Trade
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Trade played an important role in the history of Ancient China. The Chinese learned new religions and different cultures from trade, as well as being supplied with luxury goods.
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Trade routes - Source 1
Pictured here are the trade routes that were used in Ancient China.
The routes in blue are sea routes. Sea routes were first established in the first century AD when ships traveled south to India with the monsoon winds. The traders brought back luxury goods, different cultures, new ideas and Buddhism from India. Unfortunately, diseases that the Chinese had never been exposed to before were contracted and many people died as they had no resistance.
The routes in orange are pathways of the Silk Road. The Silk Road was 7,000 kilometres long and was a very influential ancient trade route which first was used to link the Han Dynasty in the east to the Roman Empire in the west. It consisted of many deserts and high mountain ranges. Camels carried Chinese silk, ivory, plants and paper which were traded for horses, gold, silver, glass and sandalwood.
The routes in blue are sea routes. Sea routes were first established in the first century AD when ships traveled south to India with the monsoon winds. The traders brought back luxury goods, different cultures, new ideas and Buddhism from India. Unfortunately, diseases that the Chinese had never been exposed to before were contracted and many people died as they had no resistance.
The routes in orange are pathways of the Silk Road. The Silk Road was 7,000 kilometres long and was a very influential ancient trade route which first was used to link the Han Dynasty in the east to the Roman Empire in the west. It consisted of many deserts and high mountain ranges. Camels carried Chinese silk, ivory, plants and paper which were traded for horses, gold, silver, glass and sandalwood.
What did they trade? - Source 2
The Chinese traded various luxuries and goods including beautiful Chinese silk, gold, jade, tea, fine china and spices. Because of the Chinese silk's light weight, compactness, enormous demand and high price it was an ideal item for trade. These were then traded for items such as grapes and Persian rugs which were novelties and great luxuries in Ancient China. The Chinese also received expensive horses from Europe where the fine china was very popular and expensive as only the Chinese knew how to make it perfectly thin and resonant.
Where did they trade to? - Source 3
The Chinese traded to many different countries such as:
Here is a map of where the Chinese exported to:
- Rome
- India
- Europe
- Mediterranean
- Indonesia
- Egypt
- Persia
- Africa
- Arabia
Here is a map of where the Chinese exported to:
What did they trade with? - Source 4
Before the Qin Dynasty, Ancient China's currency was cowrie shells. It was the medium of their exchange. The Chinese used cowrie shells as money because they are durable and easy to carry and count so it was used as the universal equivalent. As shells became harder to find from the south, people started to make shell shaped money out of copper, gold, stone, bronze and silver. At the end of the Shang Dynasty, the copper and gold shell money had been transformed into coins.
The earliest paper currency in the world was called Jiao Zi which appeared in the early North Song Dynasty (960–1127). Due to the increase of trade and the high demand of currency, merchants needed a currency that was convenient and easy to carry, so paper money was invented. It was first circulated in 1023 together by 16 merchant princes in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This first money was a piece of paper printed with houses, trees, men and cipher.
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The earliest paper currency in the world was called Jiao Zi which appeared in the early North Song Dynasty (960–1127). Due to the increase of trade and the high demand of currency, merchants needed a currency that was convenient and easy to carry, so paper money was invented. It was first circulated in 1023 together by 16 merchant princes in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This first money was a piece of paper printed with houses, trees, men and cipher.
Click here to learn more about Dynasties