Unit 1- Chapter 3 Connections and Interactions, 1200-1450. What lay behind the emergence of Silk Road commerce, and what kept it going for so many centuries? The emergence of the Silk Road can be attributed to China’s possession and knowledge of high-quality silk manufacturing. The entire trading system became a market targeted towards elite members, with all goods being luxury. Merchants could afford to deliver at such long distances because the goods they were selling were so expensive. The economy thrived, allowing commerce here to last for many centuries. Even with other expensive goods, the backbone of this network, Silk, is what truly allowed for a lasting economy, with it being so sought out to label the elite’s status and wealth at the time. What facilitated the spread of Buddhism along the Silk Road? As China spread its high-quality silk and the idea of it representing high status, soon people began to recognize silk alongside Buddhist ideology. When merchants from India traveled throughout the Silk Road, they spread Buddhism at long distances—ultimately growing the population of Buddhists. Because wealth was so sought out at the time, it is only reasonable that many people chose to convert to Buddhism when …show more content…
The religion of Islam and long-distance trade are symbiotic and positive for both. Islam spread to new places on the trade routes, further expanding the mighty religion. Positive relationships formed between long distances, all connected to their shared religion. Because Islamic states such as those around West Africa were central trading hubs, merchants were already enticed into traveling and soon would be influenced to convert to Islam. Not only did Islam benefit from long-distance trade, but they encouraged it, enhancing theirs and other economies. All of this was looked upon highly by Islamic teachings because Muhammad himself came from a family of