Trade Routes

Europe, Africa, Asia, and later on the Americas became interwoven in a monumental and successful trade network prior to 1500. The prospects of trade increased with new technological advances such as shipbuilding, as well as the desire for goods and resources that were found in different countries and continents. The motives for trade were not only to acquire resources and goods that could not be found in one’s own country, but also for the expansion of countries whether that was through the spread of religion and culture or politics. Each continent had religious and cultural motives, which were successfully completed by the spread of religion that occurred by trade routes. Culture could be transmitted through trade routes and individuals …show more content…
As noted already, the positive results were the trade of goods and resources, as well as the trade of religion and culture. The transmission of religion and culture along the trade routes likely sparked religious tolerance and unity among cultures. Unfortunately, the transmission of religion to other countries also created tension and violence among religions and cultures. This tension is best illustrated by the treatment of Jews and Muslims in Christian Spain. Muslims and Jews were treated as “impure” and many laws were created to keep Muslims and Jews from social acceptance. While it was seen as fine for a Muslim or Jew to convert to Christianity, if a Christian was to convert to Islam or Jewish, they were subject to stoning and fatal consequences. This fact can be utilized to show how Christians perceived Muslims and Jews, and it provides an example of the religious tensions between groups, particularly in …show more content…
Urban growth influenced the freedom of certain people especially in Eastern Europe. A negative consequence is that the trading routes increased material greed, as well as greed for control of land and resources. This evidently increased warfare and the easy access to trading cities was a weak point. Although warfare was a negative consequence, the flipside was that trade influenced cultural unity since different religions and cultures were able to live in harmony, and trade also influenced the formation of alliances between countries. The last negative consequence of extended trade routes included the spread of disease. The Black Death of 1347 to 1351 was the bubonic plague that spread throughout Asia, North Africa, and Europe, which resulted in an increased mortality