Nomads

Question 1

Why are nomads generally regarded as negative?

Answer 1

Accounts/written descriptions came from people they invaded

Question 2

Geographic context of nomadic lifestyle

Answer 2

-Little agriculture
-Constant need of food
-Pastoralists: people who use animals and rely on them
-Use horses to travel - land is very flat and open

Question 3

What/who did the nomads takeover?

Answer 3

Took over China, Islamic empires (Abbasids / Persia), Byzantines, Russia, India

Don’t need to know but worth noting these changes:
-Song to Yuan to Ming
-Persia to Safavids
-Byzantines to Ottomans
-Russia to Russia (but left out of the renaissance)

Question 4

How did the Mongols disrupt and change trade patterns?

Answer 4

-A lot more Silk Road trade (focus shifted)
-Pax Mongolica: safe and prosperous Silk Road trade
-This will bring Europe out into the “trading world” (reminder: they were going through a renaissance)