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Americas and Asia expanding trade networks

Definition

This refers to the expansion of trade routes between the Americas and Asia during the Age of Exploration, which led to increased economic interconnectivity and cultural exchange.

Analogy

Imagine this as a massive "Amazon Prime" delivery system. Just like Amazon connects buyers and sellers from all over the world, these expanded trade networks connected different continents, leading to an exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures.

Related terms

Columbian Exchange: The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases between the Americas and the Old World following Christopher Columbus's voyages.

Silk Road: An ancient network of trade routes that connected East Asia with Europe. It played a significant role in economic interactions between these regions before maritime routes were established.

Globalization: The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale. The expansion of trade networks during this period can be seen as an early form of globalization.