Afroeurasian Trade Networks essay, 1

Elena Stamatakos
World History AP
Dr. Murnane
November 27, 2007

Positive and Negative Impacts of Afro-Eurasian Trade
From 1000 to 1850 C.E.

Afro-Eurasian trade networks had both beneficial and detrimental effects on the world from 1000 to 1850 C.E. Trade along the Silk Road, trans-Sahara trade, the Indian Ocean trade, and European sea trade all had impact on the world during this time. Trade along these routes resulted in cultural diffusion, the spread of religions, and the development and discovery of many societies. However, these trade networks also led to the spread of disease, conflict, and the loss of certain cultures. The Silk Road aided the spread of Buddhism and cultural diffusion, while also spreading the bubonic plague. Merchants trading along the trans-Sahara network spread Islam to West Africa, and allowed new empires to replace gerontocracy. The spread of Islam, the birth of Swahili Culture, and the rise of East Africa were results of Indian Ocean trade. Europeans then took control of Indian Ocean trade and expanded its reach to Europe. In the following centuries the discovery of the new world, Portuguese assaults on East Africa, the Anglo-Dutch, and the Opium Wars ensued. Europeans copied small-scale slave trade in the Indian Ocean and the Sahara and created the Atlantic Slave Trade. In summary, these positive and negative impacts were made on the world due to Afro-Eurasian trade.

