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-Traders in the Mediterranean uses ships with square sails and oars,
while Indian Ocean sails were triangular sails and had no oars.
-Unlike trade along the silk road, Mediterranean trade was made
completely of middle men
What was traded along the Sea Lane?
-wine -ivory
-olive oil -Copper ingots
-weapons -Perishable Goods {food,
-crafted goods textiles, slaves, animal skins}
- The Mediterranean Sea is quite large, and on trade routes, multiple stops were
made at different places, leading to settlement in and migration towards these
areas. Also, the long journeys across the sea aided in the technological advances
in regards to ships and navigation
- Although trade routes were designed for the exchange of goods and materials they
became a way to share religion, ideas, languages, art, science, and technology.
Specifically Alexander The Great’s spread of Greek knowledge and ideas
throughout the Mediterranean region.
AP World Themes
AP World Theme 3-State-building and forms of government
- Each society, empire, or civilizations that took part in the trade network produced
or had different materials or goods, creating a system of supply and demand.Soon
it expanded, reaching all and around it, making it’s way into Africa and connecting
with the Silk Road to reach far east. Ivory, spices, slaves, wine, weapons and many
other materials were traded, and expanded the economic system of the
AP World Themes
AP World Theme 5-Development and transformation of social structures
- As trade increased along the Mediterranean sea lanes, so did demand. Increasing
the need for a work force, or in some societies, slaves. Social classes were created
by having a merchant class, a working class, slaves, and the aristocratic class who
owned the land or goods.
Historiographical Perspective
Although Immanuel Wallerstein’s World-Systems Theory focuses on the times of 1460 and
on, his historiographical perspective can be adopted to fit the Mediterranean sea lanes.
Wallerstein divides the world into core countries, semi-periphery countries, and and
periphery countries. The core countries revolve around higher skill and capital intensive
production. Wallerstein defines his world system “as a unit with a single division of
labor and multiple cultural systems”, some characteristics of a core country are
economically diversified, extensive bureaucracy, and powerful militaries. Although the
Mediterranean trade routes connect many different places, it was often controlled by
one central empire, mainly the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire fits all the
characteristics given and represents the Mediterranean sea lanes in regards to the trade
and economic system of Rome, and so it falls under Wallerstein’s World-Systems
Theory.
Periodization
One time period that the Mediterranean Sea Trade takes place
during is the Byzantine Empire, which occurred from the 4th
C.E. to 1453.
- The trade route lead to cultural diffusion and cross cultural exchange.
Specifically through Rome and Greece trading with China and India.
- Along with opening trade and creating cultural diffusion, it created conflicts and
tension between societies.