Normally, trade routes that span across entire continents and spread culture and products from empires as far east as China and as far west as Spain do not fall. Yet, the Silk Road, a trade route network that exchanged exotic goods across continents, fell. The decline of the Silk Road was mainly caused by the increase of sea trade. During the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire stood as the “middleman” for the Silk Road. However, the Ottoman Empire wanted to spread Islamic influence and control more territory. They invaded Byzantine and captured its capital, Constantinople. This created a divide between Western and Eastern Europe, and thereby a divide in the Silk Road. New sea routes were created to keep trade alive in Europe. Additionally, the …show more content…
Also, China and Japan developed new policies for isolation, limiting cultural diffusion that came from the Silk Road. They began to trade mainly using sea routes. In short, the decline of trade along the Silk Road can be attributed to the increase of sea routes as a result of Ottoman and Mongolian invasions, aquatic and military advancements, and new trade policies from China and Japan. New threats from the Ottomans and the Mongolians resulted in the decline of the Silk Road. The Ottomans targeted Byzantine and its capital, Constantinople. They fought ferociously because they hoped for revenge for the Crusades (Doc 1). The fall of Constantinople also resulted in a division of the Silk Road, as Byzantine was located in between Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Therefore, the Silk Road was divided between the Ottomans and Western Europe. This led to a decrease of trade along the Silk Road between Western Europe and Eastern Europe and Asia. The picture from document seven shows the siege of Constantinople. Since land trade along the Silk Road was no longer possible, Western Europe developed new sea routes to continue trade with Eastern
The Silk Road made sure if you didn’t trade items you can hold, then you can trade items you can cherish. Finally, in the western civilizations (Rome), it was accessed by boat. Boats could carry a ton more items and it was less of a walk for the merchants/traders. However, the Silk Road did lead a small backup path up north of Parthia. Around 27 B.C.E., the Roman Empire had only begun, but the silk road had been a thing for a very long time before that.
In 1453 the Ottomans took control of Constantinople, and effectively cut off direct European trade to East Asia. Because of this, in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, exploration in search of alternative routes became a key focus of Western European nations.
In the 16th century, the Mesopotamia had served as an intermediate for trade between Europe, Africa, and Asia. It was also an important supplier on food goods on foreign trade, especially silk and cotton. Other than the Ottoman Empire who had control over it, they also had there competitive rivals, the Persian Safavids who also had control over it. The Persians Muslim faith clashed with the Ottoman’s devotion to Sunnism. Both groups had fought economically for the control over the western trade routes to the East. The Ottomans had captured Europe’s largest city, Constantinople, in May 1453. After it was captured, the Ottoman’s had renamed it Istanbul, as it became the city capital of The Ottoman Empire.
The Mongols influenced the world in many great ways, one of them was their vast trade system. They relied quite heavily on trade, not only to gain resources, but also to get their inventions and objects to the Europeans and then hopefully spread from there. The Mongols enhanced the trading system by composing the “Silk Road”. The Silk Road was a path/road that the Mongols had control of and it was a trade route that many travelers and traders took. Along the Silk Road, the main resource that was traded was silk, hence the name “Silk Road.” The
The Silk Road was essentially the only source of trade during the Byzantine Sassanid war. The war was fought over the control over the Silk Road. The empire that got control over the Silk Road would control trade and be the most powerful. This made a race to get control over the Silk Road that resulted in the many battles that took place there.
During the time 600C.E-1450 C.E the Silk Road went through major changes while maintaining ingenuity. Changes and continuities interactions included cultural knowledge (changes in art, architecture and technology), political control (the impact the leader had on the Silk Road), culture diffusion (continuities in religion that spread and the impact) and trade (continuities of luxury items). Although there were many continuities, the changes of the Silk Road outweighed the continuities.
