Question

“On Wednesday we entered the great city of Tabriz in Persia. Commerce flourishes here. Today, there must be at least 200,000 householders within the city limits. From Tabriz all the way to Samarqand, the prince Timur has established relays of horses kept ready at command so that his messengers may ride on his missions night and day without hindrance. The posthouses have been built at intervals of a day’s or half a day’s journey apart.

We then stopped at a caravanserai in a local village for the accommodation of travelers and merchants on the road, before proceeding to the capital city of Samarqand in Central Asia, which Timur has lavishly adorned. The richness and abundance of this great capital and its district is indeed a wonder to behold. It is not only rich in agriculture but also in manufactures, as silk and other crafts are all produced here in abundance. Turks, Arabs, Christians of all sects, and Hindus all reside here. The markets of Samarqand are filled with merchandise imported from distant and foreign countries. From Russia and Central Asia come leathers and linens and from China silks that are the finest in the whole world. The goods that are imported to Samarqand from China are the most precious of all those brought from any foreign land, for the craftsmen of China are said to be far more skillful than those of any other nation.”

Ruy González de Clavijo, ambassador of the Iberian kingdom of Castile, report of his journey to the empire of the Turko-Mongol ruler Timur, circa 1404

a) Identify the main argument made in the passage about Timur’s empire.

b) Identify ONE major economic development in Eurasia in the period circa 1200–1450 that is illustrated by the passage.

c) Describe ONE example of how economic interactions such as those described in the passage affected the cultural development of Eurasia in the period 1200–1450.

Answer 1

Answer: Knowing how Timur a ruler, made an impact that would disrupt the civilisations for centuries.

Explanation: As you read about Timur and how he matched Genghis Khan in brutality and desire to conquer far and wide. Made people believe that he wasn't an able ruler but he helped to begin a great cultural and economic flourishing in Eurasia.

He brought in the best of what was available and made there of the places he invaded and plundered, his campaign to extend his empire succeeded after several bloody battles.

That left huge devastations in the defeated countries but all the wealth and loot including people were helped for the economic prosperity of central Asia.

The major economic development that you get to see in Eurasia during 1200-1450 is through the growth of inter-regional trade and increasing the trading network. building of trade routes.

There was significant development in cross cultural interactions, this further evolved into the literary, artistic and cultural exchanges. various religions such Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and its core beliefs reached out other regions and shape societies.