GSPRITE

 

Crash Course in World History #9: The Silk Road and Ancient Trade

 

Video Questions

1.     Take a moment to look at some items you are wearing or have with you (do not undress) write down where 3-5 of them are from.  What does that tell you about the nature of our economic world today?

2.     What is the point of the t-shirt ramble?  Why would John Green spend so much time describing a t-shirt?  What clue does that give you about the point of this video?

3.     John Green says that the changes merchants made ____________________________________________________________________________________

4.     If the Silk Road wasn’t a road, what was it and why was it called the Silk Road?

5.     How is it possible that the goods on the Silk Road traveled more than the people who traded on them?

6.     Explain how that could lead to much higher prices at the final destination of the goods.

7.     What was silk used for in China?

8.     What was it used for elsewhere and why?  Why wouldn’t they use it for some of the things the Chinese did?

9.     What were some of the other major goods traded along the Silk Road and where were they from?

Geographic area	Major exports
Mediterranean
China
India
East Africa
Arabia

10.  Why would Nomadic people become more important to World History?

11.  What empire became a huge hub for Silk Road trade and why?

12.  Why did new cities developed by nomads become important, which example does John Green give and why does he say it’s important?

13.  John Green uses Rome’s failed attempt to ban silk to demonstrate how wealth shaped governmentsà Explain how the development of the merchant class opened up doors for people to become wealthy and how it shaped the relationship between wealth and politics.

14.  John Green gives three reasons why the Silk Road affected “the rest of us.” Fill in and explain the reasons and outcomes.

a.    _________________________________- How was labor force changed?

b.    Trading ideas- Explain how Buddhism evolved and spread. Explain how trade benefitted from Buddhism and vice-versa

c.     _________________________________- Explain the impact of disease.

15.  Looking at John Green’s statement in #3, do you agree with him?  Why or why not?  Give specific examples to back up your decision.

16.  How does modern globalization offer both promises and threats to our society?

17.  Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of modern globalization with those occurring during the pinnacle of the Silk Road.