Part 3: Commerce & Culture, Globalization in the Postclassical Era

After reading chapter 7 in Strayers book, I was intrigued to learn all about the various trade routes that had developed in the years following the Classical Era. These trade routes helped with the globalization of civilization by spreading various cultures, religions, and commerce between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The famous "Silk Road" network across Eurasia and the trans-Saharan trade routes. Both trade routes flourished in the post classical era and they were part of the accumulation infrastructure of contemporary globalization. Certain societies were able to monopolize production of certain products which created an unequal distribution of goods and services. Between 500-1500 B.C., long-distance trade became more important than ever before in linking and shaping distant societies and peoples. Trade affected social structures and political life. Trade helped to create and maintain states in various parts of the world. It was fascinating to learn that silk was in such high demand at the time, and that it was even used as currency! I was surprised to learn that governments passed laws that restricted silk clothing to only members of the elite. The story of the twelfth-century Persian merchant Ramisht who purchased an expensive silk covering for the Kaaba in Mecca had me picturing how large and beautiful the cover must have been. I could only imagine how long it must have taken to make such a covering, and how expensive! It made sense to learn of culture was impacted by the Silk Roads trade at the time. Buddhism spread throughout Central and East Asia, and in doing so, changed to reflect elements of other cultures while in transit on the Silk Roads. I was not surprised that the trade industry also spread various diseases. Traveling had to have been stressful, not knowing what disease you might encounter. After learning of the Black Death pandemic of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, I had to look up the plague and find out its cause. The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people and peaking in Europe in the years 1346–53. Although there were several competing theories as to the etiology of the Black Death, analysis of DNA from victims in northern and southern Europe published in 2010 and 2011 indicates that the pathogen responsible was the Yersinia pestis bacterium, probably causing several forms of plague. The Black Death is thought to have originated in the arid plains of central Asia, where it then travelled along the Silk Road, reaching the Crimea by 1346. From there, it was most likely carried by Oriental rat fleas living on the black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships. Spreading throughout the Mediterranean and Europe, the Black Death is estimated to have killed 30–60% of Europe's total population. All in all, the plague reduced the world population from an estimated 450 million down to 350–375 million in the 14th century. The aftermath of the plague created a series of religious, social, and economic upheavals, which had profound effects on the course of European history. It took 150 years for Europe's population to recover. The plague recurred occasionally in Europe until the 19th century. (Wikipedia) The same ships that spread the Black Death may have been the same ships along the Sea Roads, the sea-based trading network along the Indian Ocean basin which connected many people between China and East Africa. As the Silk Roads helped to spread Buddhism, the Sea Roads helped to spread Islam in the seventh century B.C.. The prophet Muhammad had been a trader himself so Islam was considered friendly to commercial life. I never realized how prevalent Muslim traders were in history. Oceanic commerce had so much to do with shaping the regions encompassing its routes. In Southeast Asia and East Africa, it stimulated political change and cultural change. Wealth derived from commerce was used to construct larger and more centrally governed states or cities. The Sand Road commercial networks that linked North Africa and the Mediterranean world with the land and peoples of interior West Africa had a transforming impact, stimulating and enriching West African civilization. Learning of the caravans, with as many as 5000 camels and hundreds of people crossing the Sahara, really got my imagination going, only to be disappointed to learn of the slave trade along that route. I could not imagine being a slave and having to travel across the burning Sahara desert on foot! It was interesting to learn the trade between the North and South Americas was limited due to geographic and environmental differences. In addition, the absence of horses, donkeys, camels, wheeled vehicles and large oceangoing vessels limited their interaction. It surprised me to hear that all these animals were absent, especially horses! People in history have always been hungry for consumer luxury goods. It was not surprising to learn that trade in luxury goods developed into the first stages of globalization.