- The Silk Road
- The Trans-Saharan trade route
- The Incense Route
- The Indian Ocean Maritime System
- The Columbian Exchange
The Silk Road
Origin
The basis for the Silk Road began to emerge when the earlier Chinese empires began to trade with the steppe people for previously unobtainable items such as hides, furs, livestock, wool, amber, and other goods. Also, the development of the Persian Royal road greatly contributed to the idea of interregional trade. Eventually, trade between the East and West began to develop in the first and second centuries B.C.E. However, it may have begun sooner. As the Han Dynasty began to open trade, more and more routes slowly formed and developed to what we now call the Silk Road. Trade ended when the Ottoman Empire closed trade with China in 1453 C.E.
The Silk Road was an overland route were merchants carried goods for trade. Under most circumstances, the goods of a merchant would travel more than the merchant themselves would. Merchants rarely traveled the entirety of the Silk Road. Instead, they would often travel back and forth between towns, selling their goods in one, then returning to the other to buy more goods. Then, the buyer from the other town would continue the process. The route, or more correctly, routes, connected China and other parts of Eastern Asia to the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. The Silk Road’s economic significance involved altering the consumption of food and changing people’s day to day lives.
Who it Helped
The Silk Road helped the growth of several groups of people. The first group is the Nomads of the Asian steppes and of Central Asia. As a result of their constant traveling, they were used to a trader lifestyle, and they had also gained immunity to many diseases. Their immunity contributed to their success as early traders. They gained economic prosperity through their involvement in the Silk Road. However, over time, a class known as the Merchants began to develop. They were another group assisted by the Silk Road’s economic help. They were able to grow rich and prosperous by trading, buying, and selling goods along the Silk Road. A third group affected by the Silk Road were the peasants of China. While they could not afford the goods brought in through the trade of the Silk Road, many peasants found sustainable work in silk making. Another group affected by the Silk Road were the rich people of the many empires and civilizations involved in trade on the Silk Road. They were able to buy more goods, especially foreign ones. They could also flaunt their status by wearing silk that they traded for.
What Was Traded
Many ideas, diseases, and goods were transported along the Silk Road. Ideas and religions, such as Buddhism spread to places like China, where they changed people’s rituals and views. People’s opinions on the world also changed as a result of the Silk Road. New schools of thought spread from Western Europe to Eastern Asia. Diseases like the bubonic plague, smallpox, and measles all spread as a result of the Silk Road. There were vast amounts of goods traded over the Silk Road. From the West to the East, animals such as horses, dogs, camels, and other animals, both exotic and domestic, were transported. Another animal transported were humans, who were often transported to be sold as slaves. To go along with horses, the saddle, as well as the riding tack, were brought as well. Fruits such as grapes were brought as well as honey. Animal furs and skins were also transported. In addition, glassware, gold, silver, weaponry, and armor were traded along the Silk Road. Woolen blankets, rugs, carpets, and textiles were also common goods brought along the Silk Road. From the East to the West, tea, dyes, and precious stones were the main export. Chinese porcelain, or more well known as “fine china” was very popular goods on the Silk Road. Spices, bronze and gold artifacts, and ivory were other goods transported. Rice was the most common food brought from the East to the West. Silk was the most prevalent item traded and caused the most widespread impact. In addition to goods, new technology was introduced along the Silk Road. China spread the technology of paper and gunpowder. They also contributed to the spread of the stirrup, however, they were not the ones to invent it, as far as it is known.
Which Civilizations were Affected
Due to the size and longevity of the Silk Road, many civilizations were involved in and affected by the Silk Road trade. All Chinese dynasties beginning with the Han and ending with the Ming were part of the Silk Road trade. Many of the Nomadic peoples and their empires were affected by the Silk Road as well. The Mongols, one such group, were affected heavily by the Silk Road, but also heavily affected it. They rejuvenated Silk road trade by protecting the roads and trade routes. This helped contribute to their economic prosperity. Many of the trade kingdoms in central Asia were a result of the Silk Road, but retained their prosperity, even after it’s ending. Many of the Persian Empires and Hellenistic Kingdoms were also involved in Silk Road trade. The Roman Empire played a significant role in the Silk Road trade as well. Along with these civilizations, many of the civilizations in the Middle East and India were affected by the Silk Road as well.
