!!2.6 Environmental consequence

• Who was Giovanni Boccaccio and what years did he live?


  Giovanni Boccaccio lived from 1313 to 1375.
• What was the essential question regarding trade in Afro-Eurasia from c. 1200 to c. 1450?

  What were some of the environmental effects of trade in Afro-Eurasia?
• What was one of the most dramatic environmental consequences of increased commerce during this period?

  The spread of disease, particularly the bubonic plague.
• When did the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, arrive in Europe?

  In 1347.
• How many people are estimated to have died from the bubonic plague in Eurasia?

  Between 75 to 200 million people.
• What inspired Boccaccio's famous work, The Decameron?

  His experiences living through the plague.
• What were the agricultural effects of exchange networks during this period?


  • Introduction of new crops
  • Impact on land use and population growth
  • Overuse of land leading to environmental degradation
• What crop had a significant impact due to its quick-ripening nature?


  Champa rice.
• Where was Champa rice introduced and by whom?


  Introduced to the Champa states by Vietnam.
• What are the characteristics of Champa rice?


  It is drought-resistant, flood-resistant, and can yield two crops a year.
• How did Champa rice affect land use in China?


  It led to terraced farming in uplands and paddies in lowlands.
• What migration pattern did the population of China follow due to rice cultivation?


  People tended to migrate southward to the original rice-growing region.
• Who introduced bananas to Sub-Saharan Africa?


  Indonesian seafarers.
• What was the impact of bananas on the population in Sub-Saharan Africa?


  It led to a spike in population due to improved nutrition.
• How did the introduction of bananas affect Bantu-speaking peoples?


  It allowed them to migrate to areas where yams did not grow easily.
• What crops were spread by caliphs beyond the Arabian Peninsula?


  Cotton, sugar, and citrus crops.
• What was the significance of the markets in Samarkand?


  They introduced new fruits, vegetables, and rice to Europe.
• How did the demand for sugar in Europe affect the Americas?


  It became a key factor in the massive use of enslaved people.
• What were the environmental consequences of increased population due to trade?


  • Overgrazing leading to abandonment of cities
  • Soil erosion from overuse of farmland
  • Decrease in agricultural production due to the Little Ice Age
  • Environmental degradation contributing to the decline of the Mayans
• How did the Mongol conquests contribute to the spread of the bubonic plague?


  They helped transmit fleas carrying the plague from southern China to Central Asia and beyond.
• What role did caravanserai play in the spread of the bubonic plague?


  They housed people and animals together, which may have contributed to the spread of the disease.
• What percentage of Europe's population was killed by the Black Death?


  One-third of the population.
• What was the economic impact of the Black Death on labor?


  Workers could demand higher wages due to their increased value.
• How many people died in China and other Asian regions between 1332 and 1347 due to the Black Death?


  About 25 million.
• Why were South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa spared from the Black Death?

  There were few trading ports in those regions.
• Who was Giovanni Boccaccio and what years did he live?


  Giovanni Boccaccio lived from 1313 to 1375.
• What was the most dramatic environmental consequence of increased commerce during this period?


  The most dramatic consequence was the spread of disease, particularly the bubonic plague.
• When did the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, arrive in Europe?


  The bubonic plague arrived in Europe in 1347.
• How many people are estimated to have died from the bubonic plague in Eurasia?

  It is estimated that 75 to 200 million people died in Eurasia.
• What inspired Boccaccio's famous work, The Decameron?


  His experiences living through the plague inspired The Decameron.
• What were the agricultural effects of exchange networks during this period?


  • Introduction of new crops where they had not grown before
  • Impact on land use and population growth
  • Some areas sustained abundant production, while others faced environmental degradation
• What crop had a significant impact due to its quick-ripening nature?


  The quick-ripening Champa rice had a significant impact.
• Where was Champa rice introduced and by whom?


  Champa rice was introduced to the Champa states by Vietnam.
• What are some characteristics of Champa rice?


  Champa rice is drought-resistant, flood-resistant, and can yield two crops a year.
• How did Champa rice affect land use in China?


  Champa rice led to terraced farming in uplands and paddies in lowlands.
• What was the effect of population growth in China due to Champa rice?


  Population growth led people to migrate southward to original rice-growing regions.
• Who introduced bananas to Sub-Saharan Africa?


  Indonesian seafarers introduced bananas to Sub-Saharan Africa.
• What was the impact of bananas on the population in Sub-Saharan Africa?


  Bananas led to a spike in population due to their nutritional value.
• How did the introduction of bananas affect Bantu-speaking peoples?


  It allowed them to migrate to areas where yams did not grow easily.
• What crops and products were spread by caliphs beyond the Arabian Peninsula?

  • Cotton
  • Sugar
  • Citrus crops
  • Arabic language
  • Islam