Asia was the world of contrast comprising of mosaic of cultures, languages and religions.

The Asian world, 500 1500 CE, brought the greatest discoveries of science to humanity and completely transformed the society. Within its dominion flourished scholars and intellectuals of different faiths, creeds and origins. In essence, it was trade and travel that made possible the great networks of scholars, intellectuals, jurists, slaves, ideas, religions, and plants in the Asian world. These networks connected the people from all across Asia in such a unique way that lead to the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and technology between people of variety of cultures, religions and languages.(177). Important to understand here is that what caused these travelers and traders to go for such long journeys. Political and religious rivalries, tough travelling conditions and lack of resources made these journeys very dangerous and risky. Those traders and travelers had different motivations and objectives for these journeys. Some of them were sent in expeditions from kings or caliph for their political interests such as to find new allies. Ibn Fadlan was one such traveler who was a middle level courtier and was sent by caliph of Baghdad in 921 CE. He was chosen as the head of embassy to Bulgars with a small entourage including a jurist and ambassador. (23-34). There were few traders, like Abraham bin Yiju, who travelled away from their hometowns in order to get away from religious conflicts. It was the time of holy wars when it became too difficult for nonChristians to stay in areas regained by Christian holy warriors particularly closer to what is today Israel and Lebanon. (80). Moving to Europe wasnt safe either, that is why Abraham moved to India for trade opportunities. Many people also travelled in pursuit of employment. Particularly in Islamic empire, there were more than dozen Islamic capital cities as well as small cities to offer

employment. Therefore, people of various professions i.e. teachers, judges, clerics, administrators, and soldiers travelled in search of better positions. (106). Curiosity to explore unseen world and quest of knowledge also motivated some people and compelled them to travel. If travelling conditions were not friendly for anyone, then question arises that how did these trading journeys were successful? Simple answer to this question is that there were at the same time many factors because of which not only trade got promoted rather traders enjoyed special protection and support. Most of the times these traders enjoyed full institutional support. Religion and religious institutions played a vital role in sponsoring trade. In seventh century, at the time when Xuanzang started his travel, there was chain of Buddhist monasteries. Most of these monasteries were located in isolated places in routes of caravans. Traders and particularly travelling monks stayed at these monasteries during their travel and in turn offered support to upkeep them. Since these monasteries were the only centers of education at that time, therefore it was required for a monk to be a learned man who can make arguments, draw conclusions from a discussion and know religious texts. Elite patronized these monasteries and offered monks their support if they wanted to travel to gain more religious knowledge. Similar to Buddhism, Islamic empire had the same culture where familiarity and ownership of intellectual work was a symbol of status and therefore kings and caliphs supported the intellectuals, scholars and traders to go for long journeys so that the could bring more information and knowledge with them.(46). Universalism of Buddhism and Islam created more opportunities for trade and eventually trade and travel caused these religions to spread so rapidly.

Kings and caliphs had their own interests in upholding trade. These travelers observed different customs and cultures when they travelled and noted down their observations in form of a memoir. These memoir helped kings in strategy making. Another important reason for this support was that kings main source of income was the taxes on the trade. If traders were not satisfied with trade policies in one kingdom, they moved to other places where they found it easier and more rewarding. That is why kings not only supported traders but also provided them with royal protection. (103) Trade was beyond any political, religious or economic boundary and thus had far reaching impacts.(ch1). Not only it brought about a huge change in lifestyle of the people, it revolutionized the society and brought innovation to various industries, which was inconceivable a few centuries ago. Although trade started with few individual who were either personally motivated or were ambassadors of kings or caliphs but the information, knowledge and skill they brought with them inspired many locals and thus this trade of ideas, skills, and people dramatically increased across Asia and became part of culture. Moroccan traveler and explorer Ibn Batutta travelled to the east coast of Africa in fourteenth century and found it connected by religion, trade, and custom to the Asian world. One of the most significant impacts of trade was the incredible cultural fusion that started to occur across different empires of the Asian world and brought elegance in lifestyle of people. There were great amount of similarities in courtly culture. Kings had similar symbols such as umbrella, sunshade, flywhisk, drums, horns, and jeweled weapons. Honorific robes were presented to kings and trader in various ceremonies in the courts.181. Whenever travelers visited new courts, they told kings stories about other cultures,

ceremonies and about their successful strategies. A glimpse of sophistication of this information is evident from one of the descriptions of Ibn Battuta about the fabric he saw which he described as a tunic of Egyptian linen, a furred mantle of Jerusalem stuff and kamkha, which are silken fabrics manufactured at Baghdad, Tabriz, Nishapur, and in China.(107). Traders also presented gifts to the kings with intention of gaining their confidence so that they would not get victimized of any political rivalry. Ibn Battuta once went under debt of 55, 00 silver dirhams after buying gifts for a king he was about to see. This gamble eventually paid off as he impressed king with great amount of information and storied he had from his travel experience.(112). In fifteenth century, there were eleven of twelve languages spoken in Kabul, a trade city in Afghanistan.149. Ma Huan, a translator from a city a few miles south of Hangzhou, during his travel across Asia observed common pattern of scroll-painting performance stretched across Asia including Bengal, Rajasthan, Persia, Southeast Asia, and China.125. These facts give a hint of extensive culture diversity that existed in Asian world. Trade of knowledge, arts, ideas and people brought not only cultural diversity to the Asian world, but also resulted in significant amount development of various industries. Papermaking technology had its origin in China and then through Silk Road found a way into Middle East where Abbasids patronized it. Process of making the paper had to be refined as initially it involved some tropical plants, which were unavailable in Middle East. Soon papermaking industry flourished across Islamic capitals and cities like Damascus and Fustat started to compete with Abbasid base Baghdad in quality of paper offering it in different sizes and compositions.42. These incredible developments in papermaking industry lead to a rapid increase in the collection of knowledge and scholarly work of

various intellectuals across Asia. Book markets, royal and public libraries became part of urban lifestyle of Asian world. Many small industries like silk manufacturing, cultivation of cotton and its weaving spread along the trade route in Asian world.67. Extent of development in industry can be imagined by the fact that Abraham bin Yiju, in twelfth century, started to trade in metal works and started formal out sourcing and recycling of goods using skills of Indian metalworkers.88. With time, trade customs in Asian world got sophisticated. Accounts of eleventh and twelfth century indicate that there was a sophisticated flow of information from trader to manufacture about market demands and this was conducted through a reliable mail system.68, 94. Learning and knowledge was highly valued and encouraged in almost all Asian communities. Traces of an organized learning system can be found in Asian world as early as sixth century. Trade routes connected these men of education and scholars from all across Asia. Extensive research was carried out at various knowledge centers across Asia. Since ownership of intellectual and research work was a symbol of status, caliphs and kings invited scholars from all over the world regardless of their faith and origin. Early Abbasids invited mathematicians from India.40. Arabic numeral system which is in use to present day came out of India.188. Extraordinary research work particularly in fields of mathematics and astronomy was carried out in India,.188. Through trade routes many tropical plants found their way to different courts across Middle East and Asia where research on them was conducted resulting in to incredible advancements in medical sciences. It was because of this fact that by ninth century, the Arab medical books of remedies routinely recommended a wide range of tropical ingredients.162.

The above is merely a brief outline of immense effect of trade in Asia. There is no doubt that we still enjoy many gifts in our heritage passed on to us by the great Asian world.