Long Distance Trades in the Eastern Hemisphere - Assignment Example

The World History Introduction Unfolding the pages of world history, it is found that people of the world have been involved in exchanging products through long distances since very long. Ancestry of trade and industry globalization rests deep in the olden times. Communities residing in different zones of world have been exchanging goods that are desirable to other communities of the world. This exchange has long been a prominent part of mankind history. The non uniform division of goods, products and resources either by nature or human action has encouraged exchange within and among various nations. The process of exchange or trade fashioned the organization of communities as well as traders. Traders were being seen by other people with suspicion as a discrete group that builds up money only by exchanging goods and products and without manufacturing or creating any of them by themselves. Long distance trade also became a way of communal mobility that enabled groups of elite class to discriminate themselves from others by obtaining expensive/ unique goods or products from remote places. History of long distance trades in the Eastern hemisphere The roots of long distance trade in eastern hemisphere lay in its geography as well as the past. The landmass of Eurasia (Europe and Asia) has two zones, inner and outer, both having pretty distinct environments. Outer zone has an environment that is comparatively warm and having plenty of water that makes it suitable for agricultural activities. This includes China – India - Middle East as well as Mediterranean. Eastern region of Russia and Central Asia, that makes part of inner zone, has a harsh and arid environment that crafts it as a non agricultural region. The two zones having quite discreet characteristics and, therefore, varied products and commodities have brought their people into trading within these and among other regions. The products being traded by these country people throughout Eurasia is given in the table below. These trades offered augment to one of the world’s most wide ranging, far reaching and sustained system of exchange among its miscellaneously assorted communities. These routes were called as the Silk Roads, named after one of its deluxe products. The Eurasian network of silk roads extended further with the following invasions. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan was invaded by the Persian emperor, Alexander emperor entered into Central Asia from west, Han’s dynasty of China conquered west. Hence, a transcontinental trading network was well formed within Eastern hemisphere in early centuries. Prosperity and affluence overwhelmed the silk routes of eastern hemisphere when security to the traders and tourists was granted by the powerful states of the region. This was done by Russian and Chinese kingdoms in order to promote long distance trade between east and west of Eurasia. A newly transformed vivacity was awarded to the long distance trade when the entire course of silk roads was covered as a single state by the kingdom of Mongolia. Large camel caravans were used in order to trade goods within eastern hemisphere. These convoys made their way across silk roads and through ruthless and treacherous plains, barren regions and oases of central Asia. The goods and commodities traded were mostly deluxe products destined to add to the luxuries of elite class. These products did not include cheaper goods for middle class people as the long distance travels for the purpose of trade resulted in high costs to the traders. So it was made sure that the products or commodities traded were able to remunerate them well for their efforts. Silk, which was actually the icon of this trading system, was the product of China. The Chinese community had held domination on the technology that produced silk and it was traded from western region of eastern hemisphere to the west. This silk fabric as well as cotton had a huge demand in the market. The silk fabric, because of its deluxe quality and high cost, was being purchased and used by the elite class alone. In many states, there was a legal binding that reserved the silk fabric to the elite class only and other commoners were not supposed to buy or wear silk. Trade through the Indian Ocean (Sea Roads) Land based trade within eastern hemisphere was being practiced through Silk Roads, whereas, sea based trade within the region was carried out through Indian Ocean. The traders travelling through sea based routes used Mediterranean, black sea and Atlantic coastline. Expensive and luxurious goods were traded through these routes as well in order to get compensated for the costs incurred and get remunerated as well. This type of inter regional trade connected the marine business of Mediterranean sea to the much bigger and more widespread system of sea based trade in the Indian ocean. Before 1500, until an actually global ocean based network of trade was developed, the Indian Ocean was regarded as the world’s largest sea based network of communication and trade between south China and east Africa. As the silk roads trade prospered and augmented rapidly throughout the eastern hemisphere, the ocean based trade of Indian ocean also rose extensively crossing the various environments and cultural differences of various regions within the eastern hemisphere. Due to the lower cost of sea based trading because of their capability to carry larger and heavier cargo, many goods and commodities for elites as well as commoners that were not available to people were traded. This predestined that more of the bulk and massive products for the middle class could be traded economically through sea based trade. These exchanges included goods as mentioned in table below: Products Origin Porcelain, Ceramics, Tea, Silk China Spices, Nutmeg, Tin South East Asia Cotton, Pepper, Grains, Expensive Stones India Ivory, Gold, Quartz, Slaves Eastern Africa Porcelain, Olive oil, Mediterranean Sea Similarities in the Han’s Dynasty and Tang and Song Dynasties None of the emperors that ruled China after Han’s dynasty were stable enough to keep the country integrated. Within the subsequent 350 years, various Chinese dynasties that emerged and collapsed without leaving a significant mark on world history were 30 in number. It was not until the emperor Wendi of Sui dynasty that reunited North and South regions of the country and established a powerful federal government in China. Sui dynasty provided the upcoming two dynasties of Tang and Song a strong base to lead China to the pathway of success, modernization and prosperity. This era of Tang and Song dynasties is remembered in world history as the Golden Age of China. This era accredited China as the most rich, dominant and highly developed country of the world. The long lost North and West regions of China since Han’s dynasty were conquered back by Tang emperors. The dynasties of Tang and Song, like Western Han’s dynasty, took great advantage from trade all along the Silk Road business course. Examination system for civil services, which was actually initiated by Han’s dynasty, was revived and expanded in this era. The exams were open to everyone but only elite group of scholars were able to attend necessary education and pass the tough examination criteria. The importance of this examination system resulted importance of education and talent. Distribution of power was now based on education and talent of people, the criteria of power distribution no more remained as gracious birth. Hence, elite group as well as middle class families was able to become part of Government of China. Major achievements of Tang and Song Dynasties – the Golden Era Population of China in Tang and song dynasty was inclined to almost double. China consisted of 10 cities with 100 million people living in each. This made China the world’s most densely inhabited and advanced country. Very important inventions and technological advancements were made. These included Movable Type (classical form of printer) and gunpowder. Invention of gunpowder further resulted into development of weapons (bullets, bombs, small rockets and canons). Chinaware and mechanical clock were also created. Paper money was introduced in China for the first time. Magnetic compass was invented for guidance and orientation of sailing directions; this resulted in expanded sea trade in China. Steam Engines were developed by the engineers of China. This invention was key the engineering business insurrection in the 19th century. Extensive study and research was made in the field of mathematics. Advanced algebraic and arithmetic rules were established and spread through Southern and Western China. Advancements were made in the field of agriculture, especially cultivation of the rice crop, was also an important factor in rapid development of China. Rice was used as food for the Chinese people as well as for the purpose of export business. Long distance trade had prospered extensively in the Tang and Song dynasties. Besides technological and agricultural advancements, Tang and Song also proved to be rich in the field of Art. Chinese paintings and poetries in this era has left its profound marks in the history of art and artists. References Top of Form Societies, Networks, and Transitions: To 1500. Wadsworth Pub Co, 2009. Print. Bottom of Form Read More