Empires and Trade Routes

Empires and Trade Routes

Alexander the Great integrated the conquered people as fellow subjects. His army protected them. He even shared his wealth through gold with all the places he conquered. They could trade instead of worrying about being conquered. Even though Alexander made it a Greek base culture he still let them keep their traditions. For example, Greek was the official language but everyone could still speak their own language. So because everyone spoke Greek they could trade and communicate easier as well as enjoy arts and cultures as one. This created a feeling of them all belonging together in one universe, also known as “cosmopolitanism.” There were many different nationalities and ethnicities all merging together in art, culture, trade, philosophy, religion, and beliefs. This naturally caused some people to fear losing their identity and individuality.

Through the use of their own minted coin, they allowed trade to be easier and merchants to set a price for the things they sold when Alexander the Great opened up travel routes through the mountains of South Asia and China. He united the areas together creating more trade and travel among them. They developed towns along the route, intermarrying building, planting their native crops and brought their culture. They spoke Greek and built Greek temples and schools and also let the South Asian people make them their own. This developed a Greek-South Asian hybrid culture. The “The Peoples of the West” article shows examples of things that were traded. In the article it states that the Roman Empire has more than four hundred smaller towns. The capital is close to the mouth of the river. The Roman Empire has pine trees, cypress, sophora, catalpa, bamboo, reeds, poplars, willows, parasol trees, and all other variety of plants. The people make the five grains. (Rice, glutinous and non‐glutinous millet, wheat and beans) In addition, they also raise animals such as horses, mules, donkeys, camels and silkworms. It is also said that they can produce fire from their mouths. The people can write in Western (‘Hu’). This helps trade be more reliable. Fine linen is produced by this country as well as gold and silver coins.” One gold coin is equal to seven silver coins.” Coins is another way to exchange goods. If another Empire has nothing to trade they could use coins for example. Such as what we use today.

Huan, Yu. "The Peoples of the West." Discussion of the Roman Empire. Week 8 Doc.

The most famous route Alexander the Great opened up was the Silk Road that linked China and the Mediterranean. The 4,500 mile long Silk Road created massive trade among all the conquered people through South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean. Even nomads used the Silk Road. It is said that all roads lead to Rome. As a result trade was increased not only because of accessibility but because people wanted new and exotic things. This intern made a lot of people pretty wealthy. Someone in Greek could now buy silk from China and someone in Egypt could buy spices from South Asia and someone from China could now buy wine from Greece. Silk was very expensive but very desirable so a large amount of Chinese merchants became wealthy from selling it. Spices were another lucrative trade item as various cultures exchanged uses for them. The “Perilous of the Erythraean Sea” article shows an example of how useful trade was to people around the world. It shows that some places don’t have what other regions do have and why trade will continue to be in everyday human life. Such as the great inland city called Thinae carried raw silk, silk yarn, and silk cloth. Besatae which are tribes of men that are uncivilized collected baskets of what seems to be green grape-leaves. People meet together to gather things their region does not produce so they can make things such as what these people in the article were making, rugs. Combining products results in advantages in everyday human life.

"Periplus of the Erythraean Sea." first century CE. Week 7 Doc.

Religious ideas were dispersed amongst all the traders along the route as much as goods were sold. Soon paper which was made in China became the most valuable commodity allowing knowledge and ideas to spread like wildfire. The Han even had a post office called Xuanquan which was beneficial to help the spread of documents and information. The postal service was more important than the military in keeping the empire organized and the government in control of the daily happenings of its provinces. Eventually traders realized they could move a lot more goods at one time and make a lot more profit by using ships. Such as, Britain exporting jet jewelry, hunting dogs, and warm woolen cloaks.