The best way to trade was through Bagdad unless there were troubles of some sort. The Christians still traded with the Moslems even though they were not supposed to. When Bagdad fell to the Mongols trade then shifted to Egypt. Cairo then became the leading trader due to a peculiar system of trade in slaves because only non-Muslims could serve in the military so they needed slave for this reason. This kept Venice in business while Genoa suffered. Egypt becomes one of the first examples of a “military industrial complex” because of collaboration between merchants and government. Italian merchants are increasing buying up the raw materials from Egypt which then causes a decline in Egypt’s industrial output. There are 3 trade zones in use in Asia because of the monsoon zones. It was believed that the Indian textile industries were inferior to Middle Eastern and European technologies but it turns out that this wasn’t true. India generally absorbed trade surpluses so she was a relatively passive player in trade. The Chinese were very sophisticated in the production paper, iron and steel, they were the first to develop nationally controlled paper money.
It was interesting how gold was kept in sealed purses so it did not have to be reassayed. Also, the fact that for a time China had very formidable navy.
Why did Islam spread so quickly through the Middle East but not so much in other areas? True there were some conversions in China and India but was there sort of a religious vacuum that Islam had filled. The peculiar exit of the Chinese Navy leaving the area ripe for the Portuguese to take over?
Whoops I thought I had until midnight, I should read the syllabus more closely!
Lou Coban
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