In 1877 Fredinand von Rchthofen a well-known German geographer named the road the Silk Road, because silk was the major trade product, which traveled on this road. Silk Road was all about neighbors exchanging goods, silk, culture, ideas, knowledge, and beliefs. Silk Road is the most extraordinary exchanging course of antiquated Chinese development. The exchange of silk grew under the Han Dynasty in the first and second hundreds of years. Initially, the Chinese exchange silk inside, within the realm. Parades from the domains inside would convey silk to the western edges of the locale. Regularly little Central Asian tribes would assault these bands wanting to catch the traders' important commodities. Therefore, “the Han Dynasty developed its military guards further into Central Asia from 135 to 90 BC in order to ensure these parades.” (en.unesco.org)
The Silk Road did not begin trade, but the Silk Road did end up expanding its extent and the connections that were made were by mostly merchants who ended up changing the world more than the political or religious leaders in that time period. The Silk Road was actually made up of two routes: one that connected the Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia and the other one that went from Central Asia to China. The Silk Road also involved sea routes: Some of the goods reached Rome through the Mediterranean Sea, and goods that came from Central Asia were sent across the Pacific to Japan .For a very long time in the world, silk was only produced in China because only the Chinese could make it. But silk was not the only good that was traded on the
The battles created a constant demand for the transportation of men and supplies. This required ship building as this increased trade products were sent from Damascus, Mosul, Alexandria, Cairo and other large cities in the Middle East. These trade items were brought into Italian seaports; from here they found their way into the European lands. Products that were introduced into Europe were silk tapestries, precious stones, perfumes, spices, pearls and ivory. The political effects of the crusades took part in the help to break down the feudal system, which gave power to the King and the people.
Goods such as pepper, ginger and other spices were introduced to Europe more prominent rates. Cost for items dropped as authorities competed for taxes collected along Silk Road. Traders saw potential to benefit other countries such as China and India if the travel time and distance was cut down. Gun-making also was introduced to Europe and other regions during the Mongol’s
This would allow their allies to safely sail into the ports with money and other goods. The Byzantines main trade hub were located in their capital of Constantinople.” A dizzying array of goods circulated in the Byzantine Middle East” (Williams). they would receive immense amounts of goods and money. This would allow the Byzantine Empire to become one of the wealthiest nations in Medieval age Europe. Although the Byzantines were promised goods from their allies, most times they were not given. Goods like food and money would be promised to the Byzantines. Only after the promise of such goods, was the promise broken for reasons unknown. “Promised Food and shelter for defeating the Turks.” (Google
Bowman, John. Exploration in the World of the Ancients. New York: Facts on File, 2005.
The four hundred years between the collapse of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.- C.E. 220) and the establishment of the Tang dynasty (618-906) mark a division in the history of China. During this period, foreign invasion, transcontinental trade, and missionary ambition opened the region to an unprecedented wealth of foreign cultural influences. These influences were both secular and sacred. Nomads, merchants, emissaries and missionaries flooded into China, bringing new customs, providing exotic wares, and generating new religious beliefs. Foremost among these beliefs was Buddhism, born in India, but which now took root in China. These new influences entered China by a vast network of overland routes, popularly known as the Silk Road
There exists a time when major civilizations were once divided in nature and were unaware of each other’s existence. The major civilizations developed at an independent rate, and most of the technologies and ideas were innovated without the influence of other civilizations. The Chinese were famed for their production of silk, a valuable textile coveted for its splendid texture and color. The Roman Empire was known for its wealth and domesticated animals. India was famous for its spices [1]. However, this situation then took a drastic change when the Silk Road was established by the Han Dynasty. The main purpose of this establishment was to maintain political contact with the kingdoms located in Central Asia. This route soon evolved into a trade route that connected China, Central Asia and Constantinople [2]. Sometime between 206 B.C and 220 A.D, Silk Road was known to be the main trade route that linked the west and the east [2]. The Silk Road then became one of the most iconic symbols of trade in the world, as it became the first trade route of its kind that managed to connect the west with the east. Although the Silk Road disappeared after 220 A.D due to the fall of Constantinople, it remained to be one of the most important human systems in history. This is because it gave rise to globalization, expedited the development of great civilizations and inspired the rise of maritime exploration.
The Silk Road, a series of passageways connecting China with the Mediterranean completely changed the world. These series of trade routes allowed the advancement of technology and cultural diversity like never seen before. These routes connected many different civilizations allowing the exchange of goods and ideas. This variety of nationalities made it a “Cultural Bridge between Asia and Europe. ” Before these pathways were established trade was nearly impossible due to extreme desert conditions and high mountain tops. Many people died making the journey, even after the trade routes were established. So why make the trip? How did the Silk Road impact history?