Final answer:
The rapid movement over the ocean, enabled by advanced shipbuilding and navigation skills, greatly affected the strategic and tactical abilities of groups such as the Vikings, Song Dynasty, and Arab armies. These capabilities allowed for unexpected appearances, invasions, and effective resistance to enemies. Additionally, the historical importance of now-extinct shipping routes on early global connectivity is emphasized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rapid movement over the ocean facilitated by advanced shipbuilding techniques significantly influenced the tactics and strategies of various groups throughout history, contributing to their territorial expansion and global interconnectedness. For instance, the Vikings utilized their longships for speedy and agile exploration and warfare, which allowed them to suddenly appear in coastal villages and execute raids or establish trade. Similarly, during the 1270s, the Song Dynasty managed to evade Mongol conquests by moving up and down river systems and eventually at sea, using their fleet of ships to maintain a mobile government. Additionally, the Arabs' use of camels for rapid land movement enabled them to surprise their enemies, akin to the rapid surprise attacks the Vikings conducted via sea.
Cultural migrations and invasions, such as those of the Clovis People and oceanic settlers reaching Australia, demonstrate the importance of maritime and land mobility in shaping global history. These movements spurred technological innovations and shaped the spread of cultural practices, enhancing interconnectedness between distant regions. The disappearance of certain sea routes today, once critical in transporting people and species globally, underscores the importance of historical shipping routes in our understanding of early global connectivity.