Final answer:
In Eurasia from 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E., animals such as horses, sheep, and pigs were widely used for transport, agriculture, and warfare, with horses playing a critical role due to the nomadic lifestyle facilitated by the need for mobility and military applications influenced by trade across regions like the Silk Roads.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the period of 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E., Eurasia saw extensive use of animals for a variety of purposes, including transportation, agriculture, and warfare. The domestication of horses played a particularly crucial role in this era, not just in agriculture but in military applications and trade.
Inner Asian Steppe societies, around 1500 BCE, had transitioned from agriculture to livestock herding due to climate change, thus prioritizing the mobility that animals such as horses provided. Additionally, animals like sheep and pigs were essential in the diet and economies of various Eurasian societies, proliferating rapidly in new environments due to their resistance to diseases.
Trade facilitated the global transfer of these animals, which had significant biological and cultural implications. For instance, trade networks, such as the Silk Roads, were essential for the movement of animals across borders, contributing to a major exchange of fauna during this period.
While Europeans encountered new-world animals, their earlier encounters with animals like horses enabled them to develop a strong cavalry tradition that was used both in warfare and in shaping the agrarian landscapes of Europe. The variety of animals used and encountered from 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E. showcases the diversity and the interconnectivity of Eurasian societies.