Long distance trade across Afro-Eurasia

Long distance trade really increased in Afro-Eurasia from 500c.e. to 1500c.e. Some of the reasons for the increase included the introduction of camels, transportation with boats, and transportation on the silk roads. Some of these trade routes were easier to transport stuff more efficiently, but they all were used.

Firstly, camels were introduced in about 300c.e.. This was a big upgrade from the donkeys because camels could go up to ten days without drinking water. This made trade easier since camels could make the trek across the Sahara and didn’t need much in return as far as water goes. At one point there were up to 5,000 camels used in the transportation of goods across the Sahara. The camels made it so the Sahara was no longer a barrier for trade from north and south of the Sahara.

Transportation over water took a major role in transporting goods. People were no longer just trading valuable goods because it was worth the trip, with boats they could haul a lot of cargo so they could haul items for the middle and lower class. With boats they could haul enough cargo for mass markets and a bunch of different items such as wood and heavier things that camels or donkeys couldn’t carry. Most of the wood could be taken places by the Sahara where they couldn’t get trees to grow to build houses.

Lastly, the silk road was a major part of trading because it wasn’t all about just the goods, they got a lot more other things from the different people trading with them. With the silk roads increasing, it allowed little villages to turn into bigger city/states that were mainly based on trade. They could make a lot of money from taxes by charging people that came on the roads through there city for passing. The silk roads were first mainly based off of silk coming out of China, plus gold and spices getting traded for the silk. Most of the goods being traded were of high value, since it was difficult going so far on foot so it had to be worth it in the end.

These topics are why the trade really increased from 500c.e. to 1500c.e.
Some of these reasons were due to transportation with camels, transportation with boats, and transportation on the silk road and how all of these helped spring the trading routes in action. These allowed traders to trade more freely and carry more goods efficiently