Extra Effects
There were many additional effects of the Silk Road. For example, in China, the silkworm became the first, and only, invertebrate to be domesticated at that time. They were even genetically engineered to be more efficient and effective in producing silk. Because of the spread of diseases along the Silk Road, many outbreaks of said diseases, which killed lots of people. For example, the bubonic plague’s spreading eventually led to the black death, which killed half of Europe’s population.
The closure of the Silk Road also contributed to the initiation of the age of discovery, because people needed another way to buy and sell their goods. The Great Wall of China was also built partially as a result of the Silk Road. Wanting to protect merchants, traders, and themselves from attacks by the Northern peoples. The Silk Road helped to spread Buddhism throughout the world. However, while doing so, but had split.
A new form of Buddhism had formed, known as Mahayana Buddhism. In Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddha is venerated greater and considered holy. Nirvana is also similar to the concept of heaven. It also doesn’t focus on fundamental Buddhist truth that life is suffering, but instead on venerating the Buddha and other holy people, known as the Buddhavistas. Also, several trade kingdoms emerged along the Silk Road, hoping to gain economic prosperity through taxing the travel through their kingdoms land, and by providing a trade stop and rest point for traders. Even after the end of the Silk Road, these kingdoms kept their power.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The Silk Road had a significant impact on the world as a whole. It had advantages and disadvantages which shaped the future. One advantage was The Silk Road linking previously unrelated civilizations. Other advantages involved spreading technology and goods. These items which were previously not available in certain sections of the world grew to become available. For example, Europe did not have access to gunpowder until the Silk Road spread it. That said, there were nonmaterial impacts as well. New jobs became available in China and other civilizations. Also, the closing of the Silk Road contributed to the beginning of the age of discovery. The Silk Road was also a relatively safe trade route. There were large amounts of water and civilizations which could be stopped at. Also, the Silk Road was heavily protected by the civilizations within the area. However, the Silk Road came with disadvantages as well. It spread diseases, which would kill millions and would result in disease outbreaks like the black death.
Trans-Saharan Trade (~600 CE to ~1300 CE )
Origin
The Trans-Saharan trade began when the gold-rich empires of Western Africa, such as Ghana wanted salt. There was a lack of salt within their region and therefore, the West African civilizations had to trade for it. This desire was the basis of the Trans-Saharan trade. In the fifth century, this trade became possible because of the spread of the camel. Camels are capable of drinking fifty gallons of water in less than three minutes and can store and use that water for days. This fact made them indispensable for crossing the arid Sahara desert. The Berbers, a group originating from Northern Africa, were the main source of the salt the West African civilizations desired. So, trade began to occur. While the trade originated as a source of salt for those in Western Africa and a source of gold for those in Northern Africa, over time, more and more goods began to be transported across the Sahara. As more people took up trading as a profession, merchants became known as the Wangara.
Who it Helped
The Trans-Saharan trade route primarily helped or effected the wealthy in the beginning. Only those rich enough to have gold could pay for salt. That said, those who mined for the salt and the gold benefited financially from the professions related to the trade. However, as time went by and more and more goods were transported across the Sahara, the availability of goods increased, resulting in more people being able to purchase the goods. This cost decrease made some of the less fortunate able to purchase the goods being transported across the Sahara. The Berbers as a people benefitted from this trade because they were heavily involved in the salt and gold trade. The traders whose profession it was to transport goods across the Sahara also benefited. They traveled in caravans and made large profits through facilitating the trade.
What Was Traded
Trade across the Sahara desert caused the diffusion of several goods and one primary idea. The goods transported across the Sahara from the North included dates, salt, and copper. From the forested and savanna filled West goods like grains, yams, nuts, and other crops were exported. Trade across the Southern half of the Saharan which resulted in a trade with the East coast of Africa yielded gold, slaves, iron, imported porcelain, books, trees, and animal skins. The main idea transported across the Sahara through the Trans-Saharan trade route was the Islamic religion. Because of the trade, Islam was popularized in West Africa. This conversion was often a result of personal choice or for business advantage, however, there were other possible reasons to convert. Several significant Islamic figures either visited some of the civilizations run by Muslims in Western Africa or were from there. Two such figures include Mansa Musa, who spread his wealth while on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and Ibn Battuta, a famous Muslim scholar, and writer. People would often convert to Islam for business because the trade was dominated by Muslim merchants once the religion was popularized in Northern Africa. Most of these merchants preferred to trade with other Muslims, while some would only trade with other Muslims altogether. That said, that was not always the case.
