Which of the following best explains the relative significance of the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade routes? (1 point)
Trans-Saharan trade was more significant because it had more valuable resources such as salt, gold, and ivory.
The Indian Ocean basin was more significant because it connected the Middle East and parts of Africa with Asia, specifically China, and it had important go
The routes were equally significant each in its own way as they both contributed to significant cultural developments along the routes, and worth canno goods that were traded.
Neither of them was significant because both were limited in whom they could reach
The Indian Ocean basin was more significant because it connected the Middle East and parts of Africa with Asia, specifically China, and it had important goods that were traded.
The best explanation for the relative significance of the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade routes is option 2: The Indian Ocean basin was more significant because it connected the Middle East and parts of Africa with Asia, specifically China, and it had important goods that were traded.
To determine the relative significance of the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade routes, we need to consider their historical context and the commodities and cultural developments associated with each route.
Trans-Saharan trade was a network of trading routes that connected the regions of North Africa with the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa. This trade route facilitated the exchange of goods such as gold, salt, and ivory. Gold was sourced from West Africa, while salt was considered a valuable commodity in the desert regions. This trade route had a significant impact on the economic development of West African empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.
On the other hand, the Indian Ocean trade route was a maritime route that connected the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with a particular emphasis on China. This route facilitated the exchange of commodities such as spices, silk, porcelain, and precious metals. The Indian Ocean trade route, sometimes referred to as the "spice trade," had a profound influence not only on the economies but also on the cultural intermingling and exchange of ideas in the regions it connected.
Considering these factors, the Indian Ocean trade route can be argued to have greater significance. It connected diverse regions, facilitating the exchange of valuable commodities, fostering cultural interactions, and stimulating economic development. In contrast, the trans-Saharan trade route, while important for the economies of West African empires, did not connect as many regions or facilitate the exchange of as diverse a range of commodities.
Therefore, the second option, "The Indian Ocean basin was more significant because it connected the Middle East and parts of Africa with Asia, specifically China, and it had important goods that were traded," provides the best explanation for the relative significance of the trans-Saharan and Indian Ocean trade routes.