2.6 Environmental Consequences of Connectivity

• Connectivity refers to the flow of goods, people, ideas, and diseases
• Major trade networks increased connectivity by enabling the flow of goods, people, ideas, and diseases
• Expanded trade networks increased demand for exotic spices, textiles, and other luxury goods
• Invasive species are organisms that are introduced to a new habitat and cause harm
• Invasive species are introduced to a new habitat
• Deforestation leads to the loss of vegetation cover
• Match the trade network with its key feature:

  Silk Road ↔️ Overland trade route connecting China to the Mediterranean

  Indian Ocean Trade ↔️ Maritime trade network linking East Africa and Southeast Asia

  Trans-Saharan Trade ↔️ Caravan trade routes across the Sahara
• What is deforestation?

  Removal of trees and vegetation
• Resource depletion occurs when natural resources are consumed faster than they can be replenished
• Match the invasive species with its native region:

  Rats ↔️ Southeast Asia

  Weeds ↔️ Various continents
• Deforestation exposes soil to wind and water erosion.


  True
• Deforestation and mining contributed to early climate change
• Match the trade network with its key feature:

  Silk Road ↔️ Overland trade route connecting China to the Mediterranean

  Indian Ocean Trade ↔️ Maritime trade network linking East Africa and Southeast Asia

  Trans-Saharan Trade ↔️ Caravan trade routes across the Sahara desert
• Intensified mining for precious metals led to land degradation and water pollution.


  True
• Order the following environmental consequences from cause to effect:

  1️⃣ Increased logging for timber

  2️⃣ Deforestation

  3️⃣ Habitat loss

  4️⃣ Soil erosion

  5️⃣ Decreased biodiversity
• What is resource depletion?

  Over-consumption of natural resources
• What were the primary causes of soil erosion during c. 1200 to c. 1450?

  Deforestation and overexploitation
• What does connectivity refer to in the context of c. 1200 to c. 1450?

  Flow of goods, people, ideas
• Increased resource extraction during c. 1200 to c. 1450 had no environmental consequences.

  False
• Deforestation is the removal of trees and vegetation from forests
• Resource depletion can result in the scarcity of resources and environmental degradation
• Invasive species can harm the environment, economy, or human health.


  True
• Weeds can reduce agricultural productivity by outcompeting native plants.


  True
• Match the cause of soil erosion with its impact:

  Deforestation ↔️ Loss of vegetation cover

  Overgrazing ↔️ Compaction of soil
• Climate change can increase storm frequency and cause rising sea levels
• Connectivity enables both trade and the spread of diseases.


  True
• What was the impact of increased logging on timber resources during c. 1200 to c. 1450?

  Deforestation
• Which trade network linked East Africa, Arabia, India, and Southeast Asia?

  Indian Ocean Trade
• Rats, native to Southeast Asia, spread diseases and damaged crops in new regions.


  True
• Increased connectivity during c. 1200 to c. 1450 had only positive environmental consequences.

  False
• Early climate change during c. 1200 to c. 1450 was influenced by deforestation and mining.


  True
• The major trade networks increased connectivity
• Deforestation during c. 1200 to c. 1450 was driven by increased demand for timber
• Increased connectivity and trade during c. 1200 to c. 1450 led to widespread deforestation and resource depletion.


  True
• Arrange the trade networks that facilitated the spread of invasive species in chronological order:

  1️⃣ Silk Road

  2️⃣ Indian Ocean Trade

  3️⃣ Trans-Saharan Trade
• Rats, originating from Southeast Asia, spread diseases and impacted native ecosystems
• Overgrazing compacts and degrades the structure of the soil
• Greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation may have altered global climate patterns during c. 1200 to c. 1450.

  True