Question 1

What are trade routes?

Accepted Answer

Trade routes are paths or roads that people used to buy and sell things between different places. Long ago, these routes helped people get things they couldn't make or find at home.

Question 2

Why were trade routes important?

Accepted Answer

Trade routes were important because they allowed people to exchange goods, ideas, and cultures. This helped countries and people become richer and learn new things.

Question 3

What was the Silk Road?

Accepted Answer

The Silk Road was a famous trade route that connected Asia and Europe. It got its name because silk, a beautiful cloth, was often traded along this route.

Question 4

Why was the Silk Road named after silk?

Accepted Answer

It was called the Silk Road because silk was one of the most popular items traded on this route. People in Europe really loved silk from China because it was soft and shiny.

Question 5

What goods were traded on the Silk Road?

Accepted Answer

People traded many things like silk, spices, gold, and tea on the Silk Road. They also shared ideas, art, and inventions like paper and gunpowder.

Question 6

What is a 'spice route'?

Accepted Answer

The spice routes were sea paths where people traded spices such as cinnamon and pepper. These routes connected places like India and the Middle East to Europe.

Question 7

Why were spices so important in the past?

Accepted Answer

Spices were important because they made food taste better and could preserve it longer. They were also used in medicine, so people were willing to travel far to get them.

Question 8

What is the Atlantic trade route?

Accepted Answer

The Atlantic trade route was a sea path used to trade between the Americas, Africa, and Europe. People moved goods like sugar, coffee, and slaves across the Atlantic Ocean.

Question 9

What challenges did traders face on long journeys?

Accepted Answer

Traders faced challenges like bad weather, pirates, and getting lost. They often traveled for months at a time and had to be careful with their supplies.

Question 10

How did trade routes help people learn from each other?

Accepted Answer

When traders traveled, they shared stories, inventions, and knowledge with people from different places. This helped cultures mix and grow by learning new ways of doing things.

Question 11

What was traded along the African trade routes?

Accepted Answer

Gold and salt were commonly traded on the African trade routes. Salt was especially important for keeping food fresh, and people in the Sahara desert valued it very much.

Question 12

What role did camels play in trade?

Accepted Answer

Camels were like ships in the desert because they could carry heavy loads and travel long distances without much water. They helped traders cross hot, sandy areas.

Question 13

What was the role of the Indian Ocean in trade?

Accepted Answer

The Indian Ocean was an important waterway for traders who carried spices, textiles, and jewels between Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The ocean made it possible to trade a lot of goods quickly.

Question 14

How did the invention of the compass help traders?

Accepted Answer

The compass helped traders know which direction they were going when sailing across the sea. This made traveling safer and easier by reducing the chances of getting lost.

Question 15

What is a caravan in terms of trade?

Accepted Answer

In trading, a caravan is a group of people and animals traveling together for safety and support. They often used camels to carry goods across deserts and open lands.

Question 16

How did people pay for goods on trade routes?

Accepted Answer

People often used coins or bartered, which means trading one item for another instead of using money. Gold and silver coins were popular, but sometimes they traded goods like silk or spices instead.

Question 17

Did people only trade goods on these routes?

Accepted Answer

No, traders didn't just exchange goods; they also traded knowledge, stories, and cultures. This exchange helped different civilizations learn new languages, religions, and technologies.

Question 18

What made sea routes popular for trade?

Accepted Answer

Sea routes could carry more goods than land routes and were often faster. Boats could take heavy loads across oceans, linking faraway lands faster than walking or using animals.

Question 19

What is a 'merchant'?

Accepted Answer

A merchant is a person who buys and sells goods. Merchants often traveled along trade routes to find products to sell in their own countries.

Question 20

How did trade routes change the world?

Accepted Answer

Trade routes helped connect different parts of the world, mixing cultures and spreading new ideas. They helped people get things they needed and wanted, and made many countries rich and powerful.

The History of Global Trade Routes - 20 FAQs Explained Simply