Final answer:
The expansion of trade routes and trade volume was primarily caused by the European demand for luxury Eastern goods, the need for more secure and cost-effective trading routes, advances in navigation, and technological innovations like shipping containerization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Expansion of Trade Routes and Trade Volume
The expansion of existing trade routes and volume of trade throughout history can be attributed to several factors, including the demand for luxury items from the East, the need to find more cost-effective and secure trading paths, and advances in technology. During the Crusades, Europeans developed a fondness for Eastern goods such as spices and silk, prompting the search for new routes to circumvent expensive overland paths. This eventually led to the discovery of sea routes and the formation of colonial empires.
Technological advancements such as new sailing technologies and the magnetic compass enabled navigators to find more efficient paths to desired trade destinations. Global trade expanded further with the development of shipping containerization, which reduced the cost of shipping goods and increased the capacity of trade. The fall of trade barriers and advances in transportation and communication have played a significant role in the increase in world trade.
Trade not only connected distant lands but also fueled the growth of empires and city-states, driven by commodities like gold, salt, and slaves. Conflicts often influenced trade, requiring alternate trading routes during times of war, while peacetime brought about the expansion of trade through improved diplomatic and economic relations. The Industrial Revolution, with its vast increase in goods production, and the subsequent advances in technology post-World War II, have both been critical in the spectacular rise of global trade.