Respond to initial post:
The Maritime Revolution created global trading networks, especially after the Mongol Empire extended from the Pacific Ocean to Europe in the 1200s and 1300s. Do you believe the trade that emerged was a positive, or a negative? Consider the economic and technological benefits of it, while also viewing the spread of disease and the arrival of European colonialism.
Respond to 2 classmates post 1:
I feel the Maritime Revolution was positive because the sharing of knowledge, information, and cultural identity was encouraged. Many new ideas and technologies in the world such as papermaking, guns and gunpowder manufacturing were part of the trade route on the Silk Road. The Silk Road was the lifeline of the Eurasian continent where travelers shared their religious and cultural ideas. They were free to choose the religion of their choice if their practice didn’t interfere with the political ambitions of the Khan. Everyone was able to travel along the trade routes. Europe and China did not know each other existed until the Silk Road, where they exchanged domesticated animals, plants, flowers, vegetables, and fruit as they traded along the Silk Road. As of the spread of diseases in Europe, the survivals started to explore the unknown and colonize in different parts of Asia.
Post 2: Even though I personally think that all of the trade in Maritime Revolution was not a good one because of the groups of people killed and the diseases that were shared, overall, it was actually a good thing. There was exploring of other countries, courteous gifts to other rulers, and large development in Maritime technologies. The technologies, such as the compass and boats with sails and other forms of power, helped sponsor new expeditions to countries that are located in the Atlantic Ocean and trading brought new materials to countries amongst the European and Asian countries, such as the bamboo that boats were made up of. Sugar and tobacco were also more widely traded. Even though the trade also brought slavery to a wider spectrum, when that inhuman act is removed, most of the other reasons as to why trading was happening, are fairly positive.
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