Civilizations in the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa were isolated from Eurasia mostly because of?
The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans separated the Americas from Eurasia.
The Sahara desert isolated sub-Saharan Africa from Eurasia.
geography
Civilizations in the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa were mostly isolated from Eurasia due to geographical barriers, such as vast oceans and deserts, as well as limited technological advancements in navigation and communication during ancient times. To understand this, let's break it down:
1. Geographical barriers: The Americas are separated from Eurasia by the Atlantic Ocean, while sub-Saharan Africa is cut off by the Sahara Desert and the vast distances of the African continent. These physical barriers made it extremely difficult for ancient civilizations to establish direct contact and exchange ideas, goods, and technologies.
2. Limited technological advancements: During ancient times, seafaring and navigational technologies were not highly developed. Eurasian civilizations had access to advanced shipbuilding techniques, such as the compass and navigational charts, enabling them to navigate long distances across the oceans. In contrast, the civilizations in the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa lacked these capabilities and were thus unable to establish extensive maritime trade networks with Eurasia.
3. Communication barriers: In addition to geographical barriers, the lack of advanced communication technologies further hindered connections between these regions. The absence of writing systems or efficient long-distance communication tools like the telegraph made it challenging for civilizations in the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa to share knowledge, communicate, and establish regular contact with Eurasia.
It is important to note that while there was limited direct contact, there were sporadic instances of cultural diffusion and trade between these regions through long-distance trade routes, such as the Silk Road, trans-Saharan trade, and maritime explorations. These interactions were, however, infrequent and did not lead to sustained connections or significant cultural interchange.