Consequences is a word often used for negative outcomes. There were some negative cultural outcomes as a result of the Networks of Exchange, some cities and civilizations didn't survive the period. But overall there were a lot of positive consequences of the cultural diffusion in the period. Religions spread, innovations shared, and explorers returned with stories of fantastic civilizations throughout AfroEurasia.

Learning Objectives for 2.5 Cultural Consequences of Connectivity

• Explain the intellectual and cultural effects of the various networks of exchange in Afro-Eurasia from 1200 to 1450.

Historical Developments in 2.5 Cultural Consequences of Connectivity

• Increased cross cultural interactions resulted in the diffusion of literacy, artistic, and cultural traditions, as well as scientific and technological innovations

• The fate of cities varied greatly, with periods of significant decline and periods of increased urbanization, buoyed by rising productivity and expanding trade networks

• As exchange networks intensified, an increasing number of travelers within Afro-Eurasia wrote about their travels

Maps & Visual 2.5

Additional Resources 2.5