Who Was Affected
Several major African civilizations were involved in the Trans-Saharan trade route. Ghana was an important part of the Trans-Saharan trade. Ghana was an empire located between the Sahara desert and the rainforests of the African Coast. This location was beneficial for trade and allowed the empire to flourish. They often traded gold and ivory to Muslims traders in exchange for tools, copper, salt, and cloth. The next West African empire to be affected by the Trans-Saharan trade is the Empire of Mali. It was located in the same place geographically as Ghana, however, it was larger. They benefited by trading there sorghum and rice. They also sold books and general goods from a city called Timbuktu. Items being from Timbuktu made them worth more in trading or monetarily. Gao also flourished because of the trade. After Mali declined, the Songhai Empire grew powerful. They also benefited from their location and were able to grow more wealthy because of the location’s role in trade. These West African civilizations often traded with the Caliphates which often controlled northern Africa. The Islamic caliphates, such as the Fatimid caliphate, benefited from this trade and also grew wealthy. In addition, several other cities and civilizations in North Africa were involved and affected by the trade. Most of these other civilizations were under the control of the Berbers, however, it was not a united empire or civilization.
Extra Effects
Because of the Trans-Saharan trade, slaves became more popular in Africa than ever before due to their growing availability. Also, the usage of Caravans became more popular. Often, caravans would be groups of more than 5000 people. They would travel at night to conserve energy and to avoid dehydration.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The Trans-Saharan trade routes had several advantages and disadvantages, which impacted the civilizations involved. There were several advantages to the Trans-Saharan trade. It linked the economies of many of the African civilizations and led to interconnectedness within the region. It also led to the gold economy of West Africa to flourish. It also contributed to the development of the civilizations within the region. The advantages of using the Trans-Saharan trade in the first place were limited to the prosperity given to those who took part in the trade. However, slaves were commonly traded along the route. There were other disadvantages as well. For example, Islam could create tensions within groups. Also, the Berbers would often get into wars over the trade. The disadvantages to using the actual trade route revolved around the travel itself. For example, because the trade was primarily salt for gold, it took significantly more effort to transport salt than it took to transport gold. Many more camels were needed for the trading of salt because the merchants needed to carry more of it to participate in trade. The trade was also quite dangerous to take part in. Due to the lack of water, dehydration was a seemingly common issue among traders.
Incense Route (~700 BCE – ~200 CE)
Origin
The Incense Route was an important source of early trade within the Mediterranean and throughout the Middle East. It originated from wants of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean coastal area. They desired frankincense and myrrh. That said, those goods did not grow where they lived. However, the only places which grew frankincense and myrrh were Ethiopia, Somalia, and Southern Arabia. So, trade began to develop between the two regions and progressed over time to form the Incense Route. This route was actually a network of routes which stretched from the Southernmost regions of the Arabian peninsula to cities further North, such as Damascus. As the trade developed, several empires and civilizations at the time fostered trade resulting in more trade cities.
Who it Helped
The Incense Route primarily helped the merchant class develop. Because frankincense and myrrh were in such high demand, trade was constant and resulted in the trading of those goods providing significant economic assistance to those who sold it. The commoners who worked to farm frankincense and myrrh also benefited greatly from the increase of trade for the goods which they farmed.
What Was Traded
The trade on the Incense Route was generally limited to just goods. Merchants from the Arabian Peninsula used the Incense Route to transported textiles, pearls, spices, gemstones, ivory, and gold. The Arabian merchants would also occasionally import goods from some of the East African civilizations, India, and other civilizations with desirable goods. Somali incense, rare woods such as ebony, animal skins, feathers, and other rare metals were also popular trade goods. Despite the other goods transported along the Incense Route, the most prominent goods traded were frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense is a resin from the boswellia tree. It has a strong aroma and is used in incenses and other smell based products like perfume. Myrrh is a dried sap found in certain trees in the Arabian Peninsula and a few other locations. Myrrh was used in incense, perfume, medication, and embalming ointments. It also had has antimicrobial abilities, which aided its usefulness. Later on in its use, Myrrh was used to fumigate bottles or to flavor exotic wines.
