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Desert Bloom

Desert Bloom. A Desert Oasis, the Holy City of Mecca and Caravan Cities. By Mike Zhang, Perry Liao, Casper Hsu Block 1-3. Desert Bloom – a Desert Oasis. A desert oasis of trades In the Sahara Desert In the Saudi Arabian area. Caravans. Caravan cities surround Mecca

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Desert Bloom

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  1. Desert Bloom A Desert Oasis, the Holy City of Mecca and Caravan Cities By Mike Zhang, Perry Liao, Casper Hsu Block 1-3

  2. Desert Bloom – a Desert Oasis • A desert oasis of trades • In the Sahara Desert • In the Saudi Arabian area

  3. Caravans • Caravan cities surround Mecca • Caravans carried supplies through the Sahara Desert to Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia and others • More materials added to the international trade route after the caliphs moved capital city eg. metal (gold)

  4. Mecca • Mecca is located in central western of Arabia • Mecca is surrounded by mountains • Formerly an oasis • About 150,000 sq. mi (388,500 sq. km) • Contains the holy cites of Medina and Mecca • The most important caravan city because it was visited by Arabs all over Peninsula • Center of medieval Saudi Arabia trades • Caravan cities surround Mecca

  5. Mecca (Cont.) • The heart of trade routes • Mecca was an important religious center, all Arabs come to worship god • Arabs go to Mecca for religious reasons, such as Hijaz fair • Trading was a huge part in daily life • Long distance trading is one of main feats in Islamic life • Muhammad effected economic expansion greatly ( was merchant once)

  6. Mecca (Cont.) • Contacts with outside world: Persians and Romans • It became a major caravan city after the Abbasid caliphs moved

  7. Mecca (Cont.) Mecca in 1850 Mecca in 1910 (As you can see, Mecca is surrounded by mountains.)

  8. Trade • The Quraysh, a local tribe eager to increase Mecca’s trade • The Quraysh tribe had treaties with neighbours to ensure a safe passage • The Quraysh tribe took over control of Mecca in 5th century

  9. Trade (cont.) • China: silk, peacocks, ink, porecelain, saddles, spices • India: stones, rare hardwoods, dyes • Scandinavia: furs, amber, ivory, swords • Africa: Slaves, gold, salt, herbs • Arabia: Perfumes, spices • Persain Gulf: Pearls

  10. Abbasid caliphs • Really important in the economic world back then • Moved capital city from Damascus to Baghdad (moved East) • Huge change to the trade routes and its surrounding countries/cities • Moved for greater efficiency • Baghdad: in the crossroads of both the major land and sea trade routes

  11. Abbasid caliphs (Cont.) • Trade route reached from China to the Mediterranean • Hosted many monthly trading fairs • Baghdad quickly became wealthy due to trading – caliphs made a good decision • Benefitted neighboring cities economically • Muslim Abbasids were the firsts to take advantage of the burgeoning trades

  12. Abbasid caliphs (Cont.) • Also effected the international trade cycle • Many caravans went to trade • Muslim dinar quickly became prevailing currency along with the Byzantine nomisma • Most of the change happened in the late 8th century • Muslims were well situated in the sudden exploit in trade • Traders were well engaged in trading

  13. Travel Camels vs Wagons Camels • Camels were the most effective way of transportation through deserts • Camels were critical in all caravan cities • Fully loaded camels can cover 20-25 miles a day • They can carry over 600 pounds • Can cross shallow waters easily

  14. Travel (Cont.) • Did not need paved roads • Single driver can manage sever camels at once • Can eat almost anything • Long periods without water (1 month in winter) Wagons • Paved roads required • Wagon is expensive itself

  15. Travel (Cont.) • Need to carry the weight of the wagon as well (Cannot use the full potential of the mule) • One animal managed by one person • Camels were critical in all caravan cities • Replaced nearly all wheeled transportations in Middle East and North Africa • Were very efficient and cheap

  16. Travel (Cont.) • 137 C.E. : Palmyrenes set law telling all merchants to provide a list of excessive goods that arrived on wheels • They wanted to protect their economic position in caravan trades within their city • Also for efficiency and for economic viability

  17. Financial System • Islam’s economic world divided into 2 parts: East and West • East currency: Persian silver dirham • West currency: Byzantine gold denarius • Coin value was really flexible • Were based on amount of money-changers in each market

  18. Financial System • New profession introduced shortly after the rise of caravans - banking • Money-changers became Islamic bankers • All started with being in the middle of the international traffic of goods (Trading cycle) • Lots of impact on the Western financial system eg. check came from Arabian word sakk, and both share the same meaning

  19. The End Applause will be appreciated

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