BIG HISTORY 2

Development of Trade Routes and Convergences among countries through Globalization

As cities grew, they increasingly reached out to each other. Commerce and conflict exposed
once-isolated populations to a diversity of culture, religion, philosophy, language, and
technology, as well as disease. Major trade routes such as the Silk Road paved the way for
massive growth throughout Afro-Eurasia.

Much of the Silk Road trade also took place by sea, between Roman Egypt and the west coast of
India. Sailors discovered the “trade winds,” which blew reliably from the southwest in the
summer, then reversed direction in the winter. That way, the same ships could make the return
journey carrying new cargo.

Though probably few, including the great explorer Marco Polo, travelers made its entire 16,000
kilometers. The connectivity among cultures along its route held some of the greatest significance
to world history. The associated bonds through trade and exchange became particularly
important when world zones collided after 1492. Afro-Eurasia societies quickly dominated the
rest of the world and led the modern revolution that followed. (The Big History Project)

How Important is THE SILK ROAD?

The silk road, which is

7,000 miles long, consisted
of many cities so it would
be improper to not include
Africa or its cities. The Silk
Road’s eastern end is in
present-day China, and its
main western end is
Antioch. The Silk Road
started about the time of
the Han Dynasty, when
Emperor Wu was ruling. It
made a lasting impact on
how the world is seen
today. In fact, it is believed
to be “the first worldwide web.” It was an opening for many trade relations, products,
opportunities, even concerns and perils. Trade and conquest and all other global exchanges were
made possible via the Silk Road, especially globalization and interconnection.

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BIG HISTORY 2

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BIG HISTORY 2

WHAT WERE THE MAIN CHANGES IN AGRARIAN CIVILIZATIONS? (David Christian)

➢ Agrarian civilizations are large societies with:

✓ Rulers
✓ Armies
✓ Scribes and book keepers (for
DOCUMENTS)
✓ Markets and merchants
✓ Slaves and lots of peasant
farmers

➢ Four Large World Zones

✓ Afro-Eurasia
✓ Australasia
✓ Americas
✓ Pacific

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