Afro-Eurasian Trade and the Spread of Buddhism

Running head: AFRO-EURASIAN TRADE AND THE SPREAD OF BUDDHISM 1
Afro- Eurasian Trade and the Spread of Buddhism
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AFRO- EURASIAN TRADE AND THE SPREAD OF BUDDHISM 2
Assignment 2: Afro-Eurasian Trade and the Spread of Buddhism
The existence of trade can be trade from the ancient times even before civilization took
place. This is because no one has ever had every resource they need and on the other hand some
people have an abundance of certain commodity. Trade therefore provides an avenue for those
who lack certain goods to acquire them and those with an excess to dispose them in a productive
way. (Smith, 2012)
The continents of Africa, Asia and Europe began engaging in trading activities around
150 CE for each continent had some commodities to offer to the other. There is also a direct
correlation of the spread of Buddhism, which is an ancient religion originating from the
Himalaya Mountains with the trading activities conducted then. This is owing to the fact that the
greatest spreaders of the religion were traders using the trading routes created by merchants on
land as well as using sea transport, for mariners had developed good commercial links.
Merchants coming from India obtained commodities such as wood and grain and took
them to Ethiopia and Arabia, those heading towards the west carried with them commodities
such as gold, while those going to the south eastern parts of Asia would carry with them pearls
and other merchandise. On their return journey, they would have acquired goods such as copper
which they would take to India and exchange them for commodities needed in other regions.
From the map, most trade routes were concentrated around sea coasts and water masses
such as around the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the South China Sea.
This can be attributed to the presence of ports along the coasts which the traders used for
transportation (Smith, 2012). The Silk Road connected the east and the west forming a network.