Question

Which statement shows how trade routes influenced ancient societies?

A. As travel over land became easier, trade by water became unnecessary.
B. As different civilizations traded goods, they also shared cultural values and beliefs.
C. As trade developed, long-distance travel became safe and easy for each civilization.
D. As silk grew popular, it became a common material used in clothing across civilizations.

Answer 1

The statement that exemplifies how trade routes influenced ancient societies is that as civilizations engaged in trade, they also exchanged cultural values and beliefs, facilitating widespread cultural exchange and the spread of religions, languages, and technologies. The correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that shows how trade routes influenced ancient societies is: B. As different civilizations traded goods, they also shared cultural values and beliefs. Trade routes were essential not only for the economic benefit of transporting goods but also for the cultural exchange that happened as a byproduct.

This exchange resulted in spreading religions, languages, technological innovations, and other cultural practices across civilizations.

For instance, the Silk Roads facilitated the spread of Buddhism from India to China, and the Saharan trade routes were instrumental in the diffusion of Islamic culture and religion throughout North and West Africa, eventually reaching Europe.

In addition to the economic and cultural influence, the expansion of trade routes played a crucial role in shaping the directions in which civilizations grew and interacted with one another.

As these routes connected various regions, it paved the way for historical events such as the Arab invasion, which linked North Africa to the caliphates in the Middle East, and the European expansion, which sought alternative trading paths to Asia and resulted in colonialism and global trade networks. The correct option is B.