Networks of Exchange (1200-1450)

It caused a decrease in urban population as people migrated to rural areas for paper production jobs.

It reduced the significance of trade as books became more valuable than spices and silk.

It facilitated the spread of ideas and increased literacy rates.

It led to a decline in religious influence by reducing church control over knowledge.

Missionary efforts that only focused on religious conversion without concern for linguistic or cultural assimilation into Spanish ways.

The colonization by Spain, which imposed Spanish as the lingua franca and administrative language across its vast territories.

Increased trade between South American regions and Spain alone, leading to the voluntary adoption of Spanish for better commercial exchange opportunities.

The unilateral decision by native tribe leaders who chose to adopt Spanish in order to better resist European encroachments on indigenous territories.

Decreased reliance on meat due to new protein-rich American plants reduced hunting practices.

Greater sugar consumption from American plantations led to immediate widespread obesity levels.

Introduction of new staple crops like potatoes and maize allowed for diversification of agriculture.

Increased spice usage from American herbs decreased imports from Asia significantly changing diets.

Print technology enabled rapid widespread circulation of texts promoting democratic revolutionary thoughts.

Print technology was used exclusively by the ruling class to disseminate propaganda, ensuring the status quo remained unchallenged.

Print technology primarily facilitated the transmission of religious texts, limiting exposure to political ideologies.

Print technology's high cost prevented it from having a substantial influence in spreading political ideas amongst the broader public.

Books being printed

Religions never spread in period 2

Word of mouth across generations

Trade

Indigenous civilizations might have developed more equal trading relationships with Europeans.

European colonizers would have been more aggressive.

The industrial revolution in Europe would have happened earlier.

Slavery would not have become prevalent in the Americas.

Margery Kempe

Ibn Battuta

Marco Polo

Zheng He

The widespread conversion to Islam due to increased contact with Muslim merchants.

The establishment of a matrilineal social structure as a result of matriarchal European influences.

The introduction and adoption of European livestock and crops, altering diets and agricultural practices.

A decline in traditional animist beliefs solely because of direct exposure to Asian philosophies through trade.

They syncretized Buddhist practices with existing local traditions facilitating acceptance among various social classes.

Advent of papermaking in China reduced costs of Buddhist scripture distribution thus hastening widespread adoption.

Rulers enforced Buddhism as state religion throughout East Asia following initial contact via Silk Roads resulting uniform conversion rates across regions.

The decline of Confucian values post Han Dynasty left a spiritual void filled exclusively by Buddhist teachings.

African kin-based society

European feudalism

Chinese aristocracy

Japanese feudalism