Ancient Chinese Trade and Communication

Conclusion

The ancient chinese were very smart people, they discovered their own ways of communication and would make smart barters. They had used their luxuries amenities as barter items and gained man valuable items in exchange. That is how some ended being very wealthy and educated to do very useful things. Even if you could not read or be a Emperor, then you could learn how to create silk and trade it for daily life items, and you will also get rich. Not only did they have one way of communicating but, multiple ways. They could send messengers or use their own sign language to notify someone of something. they also adapted to other races and people, by going to other countries, they were able to interact with others and learn new things. The Chinese have learned and discovered so many things over the years. They have made such a big impact on the modern world, they have discovered paper and moveable type. If they didn't discovered these items we might have a harder life to live.These are things that the Ancient Chinese have done for us. With their trade and communication skills they have been the smartest people living during that time period.

Trade

The Ancient Chinese were well known for their luxuries amenities. Not only did they use their amenities for their own needs but, also use them for trade. One of the most commonly know trading items was silk, it was traded with Korean, Japanese, and others.they were one of the greatest creators of silk, and their main trade route was named after silk, the silk road. China took advantage of knowing how the create silk and traded to some of the legions and empires. They traded silk all across Asia and Europe for thousands of years. The Romans referred to China as the land of silk. The Silks Road was China's main trade route, not only silk was carried along these roads but, items like tea, salt, spices, porcelain and sugar.the trade route also had a "Black Market" where people sold and traded poisons and one of China's own discoveries Hemp Cloth. The Hemp Cloth was a mix of poison and drugs on a cloth. this made the victim drop in an unconscious sleep.

By: Kaedon Samy and Mavis Sheung

Trade

It was because of the long journey and lack of space merchants traded for needed goods that would help with daily life and items that had a high value. Some of the main goods that they received through the trades were cotton, ivory, silver, wool, and gold. Merchants or tradesman either worked for a family or were self employed. depending on their employer they would keep it for riches or use the goods for clothing or useful items such as bowls, cups, plates, armor, and sleeping areas.

The tradesman and merchants traveled in large groups and were heavily guarded. there were many advantages of traveling in large groups, like the fact that they could defend against bandits. The Chinese mainly used camels for the journey to other land this was because of the dry land.

Communication

In Ancient China they communicated by speaking in Chinese, they blew horns and reed flutes. the Ancient Chinese also played drums, they would use body language and hand signals as a second language. they wrote letters to others on chinese, then they will send it to the recipient. If they didn't want pt write letters then they would ask messengers to send the message, but only the wealthy and emperors would be able to send this type of communication. Other thing they would do were write letters on Oracle Bones to let others know what to do if they find it, because they bury the bones underground. the Oracle Bones was made out of the Ox's shoulder bone. Oracle bones were used as a piece of communication, but were also for fortune-telling. Kinds had people read them two statements one negative and one positive. Then they would use a hot piece of metal and it would crack the bone impact. Depending on where and how many cracks they would be given the answer.

Most people in Ancient Chine wrote and speak Chinese. they would use body language and hand signals if they were far away but close enough to see. Usually the citizens will send concerns to the king and ask him to change it if possible, but the people in the kingdom would hide all the bad one and only show the king the good ones.they will always communicate in Chinese because it was and still is the national language of China. Back then even Korea and Japan used to write Chinese as their national writing too, but they didn't speak Chinese.

Trade

There are many interesting things about the trade route and its history. For example the Silk Road was over 4,000 mile long, through out these 4,000 miles it crossed 5 countries including India, Persia, Arabia, Egypt and the European countries. The route also had many shorter routes. The shorter the routes were the more dangerous, the longer the route, the safer it was. Very few of the merchants or tradesmen traveled the entire route. Most would trade within the interior cities, for example: India, Persia, and Arabia. they would also trade at the designated trade posts if there was a confirmed trading associate. the Silk Road was used form 500 B.C. to 1500 Ad, that means that the Silk Road started during the Han Dynasty and ended during the Ming Dynasty. One of the most interesting fact of all is that Marco Polo traveled along the Silk Road to reach China. Marco Polo was an Italian merchant and was one of the first Europeans to travel across Asia and all through China. He began his voyage in 1271 and traveled with his father and uncle. He traded for many Chinese items, like Porcelain and Gunpowder, and brought them to the western countries like the United States Of America.

Ancient Chinese Trade and Communication