AP World History

Chapter 8 Reading Guide: Commerce and Culture, 500-1500

Preface: This is a chapter that relies heavily, heavily, heavily on geography. There is a reason why
Strayer provides no fewer than 6 maps in this chapter. Stop and read the captions. When he mentions a
place in the text, find it on the map. If you can’t find it on his map, look on another map. Having a sense
of where these places are that he’s talking about will make this chapter a lot easier to follow.

It probably goes without saying—it should, at least—but please answer these on a separate sheet of
paper.

Introduction

1) Support the following thesis, using specific pieces of evidence from the text: “Trade was not just an
economic phenomenon, but impacted social and political structures, religions and technology as well.”

Silk Roads: Exchange across Eurasia

2) How would you describe the relationship between the ‘steppe people’ of the outer zones and their
agricultural neighbors?

3) What was the connection between ‘strong states’ (such as Alexander the Great’s empire, the Tang dynasy
and the Abbasid dynasty) and the functioning of the Silk Road as a trade route?

4) Support or refute the following statement with specific evidence: “Calling the Eurasian trade route “The
Silk Road” is misleading because it puts too much emphasis on silk, at the expense of goods that were equally
important.”

5) Can you tell that Strayer read the same Bentley article that we did on the spread of Buddhism throughout
Asia? We already know everything he says on pages 222-223, but briefly summarize the story of the role that
trade played in the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia.

6) In what ways did Buddhism’s association with commerce change the religion itself?

7) “Throughout history an unfortunate effect of trade,has been the spread of infectious disease.” List the
several examples that Strayer gives to support this point, along with the most pertinent details (including
relevant ‘side effects’ of these incidents).

Sea Roads: Exchange across the Indian Ocean

8) In what ways did the Indian Ocean trading network differ from that of the Silk Road? In your response, use
the following terms, and be sure to use the map on p. 226:

maritime bulk goods luxury goods monsoons Maluku Islands Madagascar East Africa

9) “Although the Indian Ocean was a key trade route as early as the time of the First Civilizations, a series of
changes between 500 and 1500 increased its importance considerably.” If this is the main idea for p. 227-228,
what would you identify as the essential supporting evidence?
10) At one ‘end’ of the Indian Ocean trade route, Srivijaya was a popular destination for traders between 670 to
1025. Provide at least five reasons why somebody would be interested in at least visiting Srivijaya, and identify
who those people would be. For example, “A Buddhist monk may want to visit to worship at the great temple
at Borobudur.”

11) It was said that parrots in Srivijaya could speak 4 languages—what do you think those languages were? If
you wanted to purchase such a parrot, what would you have offered in exchange?

12) Describe the various cultural traditions that combined to influence the development of a unique Swahili
civilization.

13) In what ways were the Swahili cities of the east coast of Africa tied in with the African hinterland (don’t
know the word? Look it up!!!), and in what ways were they almost like their own separate worlds?

Sand Roads: Exchange Across the Sahara

14) In what way did the camel bring about a massive shift in Trans-African trading patterns? What did those
patterns look like before the camel, and what did they look like after?

15) In what ways was the slavery practiced in West Africa similar to the slavery that would be practiced in the
United States, and in what ways was it different?

16) Finish this statement, and support with evidence: “The wealth of the Kingdom of Mali was due mainly to
_________________________.”

An American Network

17) It’s interesting, isn’t it, that the potato never made its way from the Andes to Mesoamerica (about 3,000
miles), while over in Eurasia silks from China regularly ended up in Rome (about 8,000 miles). What are the
explanations for why this was the case?

18) Support the following statement with several specific examples: “Although no long-distance trade routes
akin to the Silk Road developed in America, regional trade routes and economic exchange played an extremely
important role in American civilizations between 500 and 1500.”

19) To make sure that we don’t get too carried away in thinking that the period 500-1500 brought about a truly
global economy, Strayer finishes the chapter by emphasizing ways in which the commerce of this period
differed widely from the global trade that we take for granted today. What are some of those major differences?

20) And finally… a recurring theme throughout the chapter is the role of trade in spreading cultural traditions,
including religion. It can be hard to keep track of all of this, without actually writing it down, so take a look
back through the chapter and take some notes on where Buddhism and Islam spread to:

Where did Buddhism spread as a result of trade?

Where Islam spread as a result of trade?