A) One economic similarity between the Indian Ocean Trade and the Silk Road was that everyone benefited from them. Because of the two trade networks, wealth was achieved by anyone who participated in trade. Trade led to new ideas, methods, and technologies, no one was at a disadvantage because of trade. Because of China’s isolationism famine was introduced, technological advances slowed down, and China lost its status as a global power.
B) One difference between the technologies used to expand trade were the methods of transportation. By the Indian Ocean Trade people used boats, and improved them. New types of ships called junks and dhows were used to use monsoons to their advantage, while the astrolabe and compass were able to help with directions out at sea. The Silk Road on the other hand traveled by use of wagons, which didn’t really have anything to improve upon.
C) One similarity between the cultural effects of the two trade networks was the spread and fusion of multiple cultures. Specifically Indian culture. Islam began to spread on the Silk Road and change the spiritual beliefs of people in Southeast Asia. (Ex: The Sailendra kingdom in central Java, built Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples between the eighth and tenth centuries.)
