Trade Expands

The Beginning of Global Trade New routes to the west: from 300 BC

The presence of Greeks in Mesopotamia and the eastern Mediterranean encourages a new trade route.  To ease the transport of goods to Greece and beyond, in 300BC a trading city was established - Antioch. Antioch provides a meeting point between waterborne and land-caravan transportation (review previous posts on water and land transportation) Here goods are put on board ship after arriving by land transport caravans from Mesopotamia. A trade route from China: 2nd century BC A tentative trade route is becoming established along a string of oases north of the Himalayas. They are very exposed to the broad expanse of steppes - from which marauding bands of nomadic tribesmen may attack at any moment - but protection by the Han dynasty in China is now making it reasonably safe for merchants to send caravans into this region. The goods are usually unloaded in each oasis and traded or bartered before continuing the journey westwards - where rich customers around the Mediterranean are eager for the luxury products of the east. In 106 BC, for the first time, a caravan leaves China and travels through to Persia without the goods changing hands on the way.  The Silk Road is open.  In the 1st century BC the Romans gain control of Syria and Palestine - the natural terminus of the Silk Road, for goods can move west more easily from here by sea. Soon a special silk market is established in Rome. China, proudly self-sufficient, wants nothing that Rome can offer. And the Han rulers are unwilling to release silk - either as thread or woven fabric - except in exchange for gold.  It has been calculated that in the 1st century AD China has a hoard of some five million ounces of gold. In Rome the emperor Tiberius issues a decree against the wearing of silk. His stated reason is the drain on the empire's reserves of gold.  The Silk Road introduces global economics.  Vocabulary Meeting point Expanse Oasis Steppes Marauding  Nomadic Merchant Luxury products Terminus Silk Self-sufficient Gold Decree Global economics Can you connect the following concepts to the information in the text (give examples of these the text) Key Concept Global Interactions Related Concepts Trade Growth Resources Consumption