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Impacts made by the Silk Road inadvertently occurred because of difficulties China had with the Xiongnu, or the Huns. The problematic Xiongnu caused the Han emperor Wu Di to seek military alliances with the neighboring Yuezhi. The ambassador, Zhian Quian, failed to create an alliance, but he managed to establish trade for the Yuezhi’s talented “Heavenly Horses”. With the help of these horses, China defeated their enemies. The new expanse of China’s empire allowed safe travel between East and West. Merchants traveled this corridor and the Silk Road was eventually established. China’s attempt to form an alliance with the Yuezhi led to trade between the two societies, which eventually led to trade across continents.
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The spread of Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism is one of the most profound ways the Silk Road impacted the world. Christianity reached China but gained few converts, but enough to build centers of worship and create depictions of Jesus. Islam spread into China and gained the most Asian converts in the 7th century. But Buddhism had the largest impact on China out of all other religions. Buddhism became the most popular religion in China, mostly because of Suang Zuang. Suang Zuang traveled all the way to India to gather a multitude of Buddhist sutras to translate. Because of his efforts, Buddhism become accessible to the Chinese and gained popularity.
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Food, music, and ideas were also spread with the help of Silk Road trade. Watermelons, pomegranates, sesame, and carrots are all foods that spread to multiple regions due to the increased trade. Styles of music and dance helped shape each other through cultural contact. Indian and Chinese dance are extremely similar, making it likely that they influenced one another. The Ney and the Tabula are two instruments used during this period that influenced music in new cultures. Other sources of entertainment spread via the Silk Road such as the sport polo, a Court favorite, and the circus from Persia, which is depicted in many Chinese tapestries. Gunpowder, the concept of the decimal, Astronomy, and the compass are other innovations passed among cultures as a result of trade. Cultural crossover occurred on many levels due to the Silk Road.
This cultural diffusion could not last forever, and Chinese politics eventually failed. A new era then arose known as “Pax Mongolica” in the 13th century. Under the strong rule of Kublai Khan an Asia empire was established and peaceful Silk Road trade was revived. This popular travel route then became a super highway for disease. The bubonic plague was carried by fleas living on rodents and horses, and came in contact with large numbers of other animals and humans. By the 14th century, fatalities had reached the millions. Europe and Asia each lost from one-fourth to two-thirds of their populations, and Africa and the Middle East were also affected. Persecution of Jews, Lepers, women, and many other minorities resulted as a way to find blame for the Black Death. The most negative effect of Silk Road trade was the devastation caused by the spread of this devastating epidemic.
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From the 8th to the 16th centuries, salt for gold trade across the Sahara, spread Islam to West Africa. The river societies in West Africa needed salt for themselves and their livestock, but had plenty of gold for which they had no use. The Berber traders from the Sahara had plenty of salt and wanted gold to trade for food with Mediterranean societies. Trade was established and salt was exchanged for gold ounce for ounce. With the constant Muslim contact from the Berbers, Islam gained converts in West Africa. The Africans adopted Arabic religion, language, and knowledge. Education increased and the city of Timbuktu has a 100% literacy rate even today. Trans-Saharan trade completely changed the culture and lifestyle of West Africa.
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Previous to heavy Muslim contact, gerontocracy was present in the river societies of West Africa.  Age-grade systems provided these societies with work forces and ruling elites based on age groups, not lineage or wealth. The new wealth brought in by the salt for gold trade caused surpluses and social stratification. A new lifestyle took over and gerontocracy began to disintegrate. In the wake of the age-grade system, the Ghana, Mali, and Songhai empires rose to power. The Ghana Empire reached its peak at the 11th century as a major center for trade and grew extremely rich. But overtaxing, overpopulation, and conflict with the Almoravids caused strain and the empire fell. In the 13th century, the emperor Sundiata unified much of West Africa and the Mali Empire was formed. At its height, Mali was a center of learning and trade. Mansa Musa helped establish this by making a famous hajj to Mecca and bringing attention to West African goods. Education was offered to all citizens and women held some government positions. However disagreement on the succession of the Mali ruler led to the destruction of the empire. Next came the Songhai Empire, which stretched all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and prospered through trade. Though this empire also fell due to civil wars. Gerontocracy was replaced by prosperous unified states due to trans-Sahara trade.
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Trade on the other side of Africa, with the Indian Ocean merchants also caused the spread of Islam and brought about the creation of a new culture. Trade between the Middle East, and Africa spread Islam into the Swahili coast. The elite were attracted to Islam for the justification it could give their rule. Others living along the coast followed suit. The large-scale conversion to Islam can be seen today in the large percentage of Muslims in Africa. The adoption of the Muslim lifestyle led to the creation of a new culture. The Bantu and the Islamic people meshed and interracial marriages became popular. Hindi influenced this new culture as well, through contact with Asian traders. This new mix of cultures, known as Swahili, became very prominent. A language, a lifestyle, and an entire new culture and race of people were created.
This new culture, led the rise of East Africa as an economical and mercantile power. Swahili traders grew in number in trading ports all over the Eastern African coast. Coastal cities such as Sofalia and Mombasa became more and more prosperous due to trade in the Indian Ocean. Slaves, gold, ivory, and other luxuries from Great Zimbabwe were exported. Africa received spices, tea, silk, and porcelain in exchange. The vast amounts of wealth pouring into the Swahili coast caused East Africa to become a major center for trade and an economic power. In short, wealthy Indian Ocean trade led to the rise of the Swahili Coast.
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This wealthy Indian Ocean trade was extremely attractive to European countries, which inadvertently caused the discovery of the New World and conflict between Portugal and Africa. European countries were hungry for riches, and when they discovered the thriving trade between Asia, and Africa they wanted a share of the wealth. Soon there was competition to find and control the fastest route to Asia between European states. The Spanish sent Christopher Columbus across the Atlantic in search of a direct western route to Asia. Instead he found the new world, or the Americas. Not only was the native population decimated by disease and conflict with the Europeans, but Europe settled and soon controlled the Americas. The Portuguese went around the coast of Africa and were surprised to find the affluent Swahili Coast. The Portuguese wanted this wealth and Vasco De Gamma pillaged seaports in East Africa. Though he failed to secure control over the Indian Ocean trade. The conflict between Portugal and Africa, and the discovery of the Americas were direct effects of European sea trade.
After the Spanish and Portuguese failed, the Dutch took control of the Indian Ocean. The Dutch captured many Portuguese settlements in Asia and Africa and became extremely affluent from the spice trade they controlled. England also wanted to control this trade. In the 17th century, the English and the Dutch were at war for control of trade in Asia. After two wars in a thirty-year period, the English were victorious. England became a major mercantile power in Asia due to the Anglo-Dutch wars over European sea trade.
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Britain controlled trade with Asia and in the Indian Ocean with little competition until the 19th century. England and China had healthy silver for tea trade until England ran out of silver. The precious metal was replaced with opium. The Chinese grew addicted to opium and soon opium for tea trade was parasitic for China. China banned the importation of opium, but Britain wouldn’t stand for that. In one battle, the Chinese navy was destroyed. The Treaty of Nanking was drawn and England was awarded control of Beijing. Britain had finally won a permanent foothold in the East. England’s desire for complete control of European sea trade resulted in the opium wars and English dominance in the East.
Another major impact made by European maritime trade was the Atlantic slave trade. Slaves were traded across the Sahara and in the Indian Ocean on a small-scale. This set precedence for Europans and soon large-scale slave trade was occurring. Slave labor wasn’t needed in Europe, so the slaves were sent across the Atlantic to the Americas. African slaves were used for everything from plantation farming of cotton and sugar, to managing household tasks. Millions of Africans were forcefully taken from their homes in Africa and shipped across the Atlantic. This left Africa with population shortages, setting back any progress they were making. European sea trade effected Africa on a huge level by initiating the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
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There were many global changes as a result of Afro-Eurasian trade. The Silk Road set back advancements in Europe, Asia, and Africa by spreading the devastating bubonic plague. Buddhism and other cultural aspects were shared through this East-West trade route. Islam became the dominant religion in Africa due to Trans-Sahara trade. Salt for gold trade would also cause the fall of gerontocracy and the rise of the Sahelian empires. Indian Ocean trade also spread Islam, which caused the birth of the Swahili culture. The rise of East Africa as a power was also an effect of Indian Ocean trade. European sea trade had some of the biggest and most negative impacts on the world. Vasco De Gamma ended the reign of the Swahili coast as a trading power. Columbus discovered new continents and societies, decimating populations and vastly altering the course of history. The Anglo-Dutch wars and the Opium wars caused conflict between many countries and altered the balance of power in the world. Precedents set by Indian Ocean and Saharan slave trade caused the birth of Atlantic slave trade affecting the history of the Americas and of Africa. Enormous beneficial and detrimental impact was made on the world because of Afro-Eurasian trade networks.