Who Was Affected
Several civilizations were affected by the Incense Route, but due to its limited size, the number of civilizations involved was also limited. The South Arabian civilizations of the time gained significant economic power as a result of the Incense Trade. Yemen was particularly important to the trade and heavily relied on their role in the Incense Route and spent heavy resources on ensuring their myrrh and frankincense trees were fruitful. The civilizations en route to the trader’s destinations also grew wealthy due to the trade. They protected the roads and provided shelter to the merchants and gained economic power due to their location. The Nabatean civilizations held a large role in the Incense Trade as well. The cities of Avdat, Haluza, Mamshit, and Shivta, as well as their various fortresses, grew extremely wealthy as well due to the trade. The Chaldeans also played an important part in the Incense Trade. The city of Gehra was able to thrive due to its trading of Indian imports which were then distributed along the Incense Route.
Extra Effects
Because the majority of the trade was across the Arabian Desert, camels were a near necessity for trading across the land. This usage contributed to the camel’s popularization in early trade. Another effect of the trade was the new religious influences within the usage of frankincense and myrrh. The goods traded along the Incense Route also played a role in the Christian bible.
Advantages and Disadvantages
There were several advantages and disadvantages to the Incense Route. Using the Incense Route was very safe for traders because the Nabateans heavily protected the majority of the routes which were used to transport goods. The Nabateans supplied protection because their economy was positively impacted by the trade which was an advantage for them. Also, the trade route was relatively short, which made transportation times quick. The goods transported along the Incense Route were extremely valuable at the time, which was an advantage for the traders because they grew wealthy from the trade. However, there were disadvantages to the Incense Route. The first is that was primarily run on desert. This made trading risky because there was sometimes a lack of water. Another disadvantage was that trade sometimes caused disputes.
Indian Ocean Maritime System (~300 B.C.E. – 1680 C.E.)
Origin
The Indian Ocean Maritime System originated as an alternative to the silk road located across the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and the Arabian Sea. It had been heavily influenced by prior sea and ocean trade such as the Mediterranean Sea trade and the Red Sea trade. The Red Sea trade was eventually added to the routes of the Indian Ocean Maritime System as a route of getting goods to the Mediterranean coast. As the Indian Ocean Maritime System developed, traders began to heavily rely on the monsoon winds to make traveling by ship more efficient. This reliance on the monsoon winds was possible because they would consistently blow South in the winter and North in the summer. Because of the direction of the winds, it was easy to travel to the East African coast and towards the Middle East. This fact, along with the number of goods that could be transported at a time as well as the speed at which those items could be carried, allowed the Indian Ocean Maritime system to flourish as a more cost-efficient form of trade. However, the trade wasn’t between certain regions and countries, it was between individual trade cities, which would then distribute the goods and trade among themselves. Trade began around the third century B.C.E. and began to decline in 1498 when the Portuguese seized port cities and plundered ships within the region. The trade had been completely decimated by 1680 after many European countries did the same and capitalized on near monopolies in the market.
Who it Helped
The Indian Ocean Maritime System helped the poor more than the rich. Those who were not rich gained access to previously too expensive goods. Because travel and good transportation costs had gone down as a result of the way the Indian Ocean trade worked, prices of goods brought through the trade had gone down significantly. The items for trade became increasingly affordable for the masses. That said, the rich also benefited from the trade. They could now buy more expensive goods for less. Also, traders benefited from the trade. They were able to transport more goods in less time as a group than they were able to transport using the Silk Road,
What Was Traded
Many goods and ideas were transported along the Indian Ocean Maritime System. Each country or trading region had a general grouping of items they exported, while still importing items from all over the Indian Ocean region. China spread technologies like the magnetic compass. The Chinese also traded new ships like the junk and the dhow, which had rudders, a new technology developed in China which allowed for easier directional control. China was also well known for their high-quality porcelain, known as “fine china.” They also were able to greatly bolster trade because of their economic power. Malaysia, Indonesia, and the other spice islands generally trade spices like nutmeg. India traded high-quality fabrics, cotton, woven carpets, tanned leather, excellent stonework, pepper, and well-known weaponry. The Swahili City States such as Mombasa, Mogadishu, and Sofala primarily exported slaves but traded other goods as well. The Southeast Asia region generally exported horses, figs, and dates. Along with these goods, many of the goods traded on the silk road were also transported along the Indian Ocean Maritime System. The non-goods transported along the Indian Ocean Maritime System were primarily religions. Buddhism spread more than ever before along this trade route and was able to develop in Southeast Asia and in other regions as a result. Islam also spread along this trade route and reached new places as well. Hinduism was another religion transported along the Indian Ocean Maritime System.
