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History


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A map illustrating the interconnectivity and extent of the global trade networks at the onset of the 13th century after the centuries of decline and isolation following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The conditions were beginning to change, and trade between Christian and Muslim realms expanded (although still marred by a state of continuous hostilities), turning the Mediterranean once more into a bridge between the European West and the lands of North Africa and the Middle East. As Europe recovered from the destruction and mayhem of invasions and war, it had goods to sell - the export of cloth and metalworks could pay for imported silks, spices, and exotic goods from the Muslim world, Byzantine Empire, China, India, and beyond.
Not sure who wrote that but this isn't really a "global" network, despite what Euros thought to be the "world" at that time. Intercontinental sure, but that I don't think mattered much in their minds.
> Europe recovered from the destruction and mayhem of invasions and war
It was part of it, but if we are talking about economy, economic reasons should be mentioned.
First it was Western Europe not whole of Europe. To mention two extremes: the Germanic north was a backward shithole anyway and not much changed in Eastern Rome - or even in the large cities of the Mediterranean in the West.
And then what really tore out Western Europe from the exchange of products was the self-sufficient feudal economy - which is rooted in the latifundias and the rising colonus system of Imperial Rome. Self-sufficiency means no need for outside source of goods and they don't produce surplus which could be sold anywhere else. If noone buys or sells, no need for money either.
As for the rest of the "world". The Arab conquest of the center of this trade system meant a great turbulence, their vigorous fanaticism through the existing power structures into a disarray. It needed some time until the rearrangement solidified.





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