The sea route
1.[2p] What property of the Indian Ocean shaped the trade there?
What property of the Indian Ocean shaped the trade there?
The answer is: The monsoon reverses twice a year, so a ship crosses in one season and returns in the other
The answer is: The monsoon reverses twice a year, so a ship crosses in one season and returns in the other
The answer is: The monsoon reverses twice a year, so a ship crosses in one season and returns in the other
2.[3p] The Muziris papyrus values a cargo at 1,154 talents and 2,852 drachmas. Taking a talent as 6,000 drachmas and a drachma as one sesterce, what is the value in millions of sesterces?
The Muziris papyrus values a cargo at 1,154 talents and 2,852 drachmas. Taking a talent as 6,000 drachmas and a drachma as one sesterce, what is the value in millions of sesterces?
3.[2p] The Roman import duty was a quarter. How much is that on this cargo, in millions of sesterces?
The Roman import duty was a quarter. How much is that on this cargo, in millions of sesterces?
4.[2p] How many ceramic pieces, roughly, did the Belitung wreck carry?
How many ceramic pieces, roughly, did the Belitung wreck carry?
5.[2p] The Belitung ship was built in China.
The Belitung ship was built in China.
The answer is: False
6.[3p] Why could a cargo of 60,000 Changsha bowls never have crossed Asia overland?
Why could a cargo of 60,000 Changsha bowls never have crossed Asia overland?
The answer is: Overland freight would have cost several times the value of a cheap mass-produced bowl
The answer is: Overland freight would have cost several times the value of a cheap mass-produced bowl
The answer is: Overland freight would have cost several times the value of a cheap mass-produced bowl
7.[2p] The Ming Shi gives the treasure ships as 44 zhang long. At 3.11 m to the zhang, how long is that in metres?
The Ming Shi gives the treasure ships as 44 zhang long. At 3.11 m to the zhang, how long is that in metres?
8.[3p] Why is the maritime route less famous than the overland one?
Why is the maritime route less famous than the overland one?
Select all that apply
The answer is: The name itself was coined for a land route, Overland travel produced travellers' tales while shipping produced bills of lading and wrecks, Marine archaeology only became possible with diving equipment from the 1960s
9.[3p] Pliny complained that Roman coin drained east to pay for eastern goods. What is wrong with his argument?
Pliny complained that Roman coin drained east to pay for eastern goods. What is wrong with his argument?
The answer is: Buyers received goods they valued more than the coin, and the state took a quarter of every cargo in duty
The answer is: Buyers received goods they valued more than the coin, and the state took a quarter of every cargo in duty
The answer is: Buyers received goods they valued more than the coin, and the state took a quarter of every cargo in duty