Question

worksheet: the silk roads, indian ocean, and trans - saharan trade
a. comprehension questions

1. define the three major trade networks:

Explanation:

To define the three major trade networks:

• Silk Roads: A network of land - based trade routes (primarily across Asia, connecting East, South, and Western Asia, as well as Europe) that facilitated the exchange of goods (like silk, spices, precious metals), ideas (religions such as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity spread), technologies (papermaking, gunpowder technology transfer), and cultures. It was crucial for long - distance trade between the East and the West during classical and medieval times.
• Indian Ocean Trade Network: A maritime trade network centered around the Indian Ocean. It connected regions like East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Goods such as spices (pepper, cinnamon), textiles, precious stones, and slaves were traded. Monsoon winds were harnessed by sailors to navigate the ocean, and city - states like Malacca and Calicut played important roles as trading hubs.
• Trans - Saharan Trade Network: A trade network across the Sahara Desert, connecting North Africa (with civilizations like the Islamic states of the Maghreb) and West Africa (with kingdoms like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai). The main traded goods were gold (from West African kingdoms) and salt (from North African mines), along with slaves, ivory, and textiles. Camel caravans were the primary means of transportation, and trading cities like Timbuktu and Gao thrived as centers of trade and culture.

Answer:

• Silk Roads: Land - based trade routes across Asia (connecting East, South, Western Asia, and Europe) for goods (silk, spices), ideas, and technologies exchange.
• Indian Ocean Trade Network: Maritime network connecting East Africa, Arabian Peninsula, South/Southeast/East Asia, trading spices, textiles, etc., with monsoon - driven navigation and city - state hubs.
• Trans - Saharan Trade Network: Trade across Sahara, connecting North and West Africa, trading gold, salt, slaves, with camel caravans and city - state hubs.