Key Concept 3.3
Changes in trade networks resulted from and stimulated increasing productive capacity, with important implications for social and gender structures and environmental processes.
Changes in trade networks resulted from and stimulated increasing productive capacity, with important implications for social and gender structures and environmental processes.
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I. Innovations stimulated agricultural and industrial production in many regions. A. Agricultural production increased significantly due to technological innovations. |
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B. Demand for luxury goods increased in Afro–Eurasia. Chinese, Persian, and Indian artisans and merchants expanded their
production of textiles and porcelains for export; industrial production of iron and steel expanded in China.
production of textiles and porcelains for export; industrial production of iron and steel expanded in China.
II. The fate of cities varied greatly, with periods of significant decline and periods of increased urbanization buoyed by rising
productivity and expanding trade networks.
A. Multiple factors contributed to the decline of urban areas in this period, including invasions, disease, and the decline of
agricultural productivity.
B. Multiple factors contributed to urban revival, including the end of invasions, the availability of safe and reliable transport,
the rise of commerce and warmer temperatures between 800 C.E. and 1300, increased agricultural productivity and
subsequent rising population, and greater availability of labor.
productivity and expanding trade networks.
A. Multiple factors contributed to the decline of urban areas in this period, including invasions, disease, and the decline of
agricultural productivity.
B. Multiple factors contributed to urban revival, including the end of invasions, the availability of safe and reliable transport,
the rise of commerce and warmer temperatures between 800 C.E. and 1300, increased agricultural productivity and
subsequent rising population, and greater availability of labor.
III. Despite significant continuities in social structures and in methods of production, there were also some important changes in
labor management and in the effect of religious conversion on gender relations and family life.
A. The diversification of labor organization that began with settled agriculture continued in this period. Forms of labor
organization included free peasant agriculture, nomadic pastoralism, craft production and guild organization, various
forms of coerced and unfree labor, government imposed labor, and military obligations.
B. As in the previous period, social structures were shaped largely by class and caste hierarchies. Patriarchy continued;
however, in some areas, women exercised more power and influence, most notably among the Mongols and in West
Africa, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
C. New forms of coerced labor appeared, including serfdom in Europe and Japan and the elaboration of the mit’a in the Inca
Empire. Peasants resisted attempts to raise dues and taxes by staging revolts. The demand for slaves for both military
and domestic purposes increased, particularly in central Eurasia, parts of Africa, and the eastern Mediterranean.
D. Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Neoconfucianism were adopted in new regions and often caused significant changes
in gender relations and family structure.
labor management and in the effect of religious conversion on gender relations and family life.
A. The diversification of labor organization that began with settled agriculture continued in this period. Forms of labor
organization included free peasant agriculture, nomadic pastoralism, craft production and guild organization, various
forms of coerced and unfree labor, government imposed labor, and military obligations.
B. As in the previous period, social structures were shaped largely by class and caste hierarchies. Patriarchy continued;
however, in some areas, women exercised more power and influence, most notably among the Mongols and in West
Africa, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
C. New forms of coerced labor appeared, including serfdom in Europe and Japan and the elaboration of the mit’a in the Inca
Empire. Peasants resisted attempts to raise dues and taxes by staging revolts. The demand for slaves for both military
and domestic purposes increased, particularly in central Eurasia, parts of Africa, and the eastern Mediterranean.
D. Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Neoconfucianism were adopted in new regions and often caused significant changes
in gender relations and family structure.
