Final answer:
Maritime trade in the Indian Ocean Basin and trade over the land routes of the Silk Roads both expanded from 1200 to 1450. This expansion promoted cultural exchange and facilitated the spread of Islam and Buddhism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expansion of maritime trade in the Indian Ocean Basin from 1200 to 1450 and the expansion of trade over the land routes of the Silk Roads were closely related and both experienced significant growth during this period. Both maritime and Silk Road trade expanded, facilitating cultural exchange.
Maritime trade in the Indian Ocean Basin allowed for the integration of various regions and facilitated the spread of Islam, as Muslim sailors dominated trade routes from India to Africa and beyond. This expansion resulted in the emergence of powerful states like Indonesia.
The Silk Roads, on the other hand, linked China with the West and facilitated trade between different regions. Arab expansion and the Islamic caliphate's control of the Silk Roads further enhanced the exchange of goods, technology, and ideas. Buddhism spread from India to China through these routes.