Historical Trade
Communication is the Key
Alex Belerique
HUMA 1770
207291024
During the 12th to 14th centuries, technology related to communication was still fairly primal, and generally limited to face to face interactions. Of course, during a time where trade was at some points, booming between civilizations, a system of exchanging information was vital to successful trade, on small scales like people within the same area, and on larger scales, like communities in different regions. Successful trade transactions relied on many things in a time where rule and order was restricted to a geographical location. Thus, the exchange of information pertaining to potential trade deals was just as vital as the trade itself. Without that communication of pertinent knowledge such as cost, quantity and general negotiations, trade would have likely been restricted to individuals within a community at best. With these communications between people of different areas, as well as the manpower necessary to deliver the products, something else was traded, disease. While trade was necessary for economic expansion, and the benefits provided by trade in the middle ages proved to be fruitful and highly beneficial to our success as a species, it is this writers position for the sake of this paper to discuss how large scale trade led to rapid spread of disease among people of different civilizations and the potential it had to wipe out entire areas through all of the mortality. This paper will explore the exchange of information and disease from Italy, Greece and China. Though trade was important to our survival, it did not come without a cost. The first idea this paper will discuss is the trouble with long distance trading, which is to say trading across different geographical locations, from one civilization to another. Communication across far distances was difficult and costly in itself. Therefore the implications of that communication would be considered during trade negotiations. Across
Alex Belerique
HUMA 1770
207291024
During the 12th to 14th centuries, technology related to communication was still fairly primal, and generally limited to face to face interactions. Of course, during a time where trade was at some points, booming between civilizations, a system of exchanging information was vital to successful trade, on small scales like people within the same area, and on larger scales, like communities in different regions. Successful trade transactions relied on many things in a time where rule and order was restricted to a geographical location. Thus, the exchange of information pertaining to potential trade deals was just as vital as the trade itself. Without that communication of pertinent knowledge such as cost, quantity and general negotiations, trade would have likely been restricted to individuals within a community at best. With these communications between people of different areas, as well as the manpower necessary to deliver the products, something else was traded, disease. While trade was necessary for economic expansion, and the benefits provided by trade in the middle ages proved to be fruitful and highly beneficial to our success as a species, it is this writers position for the sake of this paper to discuss how large scale trade led to rapid spread of disease among people of different civilizations and the potential it had to wipe out entire areas through all of the mortality. This paper will explore the exchange of information and disease from Italy, Greece and China. Though trade was important to our survival, it did not come without a cost. The first idea this paper will discuss is the trouble with long distance trading, which is to say trading across different geographical locations, from one civilization to another. Communication across far distances was difficult and costly in itself. Therefore the implications of that communication would be considered during trade negotiations. Across