Name:Date:Pd.

Mapping Major Trade Routes

Part 1 -Research the major routes of the trade networks that developed across the Indian Ocean, in Saharan Africa, and along the Silk Road. Focus your research on the commercial and cultural exchange that occurred between 600 and 1500. As part of your research, look for specific information that helps you fill out the table below.

Indian Ocean / Trans-Saharan Africa / Silk Road
Major Geographic Regions/Oceans Covered by Route / Major Geographic Regions Covered by Route / Major Geographic Regions Covered by Route
Goods Exchanged / Goods Exchanged / Goods Exchanged
Ideas Exchanged / Ideas Exchanged / Ideas Exchanged
Other Exchanges / Other Exchanges / Other Exchanges

Part 2 -Now that you have finished your research, create a detailed map that illustrates all the information you have recorded in the table above.Use the map below.

Your map should clearly outline each trade route in a different color. For example, you might use the color blue for the Indian Ocean route and then use the same blue for any information that goes with the Indian Ocean route, such as the goods and ideas exchanged. You don’t need to include all the smaller routes that developed. For example, there are many secondary routes across the Indian Ocean; only show the major route.
Your map should contain the following elements:

  1. A geographic map of the region (provided for you)
  2. Lines and labels for the three routes (using a different color for each route)
  3. Labels for the cities of Cairo, Rome, and Venice and the kingdoms of Mali, Ghana, and Axum
  4. Labels for Africa, Asia, Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, India, China, the Sahara desert, the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea
  5. Legend boxes with the goods, ideas, and other things exchanged along each route

For the goods and ideas exchanged along each route, make a separate legend (or key) on the map using the same color for the font that you used for the route. For example, if you used blue for your Indian Ocean route, you would use blue for the legend frame and the words listing goods and ideas traded on the Indian Ocean route.