Description

Part of the Connections: Key Themes in World History series, Trade in World History illustrates the patterns and impact of trans-continental and trans-oceanic trade from antiquity to the present through its examination of four commodities-spices, salt, sugar, and silk-and their production and long-distance trade. Trade in World History is the story of how trade served as an engine of cultural contact and exchange around the world and helped usher in modern globalization.

Features

• An interesting examination of the relationship between the production and trade of four commodities-spices, salt, sugar, and silk-and their influence on culture.
• Views the diverse ways in which commodity production and long-distance trade have influenced the historical development of cultures, societies, human relationships, and economies.
• A look at trade as the single most important vehicle for dissemination of ideas and other cultural elements from one people to another.
• Demonstrates this through primary sources selected for the reader’s analysis.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Preface.

Acknowlegements.

1. Introduction.

2. The Spice Trade.

3. The Salt Trade.

4. Sugar and Slavery.

5. The Silk Trade.

6. Epilogue: How Much Have things Changed?

Bibliography.

Index.