Question

What was the role of these city-states - what did they trade/bring to the network?

a. They primarily traded in precious metals and gemstones.
b. They were key hubs for the exchange of cultural and artistic ideas.
c. They specialized in the trade of spices, textiles, and exotic animals.
d. They played a crucial role in the exchange of spices, ivory, and gold.

Answer 1

The city-states played a crucial role in the trade network by facilitating the exchange of goods and connecting different regions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role of the city-states in the trade network varied depending on the region. In the Swahili coast, the city-states specialized in the trade of a wide range of products including gold, iron, salt, hardwoods, ivory, and animal hides. They also produced pottery and cloth. In the Mayan civilization, the cities that controlled access to trading routes were the most successful, and they imported goods such as gold, turquoise, and obsidian from different regions.

On the East African coast, these city-states were key centers of Indian Ocean trade and played a crucial role in the exchange of goods like ivory, animal hides, and gold in return for luxuries such as silks, glassware, and tools. In the Near East, Mesopotamian traders traveled far distances to obtain valuable goods like copper, tin, textiles, and precious stones from different regions.