could now make the long journey to the Far East and trade routes were further developed, including the planting of trees along major routes to provide shade for travellers. As people and their trade goods moved back and forth across the Eurasian world, they brought with them skills and understanding. European travellers to China brought goods such as silver, fine cloth, horses, linen and musical instruments, and important foods like the cereal grass sorghum . They also spread technical knowledge of processes such as sugar refining and distillation . From Persia, Europeans gained Islamic insight into mathematics, astronomy and science. From China, they adopted the technical, medical and scientific advances pioneered by the Song dynasty, including: • printing • new methods of paper-making • the magnetic compass • gunpowder • porcelain.
DID YOU KNOW? It was not until 1707 that the Europeans were able to imitate the Chinese process of producing porcelain.
SOURCE2 A traditional Mongolian artwork showing polo, a game played by the Mongols to develop their riding skills. This sport is still played today.
The Mongols created the first paper money accepted by any government as payment for tax, and the value of Yuan dynasty paper money was guaranteed through exchange for gold or silver. The long- distance trade of the Pax Mongolica introduced new ways for people to do business: • Merchants could use bills of exchange rather than having to carry metal coins. • A banking system allowed deposit and withdrawal of money. • Insurance could be contracted for valuable cargo. • There was a ‘lost and found’ system for stolen goods and livestock. The cities of the Pax Mongolica trading empire grew rapidly in size, prospering from the influx of European money. Within the multicultural Mongol Empire, freedom of religion was guaranteed, as was the safety of envoys or ambassadors from foreign lands. The Yassa provided the principles of law and order that governed Mongol territory. With each Mongol victory, civilisations were joined, new trade routes established and new technological and economic advances made. In bringing together these diverse people and cultures, the Mongol Empire began to shape the modern world. However, not everybody was guaranteed safety within the realm of the khans. The suffering of the Chinese people under Mongol rule can be judged by the number of people who did not survive. The total population of China is estimated to have been approximately 120 million when the Mongol invasion began in 1225; by the end of the Yuan dynasty, it had fallen to 85 million.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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