Who Was Affected
Many civilizations were involved and directly or indirectly affected by the Indian Ocean trade. In Africa, the Swahili city-states, a set of commercial civilizations which stretched along the East African coast, grew as a result of the Indian Ocean trade and flourished. The city-states like Sofala, Mombasa, and Mogadishu grew as a direct result of this trade. On the East coast of India, many trade kingdoms developed and grew to prosperity. In Southeast Asia, several trade kingdoms like Srivijaya, the Angkor Kingdom, the Champa Empire, the Khmer, Sailendra, Borneo, and the Majapahit Empire were involved. Many of the Chinese Dynasties also participated in the trade. Several other major empires over the course of history were also involved in the Indian Ocean Maritime System. The Mauryan Empire, the Han Dynasty, and the Achaemenid empire dominated the trade within the classical era. The Umayyad Dynasty, the Abbasid Empire, Tang and Song China, and the Chola Empire were all powerful participants in the Indian Ocean Maritime System during the Medieval ages. While the Europeans caused the decline of the trade route, civilizations like the British, the Dutch, and the Portuguese continued the trade up until the complete decline.
Extra Effects
There were several additional effects of the Indian Ocean Maritime System. The first is the extreme popularization of Buddhism and Islam within Southeast Asia. Buddhism became especially popular there. The largest Buddhist monument in the world is located in Southeast Asia. It is called Borobudur and is larger than five square miles. Generally, religions spread through intermarriage, not forced conversion, however, the conversion would sometimes be a completely personal choice. Many empires began to spawn within this region aiming to control an important strait known as the Strait of Malacca. If an empire were to control this Strait, they could heavily tax trade through it and gain extreme economic prosperity. Several civilizations were able to do so over the years with the most prevalent being Srivijaya. Islam was also spread to the Swahili city-states as a result of the Indian Ocean trade. Because of this, the inhabitants of these city-states developed their own language. This language is known as Swahili and is a mixture of the African Bantu language and Arabic. The Swahili city-states also grew politically independent as a result of their trade. Because the city-states could rely on other trading partners, they had no need to rely on their neighboring city-states, leading to political independence. They also began to grow distinct classes. The elite became more elite and the class difference between commoners and the merchants grew larger and larger.
Advantages and Disadvantages
There were several pros and cons to the Indian Ocean Maritime System trade route. The advantages to this trade route revolve around its ease of use. The trade allowed lots of goods to be transported at a long distance easily and more quickly. Another advantage of the Indian Ocean Maritime System is the fact that it was a fairly safe trade route. It was more difficult for pirates to track down a ship in the vast expanse of an ocean than it was for a small group of marauders to attack a large group of merchants traveling on a worn path. Another advantage of the Indian Ocean Maritime System was its effects on the economy. For example, the Swahili city-states grew extremely prosperous partly because of the Indian Ocean trade. However, there were several disadvantages to the Indian Ocean Maritime System as well. For example, only those with a vast knowledge of oceanic voyages could run trade. Another disadvantage to the Indian Ocean Maritime System was that it could only be done at set intervals during the year. Traders could only travel efficiently using the monsoon winds less than half of the time.
The Columbian Exchange (1492 C.E. – Present Day)
Origin
While parts of the “new world” had been discovered before, such as Vinland, which was discovered by the Vikings, true exploration into the Americas began in 1492, when Christopher Columbus, sponsored by Spain, decided to sail around the world. He believed that since Earth is round, sailing to the West would result in him landing in China, which would open new trade routes. He would have been correct, but while sailing to the West, he landed on a Caribbean Island and continued to discover more as he went. He returned to Spain with the news of a “New World.” As a result, the age of exploration began. All major empires of the time raced to colonize the new world. Countries such as Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal all set up colonies throughout the new world. With the discovery and colonization of the Americas, trade and exchange began to develop between the Americas and Afro-Eurasia. This process of trading or bringing goods, diseases, animals, and ideas between the Americas and Afro-Eurasia is known as the Columbian exchange.
Who it Helped
The Columbian Exchange helped many people. It helped those willing to colonize new land have a new future and a potentially better life. It helped provide economic prosperity to those rich enough to sponsor the travels because they could become the sole proprietor of the land in some circumstances. The general population of Afro-Eurasia and the Americas benefited from the Columbian Exchange as well. They had access to previously inaccessible goods.
What Was Traded
Many goods, ideas, and diseases were transferred across the globe during the Columbian Exchange. The results of this interchange have significant effects even today and still shape the way we live.
