AP Modern World History Flashcards: The Silk Roads
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What were 'banking houses' in the context of post-1200 trade networks?
Banking houses were financial institutions that offered commercial practices like bills of exchange, which helped to increase the volume and security of trade.
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What were 'banking houses' in the context of post-1200 trade networks?
Banking houses were financial institutions that offered commercial practices like bills of exchange, which helped to increase the volume and security of trade.
What was a primary cause for the increased volume of trade on the Silk Roads after 1200?
Improved commercial practices, such as the use of bills of exchange, banking houses, and paper money, led to an increased volume of trade.
What role did 'paper money' play in expanding trade on the Silk Roads?
As an improved commercial practice, paper money made it easier and safer to conduct large transactions over long distances, thus increasing the volume of trade.
Which regions expanded their production of textiles and porcelains for export?
Chinese, Persian, and Indian artisans and merchants expanded their production of these luxury goods.
What were 'bills of exchange'?
Bills of exchange were an improved commercial practice that acted as a written order to pay a sum of money, which facilitated long-distance trade.
Name two powerful trading cities that grew as a result of the expansion of the Silk Roads.
Kashgar and Samarkand were powerful new trading cities that grew due to the increased volume and range of Silk Road trade.
What two interconnected factors led to the growth of exchange networks like the Silk Roads after 1200?
The growth was caused by improved commercial practices and an increased demand for luxury goods in Afro-Eurasia.
How did the increased demand for luxury goods in Afro-Eurasia affect production in Asia?
It caused Chinese, Persian, and Indian artisans and merchants to expand their production of textiles and porcelains for export.
Besides textiles and porcelain, what other manufacturing industry expanded in China due to trade growth?
The manufacture of iron and steel also expanded in China in response to the growth of networks of exchange.
What were the two main effects of improved commercial practices on the Silk Roads?
The effects were an increased volume of trade and an expanded geographical range for the exchange network.