Thursday, June 5, 2008 8:19 AM

Marco Polo, a famous traveller of the 13th century CE, described the dangers of travelling in the Gobi Desert. However, people still continued to travel across the desert.

Why?

Trade was one way people from different civilisations came into contact and interacted with one another. In this chapter, you will learn about two types of trade. They are overland trade-trade conducted by those who travel across land- and maritime trade- trade conducted by those who travel by sea. Another type of interaction that took place in ancient India, China and Southeast Asia was territorial expansion. As civilisations developed, rulers often wanted to have more wealth. Thus, kings and their armies waged wars on other kingdoms to control more lands or trade routes. However, not all kings wanted to conquer other kingdoms. Instead, they wanted to form good relationships with other kings. This other kinds of interaction is called diplomacy.

India

Overland Trade
-Development of Towns and cities
. Historians believe as early as 4000 years ago, the Indus people traded with people from other parts of India.{It is supported by the discovery of goods from the Indus Valley: Copper tools and cotton cloth}
.Archaelogists found goods from other parts of India: pearls, coral and hard timber(near the Indus Valley)}
.Overland travels were diffcult and dangerous.(No proper roads.Traders had to follow rough paths through jungles where many wild animals and fierce tribes live in.)
.Travelled in groups of 500 men and brought hundreds of oxens, mules and camels.
-By the time of Mauryan dynasty (c. 322-185 BCE)
.Overland trade routes covering the whole of India had been established.
.There were overland trade routes between India and the Middle East.
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