The type of goods and ideas transferred from the Americas to Europe and from Europe to America vary greatly. The major categories of these goods and ideas were fruits and vegetables, crops, ideas, animals, diseases, and technologies. The vegetables and fruits brought from Europe to the Americas include lettuce, olives, sugarcane, turnips, oranges, peaches, bananas, pears, and lemons. The produce brought from the Americas to Europe included papayas, avocados, bell and chili peppers, tomatoes, corn, pineapples, squashes, sweet potatoes, normal potatoes, and beans. The crops brought from Europe to the Americas included barley, rice, coffee beans, wheat, and several flower species. The crops brought from the Americas to Europe include cacao, cotton, tobacco, pumpkins, peanuts, vanilla beans, and several flower species. The animals brought from Europe to the Americas included cows, horses, goats, rats, chicken, sheep, and pigs. The animals brought from America to Europe included turkeys, llamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs. The ideas brought from Europe to the Americas include capitalism, mercantilism, and the majority of European based religions. There were no ideas brought from the Americas to Europe. The technologies brought from Europe to the Americas included European architecture, written alphabets, farming technology, and firearms. The technologies brought from the Americas to Europe include rubber and quinine. The diseases brought Europe to the Americas include the bubonic plague, measles, smallpox, typhus, yellow fever, and others. The Americas spread syphilis to Europe and the rest of the world.
Who Was Affected
The Columbian Exchange had a massive worldwide impact, potentially affecting every civilization worldwide. All of the American civilizations, most notoriously the Aztec and the Inca, ended quickly after the Columbian Exchange began to occur. The natives who were not in empires or large civilizations reverted from agriculture back to nomadism because it provided greater economic opportunity and could have been considered safer. Every major European civilization, especially those who had colonized the Americas, gained sudden and large economic growth. The entirety of Afro-Eurasia was affected by the spread of American goods, technologies, and diseases. The Americas and Afro-Eurasia gained more food than ever before. African civilizations, despite not directly being part of the colonization race were affected by the Columbian Exchange as well. Its beginning eventually led to the slave trade and other trade between Europe and Africa. Asia gained the same technology as the Europeans, just slightly later because the Europeans had to trade it to them. All of the world was affected by the Columbian Exchange.
Extra Effects
There were many additional effects of the Columbian Exchange. It laid the basis for the slave trade and could be considered the direct reason for it. The diseases introduced through the Columbian Exchange killed the majority of Native Americans alone because while the Europeans had developed immunities over time, the natives had no such luxury. The slaughter done by the explorers also contributed to the death of many natives. As the idea of Mercantilism spread, the colonies of the European nations expanded. However, over time their inhabitants were treated worse and worse, eventually resulting in several revolutions and the creation of new countries. The spread of plants and animals from the new world and the old world indelibly changed the worlds biological landscape. Several plant and animal species died out as a result of unfair competition from invasive species. The world palate changed as well. New foods that had been introduced forever changed the diets of ethnic groups. Now, Italians made pizza, Indians made curry, Persians used corn in cooking, and other examples of ethnic cuisine which had been impossible before the Columbian Exchange. Another example is potatoes, which became hugely popular in Ireland but had not been there until after the Columbian Exchange first occur. The discovery of the new foods also stunted population growth throughout the world, causing the world population to double more quickly than ever before.
Advantages and Disadvantages
There were several advantages and disadvantages to the Columbian Exchange. The advantage to the Columbian Exchange was that it changed the world as it was known. New goods were made available and new civilizations began to develop. The Columbian Exchange was extremely beneficial to the European countries. The advantages to actually using the Columbian Exchange to transport goods revolved around the fact that it was overseas. It was someone safe to travel across the oceans because there were very few pirates who would attack ships at the beginning of the Columbian Exchange. Also, the ability to use ships to transport goods also helped the merchants who carried goods across the Atlantic to carry large amounts of items. However, there were also disadvantages. While it changed the world in some goods ways, it also changed the world in some bad ways. It caused a significant decline in worldwide biodiversity and spread invasive species like never before. Also, its benefit to Europe was significantly greater than the positive impact it provided on all other continents. Slavery was also popularized worldwide by the Columbian Exchange. While slavery may have had a positive economic impact, its usage in the first place should be considered a disadvantage. Also, to be able to be a merchant on the Columbian Exchange was extremely difficult. The trips were long, and a person’s knowledge of oceanic travel had to be vast in order to reach the desired location.