The growth of interregional trade after 1200 transformed global commerce and cultural exchange through extensive trade networks including the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan routes.
Key aspects include:
- Trade networks facilitated exchange of luxury goods, cultural practices, and technological innovations
- The impact of monsoon winds on Indian Ocean Trade revolutionized maritime commerce
- Cultural exchange on the Silk Roads led to religious spread, particularly Buddhism
- Mongol Empire's expansion created unprecedented connectivity across Eurasia
- Technological and commercial innovations like the compass and credit systems enhanced trade
- Disease spread, notably the Black Death, had devastating global consequences
- Trading cities and empires grew powerful through control of key routes
