Gabrielle Tanson Mrs.

Garrison AP World History February 5, 2014 Changes and Continuities of the Indian Ocean Trade Network The Indian Ocean Trade Network linked the lands bordering the Indian Ocean basin and the South China Sea. Trade originally took place primarily in the South China Sea, Southeast Asia to the east coast of India, and the west coast of India to the Persian Gulf and East Africa. However, the trading system developed and began trading, not only in the Indian Ocean region, but globally. As it expanded, it spread new technology, affected the environment, and refined labor systems. Between 1200 CE and 1750 CE, because of the significant transformations of the Indian Ocean Trade Network, technology spread quicker, the environment depleted and new labor systems were introduced. Agricultural tools were prone to many innovations. Navigational tools, such as compasses were used to explore new lands. Gunpowder was invented in China, but weapons were not fully incorporated in most militaries yet. Silk and porcelain continued being important exports for China. People continued to mine for metals, such as gold and silver in the SubSaharan regions. Compasses maintained importance, however were not used by all mariners. The telescope was invented and changed the way people thought of the universe. Nicholas Copernicus developed the heliocentric model, which depicted the sun at the center of the universe instead of the earth. Industrialization began in Europe. The printing press created new

books faster and increased literacy in Europe. Ships were made cheaper and stronger. Ships, such as dhows, used lateen sails to become more efficient. Cannons were beginning to be used on ships. Ships were so advanced that anyone could reach anywhere within months. The creation of new technology was due to power. Necessity is the mother of invention. China and Japan tried to stay away from trade with other countries because they were scared to lose power. Some Muslims were against new inventions which led to fewer innovations in western Asia. For all of history, elites always used labor to gain more power, whether it was black slaves in the New World or serfs in Europe. Serfs were agricultural workers who cultivated land belonging to a landowner, and who was bought and sold with the land. The serfs received protection from landlords, and in return, gave up part of their goods to them. This system of serfdom continued throughout most of European history because of its efficiency. However, due to new exploration of the India Ocean, Europeans found a new land, which they decided to cultivate. Explorers brought indentures servants with them to work on their plantations. An indentured servant is a worker bound by a voluntary agreement to work for a specified period of years often in return for free passage to an overseas destination. In this New World lived indigenous people, whom explorers called Amerindians. Their Spanish encomienda labor system forced natives into brutal labor, in which many died of disease or fled. Also the number of Europeans willing to indentured themselves to the New World declined. Because of their diminishing number, Europeans had to find a new source of free labor. They found that Africans worked better on plantations due to their ability to live longer and immunity to many European diseases. The slave trade strengthened the Indian Ocean Trade, due to high demand of slaves in

the Caribbean and Americas. Also the increased demand for cash crops such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton promoted the use of slave labor. To provide the goods for the Indian Ocean Trade System, drastic environmental measures had to be taken. New plants and animals were traded and brought to new areas for commercial purposes. Larger plantations were needed to support the growing population and economy. Hunting for furs and aquatic life around Southeast Asia was needed to expand economies. The growing of sugar cane in the Americas exhausted the soil of the plantations and led to the cutting down of trees to make space for more plantations. Deforestation is a major continuity in history. It led to the decline of many empires, such as Great Zimbabwe and Mayan. Domesticated animals, like cattle, were brought to the Americas and destroyed the land, by over-grazing. Fur hunting disrupted the ecological balance and some forests. Mining, ironworking, stone quarrying, and tanning were popular guilds between 13 th and 16th century Europe. These professions resulted in water pollution and deforestation, as well. Between 1200 CE -1750 CE, the communication between lands was heightened due to the Indian Ocean Trade Network. Due to this new communication, empires developed new labor systems, technology, and environmental issues, which continue to be evident later in history. Slavery led the racism. Gunpowder led to bigger and worse weapons, which led to more hostile wars. Deforestation led to us conserving the earth today. We think the problems we have today sprung up out of nowhere because of our generation, but theyve been manifested in history. The Indian Ocean Trade Network mostly changed, but because of these

changes, our world has been molded to create new ideas, just as the empires in the Indian Ocean Trade Network had.