- Kira Cofield - Writer ("Sea Trade", "Exchange of Goods During the Shang Dynasty")
- Adriana Discher - Writer ("Silk Road Routes", "Merchants During the Han Dynasty")
- Sarah Feng - Technical Editor (revising writing, picture-finding, works cited, polishing website)
- Brian Holahan - Technical Editor (picture-finding, video-finding, website host, building website)
- Anita Hu - Researcher (all facts and information on the website)
Ancient Chinese Trade
The economical, governmental,
and cultural greatness of ancient China were acquired primarily through trade. The
ancient Chinese developed both the Silk Road and sea routes for long distance
trade, resulting in items exchanged all the way from Africa and Europe. Camel
caravans would be used to transport goods along the Silk Road, and there were
several ocean routes by which other countries could access China. As great
merchants shared goods, a new and more advanced culture emerged through the
thoughts and ideas traveling with the goods along the routes. The Shang Dynasty
began the legacy when they started trading with neighboring people, conquering
them to obtain their resources, and creating new goods such as pottery and
fabric. As the Silk Road developed, merchants in the Han Dynasty helped advance
the Chinese trade to its greatness by selling their newly invented products,
despite the difficulties of the merchant lifestyle. As China rose, it also
shared goods, such as paper and silk, with other countries and helped them
develop.