Answer to Question #154140 in History for Campbell

Question

How did the introduction of new transportation technologies or commercial practices affect the Silk Road trade networks compared to the trans-Saharan trade networks in the period 1200 to 1450

Answer 1

The introduction of new transportation technologies or commercial practices led to an increase in the volume of trade, apart from expanding geographical range of the original and new-created trade networks. Moreover, new technologies improved communication and exchange networks. For instance, contact between Mesoamerica and the Andes strengthened. New technologies also led to the growth of interregional trade in luxury goods such as silk and textile products, and more improvised caravan organization. Finally, commercial growth improved, and empires empires such as the Mongols, and Byzantine expanded following the introduction of new trade practices.