxury goods

• It relied on sea routes

Which civilization used a 20,000-mile road system for trade?

• Maya

• Chincha

• Aztecs

• Incas

Which region was at the center of a widespread trading network in the Americas?

• Orinoco

• Caribbean

• Cokia

• Amazon

How did the Maya conduct their trade?

• Through state-controlled routes

• By both land and sea

• By sea only

• By land only

What was a characteristic of the trade networks in the Andes?

• They were controlled by private merchants

• They were state-run

• They focused on luxury goods

• They were primarily sea-based

Which trade network was known for its professional merchants called 'poka'?

• Chincha

• Incan

• Mayan

• Aztec

What was a common feature of trade in the Caribbean region?

• State-controlled trade

• Inner island trade

• Luxury goods trade

• Land-based trade only

What was a major difference between American and Eurasian trade networks?

• American networks were less dense

• Eurasian networks had more geographical obstacles

• American networks were more extensive

• Eurasian networks lacked state control