Reasons for Migration
PUSH FACTORS - cause a person to LEAVE a place
PULL FACTORS - cause a person to come to a new place (choose where to move to)
These can be further broken into 4 categories:
1. Political Factors - changes in leadership, how many rights citizens have, war
2. Environmental Factors - weather, issues of growing food, availability of fresh water, famine, etc.
3. Social Factors - discrimination, religious freedom, wanting to be near family
4. Economic Factors - moving for a job, better economic opportunity, availability of resources
PULL FACTORS - cause a person to come to a new place (choose where to move to)
These can be further broken into 4 categories:
1. Political Factors - changes in leadership, how many rights citizens have, war
2. Environmental Factors - weather, issues of growing food, availability of fresh water, famine, etc.
3. Social Factors - discrimination, religious freedom, wanting to be near family
4. Economic Factors - moving for a job, better economic opportunity, availability of resources
What is Cultural Diffusion?
The Silk Road
The Silk Road - I CAN statements
1. I CAN describe what is meant by the term "the Silk Road."
2. I CAN describe the Silk Road, including where it traveled, products, and civilizations involved in the Silk Road.
3. I CAN define cultural diffusion, and describe an example in my own life.
4. I CAN determine cultural diffusion which occurred as a result of the Silk Road.
What is the Silk Road?
The Silk Road was a series of trade routes from China to Europe during the period of 200 B.C.E. until about 1400 C.E. (1600 years). Unlike the name implies, it was not an actual road, nor was it made of silk. :)
However, it was named because silk from China was one of the most important and common products traded along the routes. It was a very valuable export for China, because it was highly valued in Europe (ancient Rome), and brought in very high prices.
In fact, most of the products traded on the Silk Road were small, high-value luxury items, since it was so difficult to travel along the route, it only made financial sense for those items. Each region / culture would trade for items that they could not grow / mine themselves, or had not yet learned to make.
Spice was also a very important product, so some of the routes are also referred to as the Spice Routes.
What you need to do:
1. Read the introduction above and watch the video below. Turn on close-captions if you do not have headphones.
2. Choose to listen to the story about Marco Polo, or about Ibn Battuta. While you listen, take notes on the paper about people, products (things to trade) and ideas (religions, inventions, culture, etc.) that traveled on the Silk Road.
3. If you have time, draw a map of the Silk Road routes below.
However, it was named because silk from China was one of the most important and common products traded along the routes. It was a very valuable export for China, because it was highly valued in Europe (ancient Rome), and brought in very high prices.
In fact, most of the products traded on the Silk Road were small, high-value luxury items, since it was so difficult to travel along the route, it only made financial sense for those items. Each region / culture would trade for items that they could not grow / mine themselves, or had not yet learned to make.
Spice was also a very important product, so some of the routes are also referred to as the Spice Routes.
What you need to do:
1. Read the introduction above and watch the video below. Turn on close-captions if you do not have headphones.
2. Choose to listen to the story about Marco Polo, or about Ibn Battuta. While you listen, take notes on the paper about people, products (things to trade) and ideas (religions, inventions, culture, etc.) that traveled on the Silk Road.
3. If you have time, draw a map of the Silk Road routes below.
Who were the travelers of the Silk Road?
Most of the travelers of the Silk Road only traveled a short distance, bringing items to the next traveler, who they would then trade (selling at a profit). Much of the route went through dangerous and difficult terrain, such as the Tamaklikan Desert in China, and the mountains of Central Asia.
Two travelers of the Silk Road are famous for having traveled almost the whole distance of the route:
Two travelers of the Silk Road are famous for having traveled almost the whole distance of the route:
Marco Polo
Marco Polo was a merchant from Venice, Italy who traveled across Asia to China in order to purchase goods to trade. He crossed many dangerous deserts filled with bandits (robbers), and made the difficult journey across the mountains. Eventually, he made it to China and worked for the Kublai Khan (the leader of the Mongols, who were in charge of China at that point).He is famous for having traveled the whole length of the Silk Road, when most merchants at that time would travel only a small portion.
Marco Polo was a merchant from Venice, Italy who traveled across Asia to China in order to purchase goods to trade. He crossed many dangerous deserts filled with bandits (robbers), and made the difficult journey across the mountains. Eventually, he made it to China and worked for the Kublai Khan (the leader of the Mongols, who were in charge of China at that point).He is famous for having traveled the whole length of the Silk Road, when most merchants at that time would travel only a small portion.
Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta was a traveler from Morocco that went on a hajj, or pilgrimage, to see Mecca during the 1300s. He continued beyond Mecca to India, China, and many of the southern Pacific Oceans.
Ibn Battuta was a traveler from Morocco that went on a hajj, or pilgrimage, to see Mecca during the 1300s. He continued beyond Mecca to India, China, and many of the southern Pacific Oceans.
HIndu-Killing Mountains: the literal translation for the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan (because they were so difficult to cross)
Land of the Blacks: referred to most of modern Africa
Kaaba: a small buidling in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) which holds a black stone. It is a sacred place for Muslims.
Monsoons: powerful rains, often in India or Bangladesh
Ocean of Darkness: An Arab name for the Atlantic Ocean
Ocean of Ignorance: a name for the Pacific Ocean (also translated as Uncharted Ocean)
Persia: an old name for Iran
plague: the bubonic plalgue or Black Death, which traveled along the SIlk Road and killed millions of people.
steppes: great grassy plains of Central Asia
Water of Life: most likely refers to China's Grand Canal
Zanj: Zanzibar and East Africa
Land of the Blacks: referred to most of modern Africa
Kaaba: a small buidling in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) which holds a black stone. It is a sacred place for Muslims.
Monsoons: powerful rains, often in India or Bangladesh
Ocean of Darkness: An Arab name for the Atlantic Ocean
Ocean of Ignorance: a name for the Pacific Ocean (also translated as Uncharted Ocean)
Persia: an old name for Iran
plague: the bubonic plalgue or Black Death, which traveled along the SIlk Road and killed millions of people.
steppes: great grassy plains of Central Asia
Water of Life: most likely refers to China's Grand Canal
Zanj: Zanzibar and East Africa